Benton holds town meeting on electric aggregation

Reg Ankrom, president of Southern Illinois Municipal Electric Co. (SIMEC), said this week that Benton is one of 32 cities in the state in an electric aggregation consortium through his company. Beginning in June, residential and small business customers in Benton will see lower electric rates through Homefield Energy. Ankrom explained bills are on a two-month delay, meaning actual lower rates of 6.285 cents per kilowatt hour will not be seen until August bills are mailed. The current basic Ameren rate is 6.4 cents per kilowatt hour. Ankrom said studies have shown that rates should be between 6.4 and 6.9 cents in the next year. The city of Benton secured the 6.285 rate for a 36-month period. Customers can opt out of the program and continue with their supplier if they wish. About 15 people attended the town hall meeting and another dozen or so joined the meeting online through the city's Facebook account.
Photo by Rick Hayes