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Councilor explains energy-aggregation options and how Athens residents can shop for better electricity and gas rates
Summary
Council Member Swank walked residents through the city’s electric aggregation (SOP), options to opt out, how to use energychoice.ohio.gov to compare fixed 12‑month rates and renewable-content choices, and referenced a small carbon fee used for local solar projects.
During announcements on April 21, Council Member Swank gave an extended, practical overview of Athens’ energy-aggregation options and steps residents can take to compare and secure potentially lower electricity or gas rates.
Swank explained that city residents are automatically included in the SOP electric aggregation but can opt out and choose the standard service offer or shop independently via the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio website (energychoice.ohio.gov). She recommended comparing 12-month fixed-rate offers with 100% renewable content and looking for plans with no early-termination fees or monthly add-on charges.
To illustrate potential savings, Swank said saving one penny per kilowatt-hour for a household using about 1,000 kWh per month equates to roughly $120 a year. She also described a small carbon fee collected under the aggregation that city programs have used for local solar projects and LED retrofits. She noted that the city participates in a separate gas aggregation program (NOEC) and that some grant-funded programs have supported local energy projects.
Swank walked listeners through a basic shopping process on the state site and cautioned that some offers include hidden monthly fees or early-exit charges; she recommended calling providers to confirm contract terms rather than only signing up online. The council took no formal action on the energy-aggregation discussion; the remarks were provided as consumer information.
Key quote: "If you don't want to participate in it, you can opt out," Swank said, adding that shoppers should seek fixed-rate, no-fee, renewable-content contracts for apples-to-apples comparisons.
