The City of Centralia’s municipal aggregation program electric rate will reset starting in June 2026 with a rate of $0.1309 and be effective through May 2027. Eligible residents and small businesses will begin receiving opt out letters pertaining to the upcoming renewal.
This voter approved program was designed to bring stability and protection to city residents and small businesses during volatile times in the energy market. The program has successfully provided participants an alternative choice in suppliers. The current aggregation rate is $0.12048, and the new rate is $0.1309, the upcoming renewal rates will not change over the next 12 months.
Although the current Ameren utility rate is considerably lower for residential accounts and small business accounts, Ameren is also scheduled for a rate reset in June and is expected to have a similar increase in rates. Although the city does not currently know what the new Ameren rate will be, they do expect it to be considerably higher than their current rate.
Regulatory requirements require all eligible accounts, including those who have opted out of previous aggregation programs, must opt out again each time there is a rate, supplier, or term change. Although the city understands this may be frustrating to some, they are simply following the requirements put in place for the program.
When receiving these opt outs there are several key factors to consider, those factors are listed below:
If an account holder opts out of the program and do not choose another alternative supplier within 60 days, they are required to stay with Ameren’s supply for an additional 10 months (one year total) regardless of Ameren’s rate.
Although the opt out letter states you must opt out by a certain date, you may opt out of the program at any time, not just during the opt out period. Therefore, many account holders wait until Ameren’s new rate has been posted in June before opting out.
Since the inception of the program, it has provided participants with significant savings during specific times of volatility in the energy market. However, there is no guarantee, the aggregation rate will always be a lower rate than the Ameren rate. The program is designed to fix the rate without change, for a specific term, therefore limiting unexpected increases in the energy market rates.
Based on the region’s inability to offset the State’s required closing of coal plant generation sites with newer cleaner wind and solar generation, heavy usage from the AI data centers, and the current global unrest, energy experts have already warned that next summer’s rates will likely increase considerably. Illinois
Residents may opt out of the Program by mailing back the pre-paid postage opt-out card sent by the supplier, Homefield Energy, or by calling Homefield Energy at (833) 200-9834. Eligible account holders may also opt out via Homefield Energy’s online site: Homefieldenergy.com/optout.
For additional information, please contact the City’s consultant, Good Energy, at (844) 686-4244.
