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Plain City Council reviews NOPEC aggregation proposal that could change supplier line on bills
Summary
Council heard a presentation from Ross McDonald of NOPEC about a municipal aggregation program that would change the supplier listed on residents’ utility bills (NextEra Energy Services named). NOPEC said product options and community benefits could lower rates; Council asked questions about opt-outs, review timelines, and next steps.
Ross McDonald, director of community expansion for the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC), briefed the Plain City Council on Feb. 23 on how a municipal aggregation program would work and what steps the Village would need to take to implement one.
McDonald said residents voted in favor of aggregation in November 2025 and that NOPEC would not change local utility infrastructure or billing processes. "The change residents will see is the supplier listed on the bill," McDonald said, identifying NextEra Energy Services as NOPEC’s supplier. He described product options available to enrolled customers — a Standard Program, 12‑month fixed, 24‑month fixed and a Monthly Variable Product — and said customers could move between those options with no early‑termination fees. NOPEC does not charge membership fees to participating communities, McDonald added.
Why it matters: Council members said rate relief and predictable supplier pricing could matter to residents and small businesses as Plain City grows. McDonald said NOPEC’s Standard Program typically produces lower rates than the incumbent supplier (Ohio Edison) in Plain City’s service area; he also discussed similar comparisons for customers served by AEP and for gas service via Columbia Gas. NOPEC offers member benefits such as community grants, small‑business financing and energy audits, and identified the PACE Fund and STEP loan products as additional resources.
Council members pressed for operational details. Ms. Haley Lupton, Village Administrator, and Mr. McDonald confirmed that: residents may opt out of aggregation at any time; residents may opt back in after the initial enrollment window; NOPEC conducts monthly
