Update:  They passed to contract with Good Energy and add the maximum renewable.  Also they approved their cut.  Government run electricity – congrats Bloomington.

by:  Diane Benjamin

Tonight the Bloomington City Council will approve a contract with Good Energy to start the aggregation process.  As explained previously (http://blnnews.com/2012/12/18/aggregation-follow-the-money/), Ameren is out to recapture the monopoly they have enjoyed for decades.

Electricity was deregulated in 2007 and many small suppliers entered the market.  In 2009 Springfield passed a law to allow aggregation, even though electricity rates were dropping due to competition.   Ameren saw their share slipping away, so they pushed for aggregation to lock in customers.  Every city in Illinois that passed aggregation has contracted with Good Energy and every city chose Homefield Energy.  They are owned by Ameren according to the Secretary of State’s website.  Why is Good Energy seemingly the only consultant ever used?  Why does Homefield Energy always win?

Any alderman going to ask questions?  Is the Pantagraph going to ask questions?

Aggregation eliminates competition.  Electric rates may be temporarily lower, but as soon as the smaller guys go out of business, all bets are off.  Most of the City Council members do not know what they are voting for.  All they see are $$$ signs.

Besides, look at who else makes money:

http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=5140

The City Council has the option to require the ARES to include a civic contribution which could be up to 1/10 of a cent per kilowatt hour

Consultant Fees (Good Energy): The fees for the services provided by the Consultant shall be paid by electric customers at the rate of ¾ of 1/10 of one cent per kilowatt hour ($0.00075/kWh).