Niles Residents Can Expect To Save $81 On Electric Bills

Often, getting a letter from a government body signifies a drain on your wallet.

But not this time. The Village of Niles sent out a letter that can save the average family $81 a year in electricity costs.

The actual amount saved varies, said Cathy Doczekalski, assistant village manager. The $81 is based on a household which uses 12,000 kilowatt hours per year, or about 1,000 per month. A home with one or two people living in it will typically use less.

"I talk to people who use anywhere from 250 kilowatt hours to well over 1,000 per month," she said. Homes with more energy efficient appliances and light bulbs typically use fewer kilowatt hours.

Niles voters okayed electricity aggregation in the April 9 election. The letter sent to residents outlines three options residents can choose to take now:

1. If you do nothing, you will be automatically enrolled with the new electricity provider, Homefield Energy. Homefield will provide the actual electricy, but ComEd will continue to deliver it, and you will still get the usual monthly bill from ComEd.

2. If you prefer to have your electricity come from more environmentally sustainable sources, you can call Homefield Energy at 866-694-1262 or email them at CustCare@homefieldenergy.com to choose the Renewable Energy option. The rate will still be lower than the ComEd rate, Doczekalski said. 

3. If you prefer to stick with ComEd, mail the yellow card, which should have arrived in the Village of Niles mailing, by Aug. 8.

But what if you have already signed up with a different alternate energy provider? Residents who are in the Energy Saving Plan with Integrys will be receiving a separate letter early next week with instructions on how to enroll in the Homefield program if they desire, Doczekalski said. 

As of Tuesday, she said, she has had only one call from a resident saying they would like to stick with ComEd, because they have had ComEd service for 40 years and it has proved reliable.

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