PICKERINGTON CITY COUNCIL
CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD
TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2009
7:00 P.M.
PUBLIC HEARING
OPEN DISCUSSION REGARDING NATURAL GAS
AGGREGATION PROGRAM
1. Call
to Order. Mayor O’Brien opened
Public Hearing at 7:00 P.M.
2. Roll
Call: Roll call was taken with Mrs.
Sanders, Mr. Fix, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Wisniewski, and
Mayor O’Brien present. Mr. Sauer was
absent. Others present were: Tim Hansley, Lynda Yartin, Greg Bachman, Tony
Barletta, Fred Holmes, Deb Chuvala, Nate Ellis, and others.
3. Purpose of the Public Hearing: To
allow citizens a chance to voice any concerns and/or questions about the
operation and maintenance plan for the City’s Natural Gas Aggregation
Program.
4. Presentation
to Council:
A. Mr. Fred Holmes of Volunteer Energy
Services, Inc., stated he and Ms Chuvala were present to answer any questions
anyone might have. He stated he would
like to remind everyone that they must be current in their bill when this goes
into effect and if they get more than two months behind, they will be dropped
from the aggregation program. Mr. Holmes
stated further a second public hearing is scheduled for July 21st at
7:00 P.M. Mr. Holmes stated once the
City Manager signs the contract it will be filed with the PUCO and they have up
to 30 days to approve the plan. He
stated once it is approved a letter will be sent to all the residents who are
with Columbia Gas. Mr. Smith clarified that
residents who are already with Volunteer Energy will be switched to the City’s
program so the City will get credit for their volume. Mr. Holmes stated once the letters are sent
out, residents will have 21 days to opt out of the program. Ms Chuvala stated if everything stays on
course they hoped to be flowing by October.
Mr. Holmes stated if someone is currently on the Budget Plan with
Columbia Gas they can continue to be on the Budget Plan with Volunteer
Energy.
5. Council
Questions/Comments: Mr. Sabatino
clarified that if someone does not opt out during that 21 day period, they can
opt out without a cancellation fee at any time they want. Mr. Holmes stated he understood some people
were nervous about the program and he would recommend they try it for six
months, and if they are not happy then opt out of the program. Mr. Sabatino further clarified that if
someone has a contract with another company, they must fulfill that
contract. Mr. Holmes stated once they
have opted out of that contract, they can contact Volunteer Energy and request
to be included in the Pickerington gas aggregation program. Mr. Holmes stated he would recommend
residents call their supplier to find out if there is a cancellation fee
because some plans are month-to-month.
6. Public
Comments/Questions: No
questions/comments.
7. Adjournment. There being nothing further, Mayor O’Brien
closed the public hearing at 7:10 P.M., July 7, 2009.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
_______________________________
Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk
ATTEST:
________________________________
Mitch O’Brien, Mayor