North Royalton residents should have received a mailing from the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) regarding their options on gas and electric suppliers. Each year, residents have the opportunity to opt out of the NOPEC contract for gas and electric suppliers and choose alternative suppliers, if they so choose.
NOPEC was formed about fifteen years ago, when voters agreed to appoint it as a negotiator for electricity. The thought was that by communities gathering together and appointing one negotiator, it would then be able to negotiate a better price, securing lower rates. Currently, they are the largest public retail aggregation in the U.S., serving about half a million customers in more than 200 communities and thirteen counties. They have boasted savings of members of more than a quarter billion dollars in electric savings and have provided more than $16 million in community grants. NOPEC also began negotiating natural gas rates.
Residents can opt out of the program and choose to purchase electricity from a different company. Denise Dean, Marketing Director for NOPEC noted that “there is never a fee to opt in or opt out of NOPEC.” If they wish to stay with NOPEC, they don’t have to do anything. If residents wish to research various options for electric and natural gas suppliers, they can go to the “apples-to-apples” comparison chart, provided by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). That chart is located at www.energychoice.ohio.gov. The PUCO regulates providers of all kinds of utility services, including electric and natural gas companies and was created to assure adequate, safe and reliable public utility services at a fair price.
Residents who are interested in comparing various rates and how they relate to the NOPEC rate, should look at the terms of the contracts that are being offered. North Royalton Assistant Law Director, Donna Vozar recommends that residents “make sure the energy company has the ability to meet the needs of the number of people who have signed up.” PUCO officials have indicated that if a company is listed on the apples-to-apples comparison chart, they have been certified by the PUCO. Residents should pay attention to not only the rate offered, but if the rate is variable or fixed, the term of the contract and what, if any fees are charged for changing mid-contract.
Recently, NOPEC reached a three-year agreement with NextEra Energy Services Ohio, LLC (NESO) to become the supplier of electricity for their program. This comes after FirstEnergy Solutions terminated their agreement with NOPEC, which will be effective in January, 2017. The new contract with NESO will become effective at that point. According to NOPEC officials, “Under the NOPEC-NESO retail electric aggregation supply agreement, customers will receive initial pricing from January 2017 through the summer high-demand period that will generate savings comparable to the expiring NOPEC contract savings. After the initial price period, customers will receive competitive variable rates based on favorable wholesale purchase prices then available in the market. There will be zero cancellation or early termination fees. “ That means that after the fixed rate from January, 2017 to June, 2017, the rate could then vary from month to month. NOPEC offers two pricing options presently. The first is the fixed rate option, as just described. The second option involves a monthly variable rate, that will be 6% less than your utility’s price to compare. This option is subject to availability. If residents wish to participate in this program, they must call NOPEC.
For more information on the new NOPEC-NESO electricity agreement, visit NOPEC’s website at www.nopecinfo.org/electricupdate or call 855-667-3201 (855-NOPEC01).

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer