MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC AGGREGATION
MEA INFORMATION
Municipal Electric Aggregation (MEA)
MEA is the result of a 2010 law that allows Illinois municipalities to purchase electricity for residents and small businesses in their community. It allows the municipality to pool the electric supply of residents and small businesses and then seek bids from retail electric suppliers (RES) on the open market for an electric rate for its pooled MEA members. Small business customers consuming 15,000 kilowatt hours or less annually are eligible to participate in the MEA program.
The MEA 2010 law requires municipalities to give residents and small businesses an opportunity to opt-out of municipal MEA programs. If they choose to opt-out, they can purchase electricity at Ameren’s default rate or they can contract directly with a RES. These are the same choices that residents and small businesses would have if either there was no MEA or a municipality decided to not continue their MEA program.
The Illinois Commerce Commission maintains the “Plug In Illinois” website, which includes a list of retail electric suppliers that residents/small businesses could contract with to purchase electricity in the Ameren Illinois utility area. The suppliers offer a variety of plans which include renewable energy, fixed/variable electricity rates, and different contract term lengths.
City of Champaign MEA Program
In March, 2012, the referendum giving the City authority to establish a MEA Program passed 5,206 vs. 2,866. The City’s Plan of Operation and Governance describes how the City intends to operate its MEA Program.
On June 3, 2024, the City of Champaign announced that its Municipal Electric Aggregation (MEA) program will not continue for the next year (July 2024 through June 2025). The City was not able to obtain a bid from a retail electric supplier that could beat the Ameren electricity supply rate.
This does not mean the City’s MEA program has been terminated. In the future, if the City can contract for a competitive electricity rate, the City’s program can be reinstated. The City will evaluate reinstating the program next spring.
Because the City’s MEA program is not continuing, its members will receive a letter in June from Ameren notifying them that “your current electric choice is terminating” and they have two billing periods, approximately 60 days, to choose another electric supplier.
In the 60-day period, City MEA members will have two electric supplier choices:
- Members could select a new electric supplier. There are over 40 suppliers to choose from at the ICC Plug-In Illinois website.
- Members could choose to do nothing. Ameren would then be their electricity supplier. The Ameren rate will fluctuate monthly, and they will have to stay with Ameren electricity supply service for a minimum of 12 billing months.
If price is important, the City’s recommendation to its members is to do nothing and let Ameren become their electricity supplier for the next 12 months.
Questions may be directed to the City of Champaign Public Works Department at 217-403-4700 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding City Holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this short video, the City addresses some frequently asked questions about the City’s MEA program, including public notices, opting in/out, and renewable energy options. The video is a clip from the MEA Council Study Session held on December 5, 2023. That entire discussion can be reviewed on our website HERE.
Complaints
The City of Champaign has received calls from residents and small business owners about aggressive and misleading phone and in-person solicitations being made by other energy providers and alternate residential suppliers. Any claims made by their representatives that they are confirming enrollment into the City’s program, that time to act is limited, and/or that Ameren account information must be provided to enroll in the program are false and should be disregarded. The City will never contact residents in this manner. Residents should never compromise their security by providing their Ameren account information to anyone unless they specifically intend to sign up with an alternate electricity provider and leave the City’s MEA Program. .
Complaints about any aggressive behavior may be filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission Consumer Services Division by phone 800-524-0795 or online at icc.illinois.gov/complaints/public-utility or with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office at 800-243-0618 or on their website. Residents can also report aggressive in-person solicitations to the Champaign Police Department at 217-351-4545.
