Residential Electric Supply

Since 2001, the Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition (NOAC) has provided an alternative supplier to Toledo Edison for generation of electrical power.  NOAC is a consortium of communities who have banded together to contract for power supply and includes Lucas County Commissioners, the cities of Toledo, Sylvania, Oregon, Perrysburg, and other entities. At the end of 2005, the NOAC contract expired with First Energy Solutions and Toledo Edison is  the power supplier for all NOAC’s communities.  

In 2005, the Ohio Public Utilities Commission approved the application of Toledo Edison/First Energy for a ‘rate stabilization plan’.  This effectively eliminated competition for electrical energy suppliers in the state at this time.  Many suppliers have stopped offering power to Ohio customers and their customers have been switched to Toledo Edison for electric generation.  NOAC customers were also returned to Toledo Edison for electric generation in 2006.  NOAC will continue its search for alternative electric energy suppliers.

Commercial Electric Supply
In June, 2007, NOAC initiated an electric supply program for small commercial customers within the City/County.  This is an "opt-out" program meaning that the electric supplier for all eligible accounts will be switched to First Energy (NOAC) unless the account holder opts-out of the program.  First Energy (NOAC) will supply power at a rate 3% less than the Toledo Edison "Generation" rate.  The power generation portion of the Edison bill is about 33% of the total.

All small commercial customers are subject to the opt-out enrollment which ends June 25, 2007.  Letters to all eligible customers were sent to the billing address provided by Toledo Edison.  Customers who wish to be supplied electric power from a source other than NOAC must "opt-out". Additional information is available at the PUCO website listed below.

November 2007 Update:  Due to a change in the law, the PUCO changed its rules late in 2007 regarding notices to certain existing small commercial customers.  In November, 2007, a few customers with multiple locations in the service area were sent an OPT-IN notice from NOAC.  Those customers must "Opt-In" in order to be supplied by NOAC and must fill out the Opt-In form and return it to the Akron address on the form by December 12, 2007. 

Residential Natural Gas Supply

In 2005, a governmental aggregation program was started for Maumee for natural gas through NOAC.  In March, 2005, NOAC contacted gas customers who had Columbia as their gas supplier to announce the program.  Gas customers who had other suppliers were not contacted.  Residents who did not "opt-out" became part of the group supplied through NOAC.  NOAC contracted with Interstate Gas Supply Company for gas supply for two years, which was billed by Columbia as "Interstate Gas (NOAC)."

In March, 2007, NOAC contracted again with Interstate Gas for two years to provide the natural gas to be delivered by Columbia.  The price of the gas supplied is based on Columbia's Gas Recovery Cost less 3.5¢ per ccf (hundred cubic feet).  Columbia's price may fluctuate and so will the price of Interstate Gas (NOAC).

In March, 2007, Interstate Gas (IGS Energy) sent letters again to NOAC customers and to customers with Columbia as their gas supplier.  This letter offered the option to "opt-out" of the NOAC supplier program.  Those who did not "opt-out" are included in the program with Interstate Gas (NOAC) as the gas supplier with a rate 3.5¢ less than the Gas Cost Recovery rate of Columbia.

Other gas supply companies offer a variety of supply contracts with fixed and variable rates for various terms.  The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) provides information about the suppliers, their offers, and other gas consumer information.  Much of this information is available at the PUPCO website:  www.puco.ohio.gov or by phone 1-800-686-PUCO (7826).

Columbia Gas identifies the gas supplier on each bill.  You may contact that company with any questions.  Or you may call Interstate Gas (1-800-280-4474) to find out if you are enrolled or eligible to sign up for the Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition (NOAC) program.

October 2007 Update:  In its continuing effort to increase enrollment, NOAC periodically sends "opt-out" letters to gas accounts that list Columbia as the supplier of gas.  This letter describes the program and the "opt-out" procedure.  This letter is not sent to accounts currently supplied by NOAC.  Letters are not sent to accounts that are not "paid up" or "current." 

The price available through NOAC is based on the Columbia supply rate and is at least 3.5 cents per ccf less than the Columbia rate.  Just as the Columbia price fluctuates, the NOAC rate may also change.

Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

A great resource for consumers - the Consumer Assistance Handbook.  This handbook provides information about how to read and understand your utility bills and utility meters; information on utility assistance programs and energy efficiency.  There's also a resource list with information about other agencies and organizations.  To view the handbook on line, go to: www.pickocc.org/publications/handbook  

The utility billing process can cause confusion or concern.  You can call the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) toll-free hotline for help with your utility disputes or questions.  If you have a complaint or question about charges on your telephone bill, a meter reading problem or you need additional information about your utility service, the OCC can help.

Customer Service Representatives can be reached toll-free at 1-877-PICKOCC (742-5622) or by email at: occ@occ.state.oh.us and are to respond to consumers' questions about utility services.

You can access utility information 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the OCC's automated Call Center.  The Call Center's active voice response system allows consumers to, among many other options, request materials about specific utility issues, such as participating in natural gas choice programs and selecting a long distance telephone provider.  You can also request free consumer assistance publications.  The OCC website is another helpful alternative:  www.pickocc.org 

Public Utilities Commission of Ohio

Information is available from the PUCO’s website including ‘Apples-to-Apples Comparisons” and calculation worksheets.    Go to http://www.puco.ohio.gov/puco/applestoapples/

11/27/07