Mokena Electrical Aggregation Passes

The will be shopping for cheaper electricity prices on residents' behalf, voters determined Tuesday.

By a 1,258-1,051 vote, Mokena residents passed a referendum question that will allow for electrical aggregation for its residents and small businesses.

Mayor Joe Werner said Mokena's small size and centralized nature made it easier to get information about aggregation out to residents through public forums, on the village website and through word of mouth.

"I think when people say 'no' to things, they're unsure, uncomfortable or don't have enough information to say, 'I feel comfortable supporting this,'" Werner said.

At a public forum last month, Assistant Village Administrator Kirk Zoellner said that if the village finds a cheaper-priced supplier, residents could see lower bills by late summer or early fall. On Tuesday, Werner said this is still the likely timeline.

A measure passed last year by the state Legislature will let municipalities and counties negotiate for better rates from the power companies on behalf of their residents and small businesses. They just need permission from the voters, permission given by voters on Tuesday.

ComEd would still get the juice to your house and the bill will still come from ComEd. The electricity could just come from a different supplier than the one ComEd chose.

The village must go with the cheapest price.

Residents and business owners can already and still will be able to find their own cheaper rates. The Citizens Utility Board and the Illinois Commerce Commission offer resources for residents to do this online.

Updated at 10:34 p.m. with Werner's comments.