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Hilliard committee reviews options to extend electric aggregation as capacity costs surge
Summary
Energy Alliances told Hilliard's Committee of the Whole that the city's voter-approved electric aggregation has saved participants about $557 on average and $4.35 million citywide since 2023, but rising capacity and wholesale costs mean council must decide whether to lock a longer-term supplier or pause the program.
HILLIARD, Ohio ' On June 8, 2026, the Hilliard City Council Committee of the Whole heard a presentation from Rich Surus of Energy Alliances on the city's electric aggregation program, now entering its fourth year. Surus said participating customers have saved roughly $557 on average and the community has saved about $4.35 million since the program began in September 2023.
Surus told council the aggregation product includes the purchase of renewable energy credits and that both capacity charges and wholesale energy costs have risen substantially in the last two years, driven in part by broader market pressures and concerns about enough generation capacity. "The program has been very successful for the city and for its residents," Surus said, adding the aggregation product has included renewable credits that offset 100% of usage.
Why it matters: Hilliard voters approved the aggregation program in 2022 with goals that included cost savings and renewable energy procurement. Surus said current auction signals and higher capacity-price components have pushed both utility and aggregation rates higher; those capacity costs, he said, now represent a major driver of retail price increases.
Surus summarized results of an April request for proposals (RFP). He said Energy Alliances received three responses, with two competitive offers listed in the council packet and a third substantially higher. The packet, he said, lists the city's current supplier (transcribed in the meeting materials as "Donnage"). The prices provided to council were initial RFP returns and had not been negotiated. "We did receive three responses," Surus said. "We have two of them listed here; we did just throw out the third one because it was much higher."
Council members asked technical questions about how capacity is measured (megawatt-day), whether prices might return to prior lows and what options exist if residents become "priced out." Surus said the city can pause the aggregation and return customers to the utility if council decides bids do not meet program goals. He cautioned that individual retail shopping is unlikely to find substantially lower offers in current market conditions.
Surus also explained trade-offs between contract terms: a 12-month offer tends to be lower in price but gives limited term security, while a longer lock reduces exposure to future auction spikes but risks paying a higher locked price if markets later decline. He noted there is no termination fee for customers in Hilliard's aggregation product, allowing residents to opt out if they wish.
Surus asked council to authorize the city manager to execute supplier agreements within the decision window; he said staff and consultants need time to monitor bids and act before the practical deadline in early July. "You really have until the second week of July to have to get something done," he said.
President Cole, reviewing packet figures, credited Council member Vermillion for helping advance the aggregation program. Council did not take a final vote on a supplier or contract length during the meeting; Surus said staff will return with negotiated offers and recommended action as the RFP process moves forward.
Next steps: Energy Alliances and city staff will continue negotiations; council may be asked to authorize the city manager to finalize a contract before the early-July timing window cited by Surus.
