Following the passage of a March 2012 referendum, the Village of Deer Park contracted to procure electric supply in bulk for residents and small businesses. The Village recently sought competitive bids and renewed the program for a 12-month term with Dynegy Energy, a power generator located in Southern Illinois. The new fixed rate is 6.256¢ per kWh for the term October 2016 to October 2017, an 8% decline versus the current program rate.
The default ComEd rate to compare is established by the Illinois Power Agency and will next reset in October to 6.31¢ per kWh. That rate will again be reset in June 2017 and may rise another ½¢ due to an expected increase in regulated capacity charges.
All residents and small businesses will receive notices informing them of the new lower rate and term and will automatically be enrolled unless they:
• Choose to opt out as directed in the opt out notice; or
• Have previously switched to another Supplier; or
• Participate in a Residential Real-Time Pricing hourly-rate program
Notices will be mail dropped August 19. Ratepayers receiving opt out notices will automatically be enrolled unless they take steps to opt out by September 9. Ratepayers not currently participating in the Village’s program and who are enrolled with other suppliers will receive informative, opt in notices and may call Dynegy at 844-351-7691 to join the program. There is never a termination fee.
Residents continue to receive one bill from ComEd to include the electric supply charges from Dynegy. ComEd will continue to charge for delivery. The way you pay your bill, such as budget billing or automatic payment does not change.
Program Benefits: This program presents several opportunities for ratepayers, providing them with:
• A cap above which no ratepayer will be required to pay for the one-year term
• A fixed benchmark to compare with other offers
• Flexibility to join or leave the program, and with no fees to switch
• A fixed, known rate vs. the ComEd base rate which may increase June 2017 when higher regulated capacity charges take effect
Electric deregulation has met with great success in Illinois, saving ratepayers billions of dollars to date: Residents paid over 9¢ per kWh for electric supply in the summer of 2010, and Illinois rates were near the highest levels in the nation in the 1990s through the early 2000s. Today Illinois electric rates are among the lowest in the nation.
Electric Aggregation Program FAQs
1. How can I enroll in the program?
During the initial three-week opt out period, you need do nothing if you have an eligible resident or small commercial electric account; you will automatically be enrolled (if you have received the opt out notice at your ComEd billing address), unless you opt out. After the initial opt out period, any residential or small business ratepayer may enroll by calling Dynegy at 844-351-7691 and asking for the Village of Deer Park aggregation program rate.
2. What if I don’t want to be in the program?
You are free to opt out before the program begins or to request to be terminated after you are enrolled, and will never be charged a fee to switch back to the default ComEd rate.
3. I am located within Deer Park Village limits, have already switched to another Supplier, but would like to join the program. Can I do this?
Yes. You will receive an informative notice program details. Call Dynegy at 844-351-7691 and provide them with your ComEd account number. If you are currently enrolled with another alternative supplier that is not the Village’s program, you should check your contract to understand any early termination fees to which you may be subject. You may wait for your current contract to expire and enroll with Dynegy at any time during the 12-month term.
4. What is the current ComEd default rate?
The ComEd base rate starting October has been announced at 6.31¢ plus or minus a monthly Purchased Electricity Adjustment (PEA) of 0.5¢ and will be reset June 2017. The ComEd default rate includes three charges: supply, transmission and PEA. For more information, visit pluginillinois.org.
5. How does the Dynegy rate compare with the ComEd rate under “Electric Supply Services” on my bill?
You will have one fixed Dynegy rate that covers both electric supply and transmission services. You are never charged a PEA by Dynegy.
6. Will I get two bills, one from ComEd and another from the new supplier?
No. ComEd continues to bill for electric supply, delivery and taxes. ComEd delivers electricity, and will continue to bill you, but they no longer supply it. They will pass along the fees you pay for electric supply to the new supplier.
7. Will that affect my ComEd electric service?
No. ComEd has not generated electricity since 2007. A government agency, the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) contracts electric supply for ratepayers choosing what is called the default ComEd rate. You are free to choose any supplier you wish.
8. Whom do I call if I have service problems?
Always call ComEd with reports of outages or downed power lines at 800-334-7661. For questions about your supply, call Dynegy at 844-351-7691.
9. If I am automatically enrolled, can I leave the program at any time?
Yes, you may vacate the program and switch to the ComEd default rate or another supplier. Dynegy will never charge a penalty to leave the Deer Park program.
10. What is ComEd’s six-month “stay” or “bundled hold” requirement?
Please note State Regulations that prohibit some switching. If your account was with an alternative supplier and you switch back to ComEd, you have two billing cycles in which you must move to another supplier or be subject to a six-month “bundled hold” status, during which you may not switch back to that same supplier. However, you may switch at any time to a different supplier than you just left.
11. I am enrolled in a low-income assistance program. Will that be affected?
No. If you currently receive assistance via PIPP or LIHEAP, your status will not change and you can continue to get these benefits for your ComEd bill.
12. Does the program impact my ComEd budget billing or auto-payment plan?
The way you pay your ComEd bill will not change.
13. Will someone come to my home or call to sign me up?
PLEASE NOTE: No one from Dynegy or the Village will ever visit your home or call you to enroll. ComEd will not ask for your account number. If someone contacts you claiming to be the Village’s supplier, please report such activity to Village Hall or file a complaint with the ICC at http://www.icc.illinois.gov/consumer/complaint. You should never reveal your ComEd account number to a solicitor unless you are certain you wish to enroll with that supplier and have read all terms and conditions.
14. What happens if I move?
If you stay within the Village limits, you must call Dynegy to re-enroll at your new address. Residents moving into the community after the program begins will not be automatically enrolled in the program, but may enroll at any time.
15. Does the energy supply include any renewable “green” energy sources?
Yes. Your energy supply meets the Illinois Renewable Portfolio Standard, which is 11.5% for the Energy Year June 2016 to May 2017. Thus a portion of your electric supply is sourced from renewable resources such as solar, hydro or wind, via Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).
The Illinois Commerce Commission provides additional information about energy deregulation in Illinois and energy supply choices at www.pluginillinois.org.
For specific questions about your own electric account, do not call Village Hall; call the Village of Deer Park’s aggregation program supplier: Dynegy at 844-351-7691.
If you require additional assistance, call NIMEC at 800-727-3820 to leave your question and callback number. You will be contacted within 24 hours regarding the issue.
To report an electrical outage, or for questions pertaining to your ComEd bill, always call ComEd at 800-334-7661.
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