A basic understanding of how electric works is always helpful. Knowing not to stick a fork into an electric outlet is an example. Also knowing, or least having a good idea, that when you flip the light switch, the lights will go on, and if you flip it again they will go out.
Other than that, most of us are content when it comes to anything electric, with the exception of getting our electric bill. Year after year Naperville city officials have been unapologetically jacking up electric rates. Not by 1% or 2%, but by 6 to 8%, and there is no end in sight.
It’s no surprise that Naperville’s Electric Utility is in financial disarray. This is the result of less than competent city officials over the years making less than wise decisions about just about anything electric including entering into a horrendous contractual agreement with IMEA (Illinois Municipal Electric Agency). Most of those city officials are gone, however a few remain on the city council including Judith Brodhead and Paul Hinterlong along with a few other city officials still roaming in the inky shadows of city hall corridors.
A saving grace for the users of Naperville’s electric utility was supposed to be the use of Smart Meters, yet you can’t find one resident or business that has saved a penny since they were forcefully installed. Council member John Krummen, as a mouth piece, enthusiastically voiced his support for Smart Meters, but any so-called benefit has yet to be realized for users.
The only defining result for the heavy-handed installation of smart meters, was a law suit filed by a Naperville resident against the City of Naperville, with the resident winning and the City losing in court. So not only have residents not saved a penny with smart meters, they have lost money with yet another bad decision by city officials.
For a number of years a good number of residents have been advocating for the City to sell the electric utility and short-circuit losses, but those requests have resulted in crickets. However, now with a new mayor, and a 75% new city council, calmer and wiser decision makers, including Naperville city manager Doug Krieger, are exploring opportunities to do exactly that.
Common sense would indicate that Com Ed would be a candidate for the City of Naperville to unload its electric utility. If it’s a choice between the City of Naperville retaining its electric utility or pulling the plug and selling it to Com Ed, it appears that the bad choice of selling to Com Ed might be the best choice for the City of Naperville and its residents.
I think the City signed up with IMEA before Judy Brodhead and Paul Hinterlong took office in 2009.