Norton council approves joining NOPEC electricity aggregation program; grant to fund community center work

The Norton City Council on Feb. 3 voted to join the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) electricity aggregation program and approved NOPEC's plan of operations and governance, a move council leaders said will lock in a competitive electricity rate for Norton residents while preserving an opt-out option.

Council members debated the matter before adopting two related ordinances: one to join NOPEC's aggregation program and a second approving NOPEC's plan of operations and governance. Council members also discussed a separate NOPEC community grant tied to aggregation, described in a first-reading ordinance.

Council President and Finance Committee members stressed that participating residents will receive opt-out notices directly from NOPEC. Council discussion referred to the aggregated residential rate cited during the meeting as approximately $0.06909 per kilowatt-hour and to an informational mailer residents should expect. Finance Committee member Mike Harbert said the NOPEC community grant that came with the program will provide $25,000 yearly for three years and that the funds are proposed to be used on the community center kitchen remodel. “The amount is $25,000 and I did find out this afternoon it is yearly,” Harbert said during the finance report.

Council members who spoke in favor said the aggregation program offers a lower price than alternatives even after recent fluctuations in offers from providers. Council members also asked who pays to mail the opt-out letter; officials said NOPEC will send the notices and bear that cost. Council member Mike Lukens also told colleagues that Chief Kopen will be his point of contact on technical questions about safety standards referenced in related discussions.

Not all council members supported the measure. One member said he opposed the measure on principle because of what he characterized as a prior commitment the sponsor did not keep; he nonetheless acknowledged the price benefit for residents and indicated he expected the ordinance to pass. The roll call on the ordinances showed a majority in favor; the clerk recorded votes in the public meeting minutes.

The council also introduced, for first reading, an ordinance authorizing acceptance of NOPEC’s energized community grant. That grant was described by Harbert as a three-year, $25,000-per-year award intended to pay for community center improvements. The grant ordinance was not adopted on Feb. 3 and remained at first reading.

Council members said residents who prefer another electricity supplier can opt out of the aggregation program after receiving NOPEC’s mailed notice. Officials emphasized that the Ordinance adopting the aggregation program simply authorizes the city to participate; residents’ enrollment is automatic unless they opt out following the mailer.

The city clerk certified legal notices for the public hearing on the aggregation legislation earlier in the meeting, and the items then proceeded through the final-reading and adoption steps recorded in the meeting minutes.

Looking ahead, council members said staff will provide more voter-facing information about the opt-out process and direct residents with technical questions to the appropriate city staff or to NOPEC.