Bay Village natural gas aggregation program begins soon

Bay Village voters in May approved an "opt-out" natural gas aggregation program for our community by a record-setting 87 percent margin. The program will soon be available to all residents and small businesses in the city. 

The theory behind aggregation is simple: By using bulk purchasing power, greater savings can be passed on to our residents and businesses. Through an aggregation program, our residents will join together with 200 other communities to negotiate better prices and consumer protections. 

Without aggregation, individual households are responsible for selecting a natural gas supplier that would not offer the same low pricing and protections available from an aggregation. Our new natural gas aggregation will work in a similar manner to the electric aggregation approved by Bay Village voters in 2010. 

The City of Bay Village has selected the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) to best manage our new natural gas aggregation program. NOPEC is a nonprofit government aggregation that has become the largest energy aggregation in the nation. NOPEC provides low-cost electricity and natural gas to more than 750,000 customers in 13 Northeast Ohio counties.  

Unlike the many private, for-profit companies now marketing in Ohio, NOPEC is a not-for-profit public aggregation of local governments, with no goal other than delivering both savings and stability to the consumers it represents. As you are aware from solicitations that you receive, private, for-profit energy suppliers sometimes use special offers and gimmicks to attract customers. Because NOPEC is made up of a council of local governments, their pricing is a safe and reliable way to ensure competitive long-term pricing for natural gas. Visit nopecinfo.org for details.

This new aggregation program will provide our residents and businesses a discounted supply of natural gas. Columbia Gas of Ohio will continue to deliver the natural gas to your home or business, offer the same budget billing options, repair the pipes, meters, and will continue to send you your utility bill. Nothing changes other than the discounted energy supply available through this new natural gas aggregation. 

Residents and small businesses that are currently participating in the Columbia Gas of Ohio “Standard Choice” program will receive an "Opt-Out" letter in late August.  The rate available in the Opt Out letter will be 43.8 cents/ccf. This rate is currently better than 38 of the 42 offers on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's Apples to Apples website, energychoice.ohio.gov. The four lower rates are special offers that become variable over time.

Since this is an “Opt-Out” program, those wishing to participate will be automatically enrolled. No action is necessary to participate. Those wishing to opt out can also easily do so by following the instructions in the Opt Out letter. The new NOPEC pricing will then begin on the October natural gas bills from Columbia Gas of Ohio.