Frequently Asked Questions

Aggregation is an opportunity for cities, townships and counties to negotiate competitive electricity supply rates and provide budget stability for their residents and small businesses. First, residents must vote to give their community officials the ability to negotiate electricity rates for their community. Once a referendum is passed, communities are able to aggregate and elected officials can work with alternative energy suppliers to negotiate competitive electricity rates. Sidney voters approved electric and natural gas aggregation programs in November 2015.

The City of Sidney contracts with Affordable Gas and Electric LLC to implement its formal process where proposals from multiple suppliers are submitted for consideration.

Residential and small business customers located in Sidney municipal limits may participate. Customers enrolled with an alternative retail supplier will not be included in the initial program; however, they can call to be enrolled. Customers enrolled in PIPP (Percentage of Income Plan) are not eligible for the program.

Unless you "opt-out" of the program, all eligible customer accounts within will be enrolled in the program as long as you are not contracted with another supplier or enrolled in a PIPP (Percentage of Income Plan). When the city's contracts expire, you will receive a "switch" letter from your local utility company. If you do nothing with the letter, you will automatically be enrolled in the city's aggregation program. If you complete and return the bottom portion of the "switch" letter you will not be included in the program.

If you are looking to enroll mid-contract, simply call the phone numbers listed on the city's website. Make sure to have your AES or Centerpoint Energy utility account number ready when you call.

City staff cannot enroll residents in the aggregation programs.

All eligible local utility company customers within the city will receive an opt-out notification letter via U.S. mail. You may "opt-out" by returning the Opt-Out card or calling the supplier by the deadline date identified in your notification. If you choose to opt-out, your account remains with your local utility company at their current utility rate.

Sidney voters authorized the community to develop an aggregation program where each resident and small business is automatically enrolled. Therefore, if you prefer not to participate, you must opt out of the program.

You may opt out at any time by notifying the suppliers listed on the city's website via telephone, email, or mail.

The program competitive rate and terms are explained in the Terms and Conditions found with the "switch" letter or are available on the supplier's respective website. Customers who are enrolled in the program should see the changes on their monthly electricity bill 45 to 60 days after enrollment.

If at any time during the term of the city's contract the local utility company's rates fall lower than the city-negotiated price, you have the option to return to the utility, your local electric company, without penalty. Refer to the " What if I decide to opt-out after the opt-out deadlines have passed?" FAQ for details on how to opt-out.

You will continue to receive one monthly bill from AES or Centerpoint Energy. The bill will include the charges for electricity or natural gas supplied by the city's chosen supplier, as well as the delivery service charges from your local utility company. The aggregation supply charge is simply a line item included on your monthly bill.

Yes, how you pay your bill wlll not change.

You will need to contact the selected suppliers if you wish to participate in budget billing  Please contact the suppliers listed on the city's website if you would like to enroll in budget billing for your or have any additional questions about the program

You will continue to call AES and Centerpoint for outages, problems with your service or questions regarding your monthly bill.