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Committee forwards 6-year renewal of Belvidere residential electric aggregation with 2-year opt-out
Summary
Belvidere’s Committee of the Whole voted to forward an ordinance renewing the city’s residential aggregation with MC-Squared that preserves resident rates at ComEd levels while providing the city a $36,000 annual civic contribution and a six-year supplier term with a two-year opt-out.
Belvidere’s Committee of the Whole voted June 22 to forward to city council an ordinance authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute a renewal of the city’s residential electric aggregation with supplier MC-Squared.
Director Turnipseed told the committee the renewal would continue a civic contribution of $36,000 per year to the city and keep participating residents’ supply rates identical to ComEd’s default monthly rate. "There are no enrollment or early termination fees," Turnipseed said, adding that ComEd would remain the delivery provider responsible for billing, line maintenance and outage response.
The recommended contract term is six years, coupled with an opt-out mechanism allowing the city to exit the program every two years without penalty. Supporters said the longer term reduces the administrative burden of recurring mass mailings that would be required by shorter one- or two‑year municipal opt-out cycles.
Aldermen pressed staff for operational details. "Is this only for residential customers, and do we know what percentage of residents participate?" Alderman Peterson asked. Turnipseed said the supplier selects participants and that the $36,000 civic contribution is paid regardless of the enrollment level; the precise participation percentage was not specified.
The committee also raised legal questions about contract length. City Attorney Drella said he would check the enabling legislation for aggregation terms. Later in the meeting an alderman cited the electric-aggregation statute and municipal code language indicating long-term aggregation contracts are permitted; the city attorney will confirm statutory and home-rule implications before final council action.
Alderman Hoinacki moved and Alderman Mountalban(o) seconded forwarding the ordinance; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. The city council will consider the ordinance at a future meeting.
