Want to Stick With ComEd? Opt Out Period Begins This Week

Beginning this week, Northbrook residents have three weeks to decide whether they want to opt out of the village’s contract with a new electric supplier to stick with ComEd or find their own supplier. 

After voters approved a measure to seek competitive bids for electric supply by a 3-to-1 margin in March, the village joined forces with neighboring suburbs to negotiate a lower rate. Last week, the village announced that it had secured savings of up to 41 percent on the electric supply portion of the bill from ComEd competitor MC Squared Energy Services.

Northbrook residents can expect to receive a letter from the village this week, explaining the village-wide electric rate program. Once the letter hits mailboxes, residents have 21 days to decide whether or not to opt-out of the contract with MC Squared. Anyone who takes no action will automatically be signed up for MC Squared. 

Earlier: 

Residents or businesses who have already switched electric providers on an individual level can also opt in within the next three weeks, by calling 888-808‐7731 or sending an e-mail to NorthShore@MC2energyservices.com. 

Northbrook is a member of a consortium formed of eight north suburban communities, all of which have agreed to purchase electricity for 4.836 cents per kilowatt hour rather than the current rate of 8.233 cents charged by Commonwealth Edison. 

The price, negotiated by MC Squared for the municipalities of Deerfield, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Glencoe, Skokie, Park Ridge and Northbrook, was announced at a news conference last week in Skokie. The new rate is expected to generate savings of up to 41 percent on the electric supply portion of the bill.

Under the new plan, ComEd will continue to provide distribution of power and bills will continue to come from the utility. When power goes out, residents should contact ComEd, not MCSquared.