Municipal electric aggregation has become a common topic of conversation among Chicagoland municipalities. Municipal electric aggregation refers specifically to the situation where a municipality organizes the pooling of its residents to become a buying group. The municipality then seeks out competitive bids from electric providers on behalf of this group in an effort to get better pricing, terms and services than would be available to an individual resident. Most municipalities that have undertaken the aggregation process have experienced electric bill savings for residents.
Under state law, in order to receive authority to negotiate on behalf of our residents, voters would have to approve a referendum. The referendum question will appear on the April 9, 2013 Consolidated General Election ballot. If voters approve the referendum, the Village will create a Plan of Operation and Governance, and hold at least two public hearings to discuss this plan, which are requirements by Statute. Once the plan is in place, the Village can solicit bids from suppliers who are licensed as alternative electric suppliers in the State of Illinois. Bids are reviewed, and the Village determines if and with whom it will enter into an agreement for energy supply. If favorable pricing does not exist, the Village will not enter into an agreement and remain with ComEd. The intent of this initiative is for the Village to continue to explore new ways to try and save the residents and businesses of Willowbrook money.