More Quincy residents affected by aggregation issue than previously expected

February 27, 2024 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher

Alderman Tony Sassen (R-4th Ward) questions SIMEC Energy's Reg Ankrom about the city's energy aggregation program at Monday's Quincy City Council meeting. — Screen capture from City of Quincy's Facebook page

QUINCY — Aldermen with the Quincy City Council received more than their usual amount of constituent calls regarding such items stop signs, sidewalks and potholes this week.

A letter from Constellation N ew Energy was sent to selected customers in Quincy last week quoting Ameren’s base rate for its electric supply at 8.683 cents per kilowatt hour as of Jan. 1, 2024. Constellation’s fixed rate of 12.065 cents is set through October.

It was believed that only who recently moved in Quincy or changed addresses had until March 7 to opt out of the city’s Municipal Aggregation Electricity Program.

Reg Ankrom of SIMEC Energy, the city’s consultant for the energy aggregation program clarified that a third group of residents are also required to opt out: Residents who recently ended contracts with other third-party brokers also must opt-out out of Constellation to receive Ameren’s rates.

Ankrom said 3,800 residents were affected by the notification, as opposed to few hundred as was originally believed.

People who do not opt out before March 7 are considered enrolled with Constellation. All residents of Quincy can opt out at any time, but only people who fit into these criteria have to meet the March 7 deadline. Also, Ameren customers who opted out previously do not need to opt out again.

Residents can opt-out by calling Constellation at 800-990-2004.

The Quincy City Council also got its first public look at the city’s proposed FY 24-25 revenue projections Monday night. Aldermen will vote on the city budget before April 30, the end of the fiscal year.

Comptroller Sheri Ray said the preliminary revenues are $51.7 million. This year’s mark was at $51.4 million, but it looks like city revenues could be as high as $52.3 million by the end of the fiscal year.

Ray pointed out that a proposed part of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s FY 25 budget includes a plant to eliminate the 1 percent grocery tax and would mean a loss of $1 million in sales tax revenue to the City.

The projections also call for a drop in nearly 40 percent in personal property replacement tax.

A detailed look at the presentation is linked below.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: An earlier version of this report used the term “budget” incorrectly. It should have read “revenues”. This has been corrected.