FAQs
What is aggregation?
How is my community able to choose a licensed electric generation supplier on my behalf?
What does "opt out" mean?
What happens if I do not send in the opt-out form?
Can I opt out of the program at a later date?
May I get back into the community's electric aggregation program after I have opted-out?
What is the toll-free number for questions?
How will I know if I can save money under my community's electric government aggregation program?
Who is FirstEnergy Solutions Corp.?
Is FirstEnergy Solutions a licensed electric generation supplier?
Can I stay on budget billing or have my payment automatically deducted from my checking account as I do now?
If I do join my community's electric aggregation program, who will deliver my power, read my meter and respond to emergencies, such as power outages?
Is the price for power fixed, or does it vary?
What are my energy choices if I decide to opt out?
What if I am already under contract with another electricity supplier?
What will my electric bill look like under the community's electric aggregation program?
What is aggregation?
Under governmental aggregation, community officials bring citizens together to gain group buying power for the purchase of competitively priced electricity from a certified retail electric generation supplier.
How is my community able to choose a licensed electric generation supplier on my behalf?
The residents of your community voted to allow the local officials to contract for an electric generation supplier on their behalf.
What does "opt-out" mean?
"Opt-out" means that you can decide not to participate in your community's electric aggregation program. By returning the opt-out form, you will not be enrolled as an electric customer with FirstEnergy Solutions, your community's selected electric generation supplier.
What happens if I do not send in the opt-out form?
If you do not return the opt-out form postmarked by the required date, you will be included in your community's electric aggregation program and will begin receiving competitively priced electricity from FirstEnergy Solutions.
Can I opt-out of the program at a later date?
Yes, but you could be subject to a $25 switching fee from FirstEnergy Solutions and may be subject to a different rate from your local electric company upon your return to the utility. However, you will be sent a notice at least every two years asking if you wish to remain in the program. At that point, you may opt-out at no cost.
Can I opt out over the phone?
No, you must mail in your completed form and it must be postmarked by the deadline.
Can I get back into the community's electric aggregation program after I have opted-out?
No, you will have to wait until the next enrollment period.
What is the toll-free number for questions?
For answers to your questions, please call 1-866-636-3749, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How will I know if I can save money under my community's electric government aggregation program?
When you join the community's government aggregation program, your electric utility will provide you with a generation shopping credit, which is the amount credited to you if you switch to an alternative electric generation supplier, such as FirstEnergy Solutions. The amount varies each month. The generation shopping credit appears on your electric bill after you have been enrolled in the community's government aggregation program.
Each month, you'll pay less for electric supply than if you had not joined the community's government aggregation program.
Who is FirstEnergy Solutions Corp.?
Based in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. is an unregulated subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. FirstEnergy Solutions is a leading supplier of electric generation and energy management solutions.
Is FirstEnergy Solutions a licensed electric generation supplier?
Yes, FirstEnergy Solutions is licensed to sell electricity in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Michigan.
Can I stay on budget billing or have my payment automatically deducted from my checking account as I do now?
Yes; your local utility offers those programs. However, budget billing applies only to the charges on your electric bill that include transmitting and distributing the electricity over the lines, maintaining equipment and providing emergency service, rather than to the electric generation portion.
FirstEnergy Solutions is a different company from your local utility, so budget billing programs do not apply to your charges from FirstEnergy Solutions. On your monthly utility bill, you'll notice a charge from FirstEnergy Solutions for supplying electric generation. This charge reflects the actual amount of electric generation you used that month and may vary each month due to your usage. Keep in mind that you're still paying less for your electricity generation than if you hadn't joined the community's government aggregation program.
If I do join my community's electric aggregation program, who will deliver my power, read my meter and respond to emergencies, such as power outages?
Your local electric company will be responsible for the transmission and distribution of power to your home or business. Your local electric utility owns the wires and poles that delivers power to you, and it will continue to read your meter and restore power after an outage.
Is the price for power fixed, or does it vary?
The price you pay for electric generation from FirstEnergy Solutions will vary each month depending on your usage and the amount of your generation shopping credit. However, with FirstEnergy Solutions, you'll save a percentage discount off the competitive portion of your electric bill regardless of how much electricity you use, or when you use it.
What are my energy choices if I decide to opt out?
You can stay with your current electric utility for your electric generation supply, or you can shop for a new electric generation supplier.
What if I am already under contract with another electricity supplier?
Your contract with your electric generation supplier will contain unique terms and conditions controlling your relationship. Many electric generation suppliers charge a penalty for breaking your contract. Be sure to understand your contractual arrangement before switching to another electric generation supplier.
What will my electric bill look like under the community's electric aggregation program?
Your electric bill will reflect the three parts to your electrical power system: transmission, distribution and generation. Further, the rates you pay after joining the community's electric aggregation program will be split into separate charges on the bill.
Your bill from your local electric company will include these charges:
- A generation charge to buy power from your electricity supplier
- A transmission charge from your electricity supplier to bring the power from the energy supplier to your area
- A distribution charge from your local electric company to deliver electricity to your home or business
- A market transition charge that enables your local electric company to recover the costs of changing to a competitive industry
(05/31/07)
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