Xenia council amends utility aggregation plans, pauses natural‑gas aggregation pending better rates

City of Xenia council voted July 10 to amend its electric and natural gas aggregation plans of operation and governance, giving staff explicit discretion to pause natural‑gas aggregation if market conditions make aggregation disadvantageous to ratepayers.

Finance Director Ryan Duke told council the city’s electric aggregation program has saved ratepayers money and is broadly beneficial. By contrast, Duke said natural gas aggregation had not produced savings in the last three cycles and that commodity prices and contract contingencies had made it “a mixed bag.” He recommended pausing the citywide natural gas aggregation until staff could be confident it would save ratepayers money.

Duke explained that if aggregation were paused, residents could use the state’s apples‑to‑apples website to shop for alternative suppliers, and staff would run an outreach campaign with billing notices and information. He added staff would still bring estimated rates to council and seek direction before executing any supplier contracts.

Council members asked operational and timing questions. Duke and the city manager said the electric aggregation cycle is nearing renewal in December and natural gas renewals are typically in November, so decisions would be due in a short time frame. Duke identified Palmer Energy as the city’s consultant for aggregation work and said Palmer had provided rates that were not attractive in the most recent natural gas cycle.

The council adopted the amendment by roll call. Provisions were added to the plans to allow staff to decline pursuing a cycle of natural‑gas aggregation when projected rates are not favorable.

Why it matters: the change preserves the city’s ability to pursue lower prices through aggregation while avoiding contracts that could raise costs for residents. The council kept the electric aggregation program on track while adding discretion for natural gas.