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Home > Blogs > West Chester News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > December > 19 > Entry
Cheaper electric?
UPDATE: Duke Energy’s electric charge is $0.11706 per kilowat hour, or about $117.06 per month for an average home that uses 1,000 kh in electricity.
For the first time since voters approved giving themselves an option when it comes to choosing an electric and gas provider, the former will be considered.
A majority of trustees gave West Chester Twp. Administrator Judi Boyko the go-ahead Tuesday, Dec. 16, to begin exploring whether an electric provider other than Duke Energy could offer the commodity at a cheaper price.
Voters approved the notion in 2005 for West Chester Twp. to join Colerain and Springfield townships in a gas and electric aggregation program. The idea is the more people who participate in the program, the lower competitive rates would become.
Since 2006, township residents have been provided an option on a gas provider. However, during that same time, Duke Energy has always trumped others’ rates, township officials said Tuesday.
That may change if broker Mark Burns of Independent Energy Consultants is given the OK to proceed in seeking more competitive electric rates.
Officials from Springfield Twp. said they are also exploring whether electric aggregation will create a savings to their residents.
But, “it’s like Sams (Club),” Boyko said. “You buy in bulk.”
Although trustees Catherine Stoker and Lee Wong endorsed the plan, Trustee President George Lang said the township “should walk away” from its involvement.
“This is not our core competency,” Lang said. “It’s not what government should be doing. I’m adamantly opposed to getting involved in the private sector.”
Wong said he fully supports the program, especially considering Duke Energy’s recent announcement they would be raising rates for residential customers.
“I believe in free enterprise and competition,” Wong said.
Thoughts about electric aggregation?
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