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Energy Alliances pitches opt-out aggregation to Saint Bernard committee
Summary
Richard Sarace of Energy Alliances told the Committee of the Whole that opt-out municipal aggregation could give most residents fixed-generation pricing and optional renewable defaults, while suppliers bear contract risk; the process would require PUC certification and a ballot measure.
Richard Sarace, a consultant with Energy Alliances, told the Saint Bernard Committee of the Whole on Jan. 9 that an opt-out energy aggregation program could give the village a way to negotiate generation and gas supply on behalf of residents while Duke Energy would remain the delivery utility. "We are a local, energy consultant," Sarace said. "So, we take our focus here in Cincinnati."
Sarace said aggregation affects only the supplier line on a utility bill and not Duke's delivery services such as outage response. He explained Ohio law separates generation and supply from the local utility and that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio regulates aggregation programs. "Duke will continue to deliver the electricity," he said. "They'll continue to send the bill. It's just that line item there."
Sarace told the committee that roughly 75% of Saint Bernard residents remain on Duke's default generation supply, and that aggregation can provide negotiated fixed-price or renewable options for those customers. He said Energy Alliances runs quarterly performance reports for communities and that suppliers typically assume contract risk if many customers opt out. "The programs that we run never have a termination fee," Sarace said, adding customers can enter or leave an aggregation without cost.
He described eligibility limits: households already on third-party supplier contracts, customers enrolled in Duke's PIP low-income program, and people who previously opted out will generally be excluded from initial opt-out mailings. Sarace also noted a PUC-maintained "do not aggregate" list that keeps unwilling consumers out of municipal programs.
On process, Sarace said the village would need to be certified to run an aggregation program, adopt a plan of operations, hold two public hearings and then seek voter approval if the council places the question on the ballot. He estimated that, if placed on the November ballot and approved, the village could have a program in place by April or May 2026. "If you go through the process, you get certified," Sarace said. "If the market is not in the best condition, then you don't do anything. You just keep the certificate."
Council members pressed Sarace on the mechanics and risks. Finance chair Morton asked how savings would be calculated per account; Sarace said the firm models each account and aggregates results rather than applying a blanket percentage. Other council members raised opt-in vs. opt-out turnout concerns; Sarace said opt-in programs typically yield low participation and weaker pricing because fewer customers reduce buying leverage. "We saw less than 5% take rate" in opt-in pilots, he said.
Why it matters: aggregation can offer price certainty and, in some communities, renewable defaults, but it does not guarantee savings for every household — outcomes depend on individual usage patterns, the chosen contract and market movements. The committee did not take formal action to certify the village at the meeting; several members said they would follow up with staff and the presenter on next steps.
