Oregon will allow voters to decide on gas program

7/24/2001

Oregon city council joined the move toward establishing a local natural gas aggregation program by voting last night to put the issue on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Oregon is part of the Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition that was organized last year after voters in communities across the area approved a similar measure providing for bulk buying of electricity. Both aggregation programs have “opt-out” provisions for residents who don't want to be part of the bulk-buying consortium.

Oregon council authorized the administration to amend the Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition agreement to include natural gas in addition to electricity. Also approved was a measure authorizing the coalition to hire WPS Energy Services, Inc., as its energy supplier.

WPS is offering electric prices that are discounted 9 percent off First Energy's generation price, less administrative costs that are not expected to exceed 1 to 2 percent.