Lakewood Considering Referendum To allow bulk purchase of Electricity

We are also exploring the possibility of working with neighboring communities to bid for the purchase of electricity for our residents. Harvard and Fox River Grove recently completed this process and had great success with overall savings for their residents of between ten (10) to fifteen (15) percent on the electric bills.

Such a process requires the passage of a referendum by our residents, and we have set a tentative goal of placing such a referendum on the March 2012 ballot. Any resident who did not want to participate in the program could simply “opt out” and continue to purchase their electricity from Commonwealth Edison. Again, we would be interested in hearing your thoughts about the program. Our goal would simply be to save our residents money in these difficult economic times.

The above is taken from Cal Skinner’s blog, McHenry County Blog. It is an excerpt of letter written by Lakewood Village President Erin Smith sent out in the Fall newsletter. The Skinner blog article is available at: http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2011/09/19/lakewood-considering-referendum-to-allow-bulk-purchase-of-electricty/

The Village of Lakewood is located in McHenry County in the state of Illinois. The Village shares its boundaries with the City of Crystal Lake, Village of Lake in the Hills, Village of Huntley and City of Woodstock. The Village covers approximately 5 square miles. Population 3005 in the 2003 census.

I previously posted a story about unincorporated McHenry county residents going to referendum on bulk purchase of Electricity.  [See:  http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2011/09/mchenry-county-board-mulls-referendum.html]. 

When will Boone County and its towns and cities get on the bandwagon to give citizens a better option to lower electric rates?

Is there some hope in sight—see page two of the Boone County Board’s agenda for Wednesday’s (9-21-2011) Board meeting.  [http://www.boonecountyil.org/sites/default/files/CBagenda%2009-21-2011.pdf].  During the Administrative and Legislative section of the Boone County board meeting there is a scheduled discussion of the issue.