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Commissioners defend 14-month Buckeye energy deal as residents see big increases
Summary
Trumbull County commissioners and the county's energy broker told residents the new aggregated electricity rate will take effect in April and is driven largely by higher transmission capacity costs; officials urged residents to weigh short-term switching fees before opting out.
Trumbull County commissioners fielded questions from residents and an energy broker at a Jan. 29 workshop about a newly negotiated aggregation contract that locks in a 14-month supply price for county customers.
County leaders and the broker said the contract with Buckeye Energy was chosen after a competitive bid process and that the new supply rate — higher than a previous 4.53¢/kWh price — will not appear on bills until the April billing cycle. “It is a big increase from 4.53, but that deal is done,” said a county representative involved in the procurement, explaining the board could not reopen the expired price. The broker warned that customers who switch suppliers now would forfeit their current lower-rate months and could face higher bills for two months before savings accrue.
The broker and commissioners attributed most of the increase to capacity charges set in regional PJM auctions, not to the supplier’s margin. “What’s driving the price is transmission capacity…that auction reset prices higher,” the broker said, describing how capacity rates rose from historical levels and will push supplier offers higher this summer. He added that some large suppliers’ advertised retail rates are not always available to Ohio customers, complicating apples-to-apples comparisons.
Commissioners said the board limited the contract to 14 months (not the three years originally proposed) so the county can re-shop the market when the term ends. One commissioner urged communications to the public: he volunteered to help draft a one-paragraph FAQ explaining the bidding process, the 14-month term and how residents may opt out.
Why it matters: The decision affects thousands of county electricity customers in the aggregate program; timing differences of start dates and capacity charges can make short-term comparisons misleading. Officials urged residents and townships to account for switching fees and early-termination charges when evaluating third-party offers.
What happens next: Commissioners said they will continue outreach, post a short FAQ on the county website, and re-evaluate supplier bids as the contract term approaches its end. The county will also collect pricing for large municipal/commercial accounts for a future agenda item.
Sources: Remarks by the county’s invited supplier representative and multiple commissioners during the Jan. 29 Trumbull County commissioners workshop.
