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Sunbury hears electric-aggregation briefing as current contract nears May 2026 expiration
Summary
Syoda Energy briefed the Services Committee on plans to solicit new aggregation bids after the current supplier contract ends in May 2026; staff outlined an RFP schedule, projected modest monthly savings for participating households, and the opt-out process required by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
Sunbury City Services Committee members were briefed Dec. 3 on the city's upcoming electric aggregation timeline and the market forces that have pushed prices higher.
Fritz Drake of Syoda Energy told the committee the city's current aggregation agreement expires in May 2026 and that the rate in the most recent contract was 9.45' per kilowatt-hour, up from 6.48' in the earlier agreement. Drake said a large part of the upward pressure is a regional increase in capacity costs tied to demand from data centers.
"The current aggregation agreement expires in May 2026," Drake said, "and that was a jump from the previous agreement, which was 6.48'." He explained that capacity functions "like an insurance premium" that is charged to ensure grid reliability during peak demand.
Why it matters: staff emphasized that aggregation can still offer participating residents a price below the standard utility rate (AEP) even in a high-rate environment. Drake estimated an average household's bill would rise by about $4 under current market expectations but said participating customers would still see modest savings compared with AEP; under the prior contract the average monthly saving had been about $35.
What comes next: staff issued the request for proposals and said pricing responses are due Dec. 18. The city plans a Teams review of offers on Dec. 19, and, if the results are acceptable, staff would seek council approval at the Jan. 7 meeting to finalize a supplier and authorize the aggregation ordinance subject to an agreed maximum price.
Drake also walked committee members through the opt-out process required under Ohio law: the winning supplier must file opt-out notice letters with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the city mails notices to residents, and households then have until a date in April to remain enrolled or opt out. "If they want to stay in, they don't have to do anything," staff said.
No formal action was taken at this meeting; staff will return with specific pricing and a recommended contract or ordinance for council consideration in January.
