FAQs • North Canton, OH • CivicEngage

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Electric Aggregation

1. What is aggregation?: Under governmental aggregation, local officials bring citizens together to gain group buying power for the purchase of competitively priced electricity from a retail electric generation supplier certified by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

2. Who will be our supplier for the electric program?: Energy Harbor is the current supplier for electric for customers on the City's aggregation program. They may be reached at either 1-866-636-3749 or via email at firstchoice@energyharbor.com.

3. Whom do I call if I have a problem with my electric service?: The local utility, AEP will continue to deliver your electricity, read your meters, and issue your monthly bills. You will continue to call AEP at 800-277-2177 for emergency repairs, downed power lines, billing questions, non-working street lights, etc.

4. Is our price for power fixed, or does it vary?: In this program, the price you will receive for the generation related charges is fixed at 4.34 cents per kilowatt hour through May 2025.

5. What if I’m with another supplier and would like to join the City’s program?: You would need to contact Energy Harbor at 1-866-636-3749 to request enrollment. Customers served by another supplier should review the obligations in their existing contract before joining the City of North Canton program, as many suppliers charge a fee for early termination.

6. What does “opt out” mean?: “Opt out” means that you can decide not to participate in the City’s electric governmental aggregation program. By returning the opt-out form, which is included in the mailing, by the due date you will not be enrolled as an electric generation customer with Energy Harbor, the City’s competitive electric generation supplier, and you will not receive the low program rate of 4.34 cents per kilowatt hour. Opt-out letters explaining the rate, terms and conditions were sent by Energy Harbor in mid-May 2021.

7. What happens if I do not send in the opt-out form?: If you do not return the opt-out form postmarked by the required date, you will be included in the City’s governmental aggregation program.

8. What are my energy supply choices if I decide to opt out?: You may stay with your current electric utility, which will continue to supply your electricity as it always has. Or, you may shop for a new competitive electric supplier. A list of competitive electric suppliers certified by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and their current prices is available by calling 800-686-7826.

9. Will I get two bills?: No. You will continue to receive one bill from AEP that shows their distribution charges and the supply charge of Energy Harbor.

10. Will I still receive a delivery charge from my local utility AEP?: Yes. Even though you have chosen a new supplier of electricity, AEP continues to deliver the electricity to our homes and businesses. Distribution charges and a flat monthly customer charge apply whether you choose a supplier on your own or remain supplied by AEP.

11. Can I stay on budget billing/equal payment plan or have my payment automatically deducted from my checking account as I do now?: Yes, AEP will continue to offer those programs. However, budget billing applies only to charges from AEP. The budget billing program does not apply to your charges from Energy Harbor. Energy Harbor is a different company from AEP. On your monthly AEP statement, you’ll notice a charge from Energy Harbor for generation and transmission.

Your local utility company must be AEP
You must be a resident or business owner located within the City limits
You must not be a PIPP (percentage of income payment program) customer
You must not be in arrears on your bill payment
You must not be a mercantile customer (commercial accounts using over 700,000 kilowatts per hour per year)
You must not be a commercial customer with a peak demand greater than 200 kilowatts per hour
You must not be listed on the PUCO’s "Do not aggregate list"

13. Does the City benefit from the program?: Yes. The City owned accounts are eligible to receive the discounted rate.

14. Will small businesses, schools, and churches be eligible?: Small commercial accounts using less than 700,000 kilowatts per hour per year and with a peak demand less than 200 kilowatts are eligible. Interested accounts using more than this amount, will need to call Energy Harbor at 1-866-636-3749 to obtain this rate.

15. Can I opt out over the phone?: No, you must mail in your completed form and it must be postmarked by the deadline.

For answers to your questions, please call:

Energy Harbor

Phone: 1-866-636-3749

17. Is this related to our community’s natural gas program?: The programs are similar but totally independent. You do not have to belong to one to participate in the other.

18. Where can I learn more about electric deregulation and assistance programs?: The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has approved a number of additional assistance programs to help customers with their energy bills. You may be eligible to participate in other programs and this offer from Dynegy. Eligibility and enrollment information can be found on the PUCO’s website.