Municipal Aggregation

The deregulation of natural gas and electricity services in Ohio and other states has made it possible for cities, counties, villages and townships to establish aggregation programs, or buying groups, individually or with others, that allow retail customers (such as residents and small businesses) to combine their purchasing power to achieve savings on natural gas and electricity costs.

The people at Independent Energy Consultants are pioneers in the successful implementation of electricity and natural gas aggregation programs. We currently have over 100 community relationships through our electric and natural gas programs across Ohio.  In Illinois, Ohio, Virginia and Texas, local governments may choose to implement an "Opt-in" program (where each consumer must agree to participate to be included) or an "Opt-out" program (where each consumer is automatically included in the buying group unless he or she specifically requests not to be).

Municipal Aggregation is a valuable service that residents and small businesses look for from their local governments. It has proven to be the most effective way to help small consumers manage their utility bills, and has received overwhelming support wherever it's been tried. To find out which type of program is best for your community, please contact us.

Independent Energy Consultants Gives Back to Local Governments

As part of its goal to be a responsible corporate citizen, Independent Energy Consultants is proud to say that no tax dollars are used to establish our Energy Aggregation Programs. We are also pleased to have been able to make donations to the general fund of our local Government Aggregation clients. Please contact us, if you would like to learn how our programs can help your residents and small businesses, and help fund energy efficiency projects at your government-owned facilities.

Independent Energy Consultants recently negotiated thirteen Electric Aggregation Programs that provide guarantee discounts off the local utility company rates for residential and small commercial customers. The offers also included over $7.4 million of civic grants to our clients' general funds. Contact us to see how we can help your community benefit in these difficult economic times.

For some examples of how municipal aggregation programs orchestrated by IEC representatives have successfully helped communities, visit our Case Histories page.

IEC representatives have formed numerous municipal aggregation and private buying group programs in the Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating, Dominion East Ohio, Columbia Gas of Ohio, and Duke Energy service territories, and are now actively pursuing the establishment of aggregation programs in the following:

 

NaturalGas Service Territories - OH/VA
Columbia Gas of Ohio Dominion East Ohio
Duke Energy - Ohio Vectren Energy Delivery
Electricity Service Territories - IL/OH/VA/TX
Ameren Illinois Commonwealth Edison
Cleveland Electric Illuminating Columbus Southern
Dayton Power and Light Duke Energy - Ohio
Ohio Edison Ohio Power
Toledo Edison First Choice Power
WTU Retail Energy CP&L Retail Energy
TXU Energy, Inc. Reliant Energy Retail Service
TXU SESCO Energy Services

 

If your community has not started a municipal aggregation program yet for electricity or natural gas, please contact Independent Energy Consultants to see how we can manage your program from start to finish.

 

Testimonials
  • "It has been my pleasure to work with Mark Burns in developing Green's electric and gas aggregation programs. Green was one of the first municipalities to initiate an aggregation program, and Mr. Burns' knowledge and drive were instrumental in getting this accomplished in a timely and cost efficient manner.

    The city of Green has saved its residents literally millions of dollars in reduced costs for both power and natural gas. Given Mr. Burns' extensive knowledge and customer responsiveness, I would recommend him unconditionally to coordinate any utility based study."
    Dan Croghan
      Former Mayor
    City of Green, OH
  • "Mr. Burns brings 22 years of experience and expertise in the fields of natural gas and electricity to governmental aggregation programs. His knowledge and experience, coupled with his awareness of and sensitivity to residential energy customers' preferences, makes it easy for a City to present a well-organized and cost-beneficial aggregation program to City residents.

    Mr. Burns is always ready to personally assist the individual resident in joining or leaving an aggregate group. He is always willing to explain the program to those residents that may have questions. He understands that governmental energy aggregates are made of people, not numbers.

    Mr. Burns watches the market trends and advises a governmental aggregator when to strike a price for an energy program. He tracks activity before the Public Utilities Commission and advises of issues that will impact municipalities so that we may address those issues. His advice and attention to our municipality has made my job much easier, and has resulted in professionally-run aggregate programs."
    Phyllis Vento de Crespo
    Former Assistant Director of Law
    City of Euclid, OH
  • "Thanks for all you're your hard work and perseverance. This program has been a huge positive in otherwise gloomy economic times."
    Township Administrator
  • "Most people turn to a quality atlas or a reputable consumer magazine when they need help planning a trip through unfamiliar territory or making an important purchase. I turned to Mark Burns, the founder of Independent Energy Consultants.

    Mark calmly, politely and successfully guided our city through every phase of our opt-in and opt-out natural gas aggregation programs. He also helped taxpayers, our city, and our council of local governments achieve significant savings on residential, small business and public building heating bills.

    Mark Burns is the consummate professional, knowledgeable, certified, neophyte-friendly, always available to answer questions, and always planning ahead. I give him thumbs up, way up."
    Joe Martuccio
    Law Director, City of Canton
  • "Thanks for the good job you are doing. I know the residents of the township appreciate the savings particularly in these difficult economic times."
    Township Trustee
  • "Mark,  I will send this out today - as is.  Thank you for your hard work, this program has been wonderful."
    Township Administrator