Council committees back NOPEC electricity aggregation, $20,462 grant and public defender renewal for council consideration

The Intergovernmental and Utilities Committee agreed to bring multiple items to the full City Council: ordinances to join the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) electricity aggregation program and to adopt NOPEC’s plan of operation, a resolution to accept a 2026 NOPEC Energized Community grant for $20,462, and a third‑reading renewal of the public‑defender agreement.

Service Director Valerie Wakgar told the committee NOPEC’s 12‑month bid came in at 9.48¢ per kilowatt‑hour for 06/01/2026–05/31/2027, below the next bid (9.84¢) and slightly lower than the city’s current 12‑month rate of 9.669¢ under the existing provider. "Residents with a standard use can expect to see a small reduction in their electricity bill," she said.

Wakgar also described the NOPEC grant program and past uses: the city has used prior NOPEC funds to partially pay for two electric‑vehicle chargers, lease two electric vehicles, and upgrade HVAC; recent NOPEC grant funding was approved for the municipal street‑tree program. The 2026 grant of $20,462 remains unallocated pending committee direction; Wakgar said projects must be energy‑related or environmentally sound and benefit most of the community.

On public‑defender services, the committee reviewed a 2026 agreement with the Legal Defenders Office of Summit County. The contract sets city payment at $45 per closed case for 2026, down from $50.60 per closed case in 2025, with the state covering the remainder of the statutory payment.

Why it matters: Joining NOPEC as an opt‑out community would automatically enroll residents in the lower rate unless they choose another provider, which the committee said could modestly lower average bills while preserving customer choice. The NOPEC grant offers discretionary, energy‑related funding for city projects.

Next step: Committee chairs said they will make motions at the forthcoming council meeting to adopt the ordinances and the grant resolution and to consider the public‑defender contract on third reading.

Provenance: NOPEC aggregation and grant discussion opened in committee SEG 1172 and continued through SEG 1250; public‑defender discussion occurred SEG 1142–1169.

Speakers: Brandenburg (Chair, Intergovernmental & Utilities), Service Director Valerie Wakgar, NOPEC representative.

Topics: NOPEC, electricity_aggregation, public_defender_agreement

Sections:{"lede":"The Intergovernmental and Utilities Committee agreed to advance ordinances to join NOPEC’s electricity aggregation program, accept a $20,462 NOPEC grant, and renew the city’s 2026 public‑defender agreement, with motions to be filed at the next council meeting.","nut_graf":"Committee staff said NOPEC’s 12‑month bid of 9.48¢/kWh would slightly lower residential bills compared with the current aggregated rate, and the $20,462 energized community grant is available for energy‑related projects. The public‑defender agreement sets the city payment at $45 per closed case for 2026, down from $50.60 in 2025.","ending":"The items will appear on the upcoming council agenda for action; staff will present recommended grant uses at a later date."}