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Commissioners unanimously approve Hubbard Township joining county natural-gas aggregation after broker dispute
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Summary
The Trumbull County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize Hubbard Township's participation in the county's natural gas aggregation program after commissioners and county staff said they resolved a dispute tied to a broker'issued letter; the vendor will begin service on the county's schedule and residents retain opt-out rights.
A majority of the Trumbull County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on a floor motion to admit Hubbard Township into the county's natural-gas aggregation program after what commissioners described as a dispute over a broker'issued letter that had temporarily prevented Hubbard from joining.
The motion, introduced from the floor by a commissioner and seconded on the record, prompted an extended discussion about outreach and the role of brokers. The mover said county staff and the board's broker were told by a third-party broker that Hubbard and several other municipalities were represented and could not be solicited; the commissioner said the letter caused confusion and that county and outside counsel, along with Palmer Energy, then worked to restore Hubbard's participation. "We were told that for many years that once we sign with someone, they get us a rate, and then no one can come and try to poach the client," the commissioner said, describing calls to township trustees and the broker to confirm who was under contract.
Prosecutor Danzo, who addressed the board during the discussion, said the agreement from the chosen vendor (Archer Energy, according to clerk email referenced at the meeting) had been received and was ready to be executed after the meeting. He confirmed the service term for Hubbard will begin with the meter read in July (billing statement in August) and run through March 2029, noting that the vendor must send statutory notice and opt-out information to eligible residents. Danzo said the rate being matched for Hubbard was "0.4919 per MCF," as discussed earlier in the meeting.
Commissioners described the arrangement as an "opt-out" aggregation: residents are included by default but may shop elsewhere and opt out without penalty. The moving commissioner said county staff secured matching rates for Hubbard and that no one lost money because of the delay; he added the county would cooperate with any investigation into the broker'issued letter and that there is a related PUCO proceeding over the broker's conduct.
The clerk took a roll call vote after discussion; the recorded vote was unanimous in favor and the motion passed.
What happens next: the vendor will send the required notice to Hubbard residents and the service enrollments will begin on the vendor's schedule in July/August as described by the prosecutor. Residents retain the right to opt out once notices are mailed.
Ending note: Commissioners thanked county staff, the prosecutor's office and Palmer Energy for their assistance resolving the enrollment issue. The board filed the executed agreement as soon as it was available.
