NOPEC high electric bill leading to opt-outs among local consumers

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Aggregation programs where communities purchase electric or natural gas on behalf of residents - which results in overall lower prices - have become common throughout Ohio.

However, people in Milton Township were recently enrolled in one of those programs, NOPEC, only to find that prices over the last couple of months were much higher.

Two months ago, Gerald Olson, who lives in Lake Milton, received a letter from non-profit aggregation NOPEC. Initially, he thought it was spam, but it wasn't until later that he found out that he'd have to opt-out of an aggregation that he hadn't opted into.  

That particular program is called an opt-out aggregation, which according to the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, is a program that results in residents being automatically enrolled in the aggregation unless they individually opt-out of the program. The opt-out method requires voter approval and is the most common form of governmental aggregation in Ohio. 

"My average bills over the whole last year was $114 per month.", said Olson, a retired veteran.

In the last two months, Gerald paid just shy of $500 in electric bills, a $194 increase since he was enrolled. Unfortunately, Gerald isn't alone in this battle, he says other neighbors, many of which are retired and are on fixed incomes, are just becoming aware.

21 News reached out to Milton Township officials to see why they chose to go this route but have not heard back yet.

A spokesperson for NOPEC said their electric rates are higher right now because of skyrocketing energy costs, making it difficult to negotiate lower rates for consumers, but says the energy market will stabilize.  Consumers can call the aggregation to opt-out, but it will take one to two billing cycles for the change to be made. 

Customers who opt out will be given their utility provider's standard offer, or they can choose from a variety of energy marketers that are certified by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. 

You can compare those various suppliers here.