On May 23, 2023, the Village Board approved a 12-month electric aggregation agreement with a Chicago–based company, MC Squared Energy Services, LLC (MC²). The agreement will serve eligible residents and small business customers with an electric supply price equal to the ComEd rate for a 12-month term beginning with the September 2023 ComEd meter read cycle. In addition, this electric aggregation program provides the Village with Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to be designated an EPA Green Power Community at zero added cost to residents and the Village. Residents will begin receiving notices July 14, 2023. All residences will receive notice of the aggregation program. See ‘Next Steps’ below for information about the different types of notices.
This program will support the recommendations of the Wilmette Sustainability Plan by helping jumpstart the Village’s transition to its goal of 100% renewable energy. This new agreement will support 5% REC’s and the Village hopes to increase its support and purchase of renewable energy in future years.
Click here to read the Press Release.
What is Electric Aggregation?
Since 2009, the State of Illinois has authorized municipalities to arrange for the provision of electricity to residential and small commercial retail customers by alternative electric suppliers (i.e. suppliers other than ComEd). An electric aggregation program allows municipalities to pool residential and small commercial retail customers together for the joint purchase of electricity. Communities may be able to leverage the buying power of thousands of residents and small businesses to obtain lower supply rates or other benefits. Click here for more information from the EPA about “community choice aggregation.”
What is Wilmette’s program?
Wilmette voters approved a referendum in 2012 for the Village to participate in electric supply aggregation. Wilmette homeowners and small businesses benefited from this with savings on their ComEd bills from 2012-2016.
Through a partnership with Chicago-based company MC², residences and small businesses will be charged a rate equivalent to the ComEd rate, and in turn the Village will receive REC’s.
The ComEd rate as of June 2023 is 6.9¢. For the most up to date information on the ComEd rate, please visit: plugin.illinois.gov. The aggregation program term is 12 months, from September 2023 through September 2024.
Please refer questions to the Village of Wilmette’s aggregation program supplier, MC² at 833-505-3748. For questions specific to electric billing or service outages, please continue to contact ComEd at 800-334-7661.
Program Benefits:
- Guaranteed the same rate as ComEd.
- No hidden fees, no added costs whatsoever.
- Flexibility to join or leave the program, there will never be an enrollment or switch fee.
- The Village receives 5% of its energy usage in RECs.
- The Village becomes an EPA Green Energy Partner.
Environmental Impact
By purchasing 5% of its power in the form of RECs, the Village will be contributing an estimated 6,048 megawatt-hours of renewable energy power to the grid annually, which is enough energy to power around 600 Midwestern homes for a year. View the table below for the environmental impact of 5% RECs and 100% RECs.
Click image to enlarge.
Next Steps
If you receive an enrollment offer from MC² and want to stay in the program
You do not need to take additional action, MC² will automatically process your enrollment.
If you receive an enrollment offer from MC² and do not want to stay in the program
You have until August 4, 2023 to opt out of the Village’s electric aggregation program. To opt out, call 833-505-3748, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or return the card enclosed in your enrollment letter. Additionally, you can cancel your agreement at any time with no early termination fees.
If you do not receive an enrollment offer from MC² and want to be in the program
You may enroll by visiting www.mc2energyservices.com/special and entering the promo code Wilmette or by calling 833-505-3748, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are no enrollment or early termination fees.
If you do not receive an enrollment offer from MC² and do not want to be in the program
You do not need to take additional action.
Program Timeline
July 14, 2023 – Residents receive MC² rate match program letters in the mail
August 4, 2023 – Initial program opt out date, although you can cancel your agreement at any time with no termination fees
September 2023 – MC² rate match program begins
Spring 2024 – the Village to consider program extension options
September 2024 – MC² rate match program ends if the Village does not renew the program
Solicitors
No one from MC², ComEd, or the Village will ever visit your home or call you to enroll. If a solicitor claims to be the Village supplier, MC², or ComEd, take their information and report the incident to the Wilmette Police Department. To file a complaint against dishonest retail electricity supplier solicitations, contact the ICC’s Consumer Services Division complaint line at 800-524-0795. Customers may also file a complaint online. Never reveal your ComEd account number or allow a solicitor to view your ComEd bill unless you are certain you wish to enroll with that supplier and have read all terms and conditions.
