NOPEC tells Norton residents supply rate will rise to about 9.99¢/kWh; fixed-rate options available by phone
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Summary
At the April 6 Norton City Council meeting NOPEC warned that the city's negotiated low electric supply rate will end and the standard program rate will increase to about 9.99¢ per kilowatt-hour starting with June 2026 meter reads; residents will be automatically enrolled in the standard plan and must call NOPEC to opt into fixed 12‑ or 24‑month rates.
At its April 6 meeting, Norton City Council heard from Tony Ramos of the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC), who told council that market and capacity-cost pressures will push Norton’s default electric supply rate from about 6.99¢ per kilowatt-hour to roughly 9.99¢ beginning with residents’ June 2026 meter reads.
"What you all negotiated last year was fantastic, but the market is no longer supporting that type of electricity service," Ramos said, adding that the standard program offer for June, July and August will be 9.99¢/kWh. He said residents who want to lock in a fixed price can call NOPEC’s customer-care line and enroll in a 12‑month fixed option at 9.7¢/kWh or a 24‑month option at 10.1¢/kWh.
Ramos said NOPEC mailed electric-anniversary opt-out letters beginning April 1; the letters notify recipients that if they do nothing they will remain in (or join) the city’s electric aggregation program at the standard rate. "The letter explains that if you want to take advantage of the 12 or 24 month fixed pricing option, you call our 24‑hour customer-care line, and they will enroll you," he said, adding there are no cancellation fees.
Several council members said the short-term standard offer could confuse residents who expected yearlong pricing and urged NOPEC to make the 12‑month fix automatic. One council member said residents could feel "bait-and-switched" after last year’s rate changes; Ramos acknowledged the frustration and said he would take responsibility for communication and help residents enroll.
NOPEC explained it uses hedging strategies across many communities and that regulatory and pool constraints can limit automatic placement into some fixed‑price groups. Ramos said the three‑month standard block is meant to hedge peak summer usage and that NOPEC will announce fall season rates after the summer period ends.
Council president and staff said the city will distribute the NOPEC materials left at the dais and urged residents to carefully read terms if they shop individual market offers online. Ramos cautioned residents to watch for offers with low per‑kilowatt rates that attach monthly fees or other charges.
The presentation ended with council members asking staff to post NOPEC’s materials and reminders that residents who prefer not to participate may opt out after receiving the mailed notice. NOPEC said its relationship manager will be available to assist residents who need help signing up for a fixed term.
Next steps: NOPEC will continue sending informational materials and the city will circulate the FAQs; residents who want a fixed-term price must call NOPEC’s customer care number to be enrolled.
