Montgomery Voters Say Yes to Electric Aggregation

Montgomery leaders will get to negotiate for electric rates for residents and small businesses this year.

Voters in Kane and Kendall counties on Tuesday approved a referendum allowing electricity rate aggregation in the village. This means that village leaders will now be able to shop around for the best rate for homes and businesses in the 0-100kW range.

Unofficial totals posted Tuesday night show 348 Kane County voters approving of the referendum, with 190 saying no. In Kendall County, the referendum passed 516 to 274.

Montgomery plans to join up with the Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative, a group of 140 government entities, to find the cheapest electric rate available, be it from ComEd or from another company, like Constellation or BlueStar. Montgomery, through NIMEC, will sign a one-year deal with the company offering the best rate.

No matter which company the village goes with, ComEd will still deliver electricity to your home or business, and you’ll still receive a ComEd bill. ComEd will also handle power outage issues and other repairs.

Homes and small businesses will automatically be opted into the program, although owners can opt out if they choose. If you already have a signed contract with another energy company, you will not be automatically included. You can still sign up, but you may have to pay a termination fee to break your contract.

For more answers to your questions on electricity aggregation, read .