Electricity customers still have a choice of energy suppliers. Those interested in choosing an alternative to ComEd are encouraged to visit the Illinois Commerce Commission website at pluginillinois.org to learn more about electricity supply and to compare current rates.
FAQs
Who is MC Squared Energy Services?
MC Squared Energy Services, LLC (MC²) is a certified, retail electric-service provider headquartered in Chicago. MC Squared Energy Services, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wolverine Holdings. For more information on the company, visit their website here.
Who is eligible to participate in the Village’s aggregation program?
Eligible residential requirements: All residents located in the Village of Wilmette as indicated by ComEd, are eligible to participate.
Eligible business requirements: All small businesses located in the Village of Wilmette as indicated by ComEd, with a ComEd designated annual usage of 15,000 kWh or less, are eligible to participate.
What will change on my electric bill if I’m enrolled?
There are two main components to electricity: supply and distribution. The supply of electricity is generated at the power plant; electricity can be supplied by ComEd or other companies. Electricity is then transmitted and distributed to homes and businesses through ComEd’s infrastructure and power lines.
You will continue to receive a single bill from ComEd each month. “MC Squared Energy Services” will be designated as your supplier in the “Supply” section of your ComEd bill. ComEd will continue to bill you for distribution services and taxes. Payments should still be sent to ComEd at the address provided. There is no impact to ComEd services such as Budget Billing, Peak Time Savings and/or financial assistance. MC2’s supply rate will remain equal the ComEd rate.
How do I opt out?
You have twenty-one (21) days from the date of receiving an opt-out notice to opt out. You may opt out by calling 833-505-3748, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or returning the opt out card located in your notice by August 4, 2023. In addition, you can cancel your agreement at any time with no termination fees. If you do not opt-out of the Village’s Electric Aggregation program, you will be deemed to have authorized and agreed to your enrollment in the Village’s Electric Aggregation program, and to have your electricity supply service with MC2 under the “Terms and Conditions” and “Uniform Disclosure Statement” enclosed. If you are currently participating in a Community Solar savings program, or will be in the future, this municipal electricity aggregation supply program will not impact your Community Solar program. The Community Solar generation credits provided by ComEd are independent of this aggregation program.
How do I opt in?
If you wish to participate in the Village’s program and did not receive an automatic enrollment notice, you must take action to opt in to the program. You may enroll by visiting www.mc2energyservices.com/special and entering the promo code Wilmette or by calling 833-505-3748, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How do I know if I am enrolled in the program?
Program participants will still receive their electricity bills from ComEd because regardless of your energy supplier, ComEd will still be delivering your electricity. To determine your electricity supplier, look for the “supply charge” section of your bill. If the item under “supply charge” reads, “Electric Supply Services – MC – Squared” you are participating in the Village’s program. If your bill does not list this item, you are likely not enrolled in the program. To view a sample ComEd invoice without aggregation, click here.
Will I receive notification of the supplier change?
ComEd will always mail a confirmation letter indicating a service change.
Is there an early termination fee?
There is no termination fee; you are only obligated to pay for services rendered under the contract until your service is terminated.
Will my electric service be disrupted when I switch?
No, there will be no disruption in service. You will continue to receive the same electric service through the same transmission and distribution system currently operated by ComEd. The switch to MC² is seamless.
What happens at the end of the program term?
At the end of the term, if the Village decides to end the program, all accounts served by MC² will be automatically returned to ComEd service. If the Village extends the program, new notices will be mailed out.
What are Renewable Energy Certificates (REC’s)?
RECs are non-tangible commodities that represent proof of 1 Megawatt-hour of electricity being generated and added to the electric power grid from a renewable source. Under the recommended program, the Village would be ensuring that 5% of residents’ energy use would be purchased in the form of RECs and added to PJM, the electrical grid that services a large part of the Midwest. This purchase qualifies Wilmette as an EPA Green Power Community. Click here to learn more about REC’s.
Are Community Solar and electric aggregation the same?
No, Community Solar and electric aggregation are two separate programs, however, both Village-sponsored are administered by MC Squared Energy Services. For more information on Community Solar, click here. If you are currently participating in a Community Solar savings program, or will be in the future, this municipal electricity aggregation supply program will not impact your Community Solar program. The Community Solar generation credits provided by ComEd are independent of this aggregation program.