Council approves electric‑aggregation supplier authorization; resident urges net‑metering protections

The Bexley City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 5‑26 authorizing the city to approve a supplier for its electric aggregation program. Council member Marcelino introduced the ordinance at third reading and the council approved the motion on roll call.

Council members clarified that the ordinance authorizes the procurement process and gives the board of control the ability to act on a rate recommendation; it does not fix a supplier or rate immediately. The mayor and staff said the broker will monitor market pricing and will advise council when a rate decision is required.

During the public comment period on the ordinance, resident Joe Shaw (104 South Ardmore Road) told council that the current supplier, Dynegy, does not offer net‑metering credits for customers with rooftop solar. Shaw distinguished municipal aggregation providers that can offer net‑metering credits from competitive retail providers that are not required by state law to do so, and asked the city to make net‑metering credits a requirement in any future request for proposals.

Mayor Ben Kessler and council members acknowledged Shaw's concerns and said they would ask the broker to explore options that could allow solar customers to receive credit for exported energy or to communicate alternatives (such as shopping individual retail offers) to residents. Council also noted at least one council member has solar panels and said they want parity for those households where feasible.

The ordinance passed on the council's roll call.