City Strikes Lower, Fixed Rate for Gas Aggregation Program

Although prices at the pump have risen, the 4,436 Stow residents and 239 businesses participating in the city’s natural gas aggregation program will get a lower rate this year.

It's not too late to join the program either.

For a seven month fixed rate beginning in May through the November billing cycle this year, those participating in the natural gas aggregation program through the city will pay $5.2843 per Mcf.

Natural gas prices are at their lowest since at least 2006, according to a recent announcement in a joint press release by Stow, Independent Energy Consultants and Vectren Source.

“We are delighted to have been able to strike such a low rate for our residents and small businesses. Our fixed rate is lower than any other comparable offer on the PUCO’s Apples-to-Apples comparison chart,” Mayor Karen Fritschel said.

The previous price, which expires after the April billing cycle, was $7.054 per Mcf, said Service Director Dano Koehler.

“We had a narrow window; our rate that we struck before for natural gas was through the end of March. We had to do something to have a program for the summer, or customers would have defaulted to the standard rate Dominion East Ohio Gas gives the northeast. We did very well. They’re actually very good rates right now,” Koehler said.

Residents already enrolled in the program will automatically be re-enrolled to receive the new rate. Newly eligible accounts can expect to receive an opt-out letter from Vectren Source within the week through which they can turn down participation, according to the press release.

Residents and commercial businesses have seven days after receiving the letter to contact Vectren Source to opt out of the gas-aggregation program, Koehler said.

Stow has contracted its rates through Vectren Source since 2004. The gas aggregation program began in 2008.

The combined savings over time to residential and commercial customers enrolled since the beginning of the program is $1,412,376, he said.

Residents being served by another supplier may seek enrollment in Stow’s aggregation program by either calling Vectren Source or responding to the letter they receive in the mail.

Customers new to the program are required to be in “good standing.” Additionally, those participating for their utility service in the Percentage of Income Payment Program (PIPP) are not eligible for the gas aggregation program through Vectren Source.

For more information or to opt out of the program, call Vectren Source at 1-866-200-5634.