Utility Aggregation Programs

Electric Aggregation:

Beginning in 2000, the City of Parma successfully implemented the Parma Electric Aggregation Program pursuant to the voted mandate of the March 7, 2000 election. In addition, the Law Department prepared for Council a Governance Plan and conducted all necessary public hearings to become the first certified Governmental Aggregation unit in the State of Ohio. Most importantly, the City of Parma successfully applied for and received for a five (5) year period, market support generation (MSG), a discounted supply of electricity. Specifications were prepared and a supplier for electricity was recommended to City Council.

Parma residents have saved more than $15 million on their electric bills as a result of the electric Aggregation Program that began in March 2001. This initial program expired in December, 2008.

Parma again was able to negotiate a contract authorized by City Council in May, 2009, for provision of electricity for residential and commercial customers to participate in the City of Parma Electric Aggregation Program for the period of July 2009 to May 2012. The supplier is FirstEnergy Solutions (FES), with a guaranteed savings of 6% for residential and 4% for commercial properties for the entire contract period. Opt-out forms were mailed out in June, 2009. Residents did not have to take any action to be a part of the Parma Electric Aggregation to save on their electric bills through May, 2012.

Any questions regarding Parma's Electric Aggregation Program should be directed to FirstEnergy Solutions at 1-866-636-3749.

Natural Gas Aggregation:

The City of Parma is pleased to announce that it has reinstated its natural gas aggregation program through affiliation with the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC), effective with residents’ gas meter reading in April, 2010.

NOPEC has been providing gas and electric to 126 communities in Northeast Ohio since 2001. This organization is a public entity that does not make a profit and does not charge the City of Parma to be a part of its program. NOPEC is the largest governmental aggregation in the U.S. and has, therefore, been able in the past to provide very competitive rates for the residents and small businesses of its member communities.

The NOPEC rate is a fixed rate, but a variable rate is available for those residents who wish to remain on a variable rate. NOPEC will be offering a fixed rate for Parma residents of $0.786/ccf from April through June. This is a very competitive rate for current fixed rate programs. The rate after June will depend upon the market at the time the NOPEC Board determines is the best time to purchase.

Parma residents will receive an opt-out notice sometime in mid-March and will have 21 days to Opt-Out of the program. If you do nothing, you will automatically become part of the NOPEC/Parma program. If, however, for some reason you later choose to leave the NOPEC/Parma program you can do so at no charge.

Any questions regarding Parma’s Natural Gas Aggregation program should be directed to NOPEC at 1-888-848-7914.

Residents are always able to select another supplier to compare pricing of natural gas suppliers from the "Apples-to-Apples" Natural Gas Rate Comparison Chart available on the Public Utilities website at: www.puco.ohio.gov or remain with the utility, Columbia Gas of Ohio.