Vote on ordinance to end electrical aggregation tabled until May; city won’t sign new contract after Jan. 1

QUINCY — The adoption of an ordinance calling for the end of the electrical aggregation program for the city of Quincy was tabled until May 5, and aldermen directed the city administration not to enter any more aggregation contracts when the current contract with Constellation expires on Jan. 1.

The Quincy City Council voted Sept. 9 to have the ordinance drafted to end electrical aggregation. Several aldermen noted during the Sept. 3 City Council meeting that they were receiving complaints from customers who were automatically enrolled in the aggregation program, having their electric supply service switched to Constellation. 

The ordinance had its third reading Monday night. However, Alderman Ben Uzelac (D-7) suspended the rules during the meeting to discuss either ending electrical aggregation or drafting an ordinance to place a referendum on the April 2025 ballot that would pose the question of whether the city should continue electrical aggregation.

When Uzelac called for the rules to be suspended Monday, Greg Fletcher (R-1) made a motion to suspend the electrical aggregation program beginning Jan. 1. Uzelac said he and Fletcher both wanted to get an answer from voters.

Mike Farha (R-4) wanted aldermen to cut ties with electrical aggregation immediately.

“Rates are more competitive, and there is no need for this,” he said. “People can make up their own mind. They don’t need Big Brother telling them, oh, ‘We can do it for you better.’”

Mike Rein (R-5) said aggregation has saved ratepayers money.

“If we throw this out, in January, you won’t get the benefit of a group purchase for 15,000 people,” he said. “That’s how aggregation works. Now it takes a lot of education, not just once a year or once a contract. It’s more difficult for the city to do that now than once every four or five years. It takes extra work, and the complaints you get are people not understanding what this is all about. 

“To throw this out, I think it’s the wrong thing to do now. … You don’t have to kill it immediately. I’d just like the table to see what the vote is.”

Aldermen approved the tabling of the amendment by a voice vote, with Farha voting no and Tony Sassen (R-4), an Ameren Illinois employee, abstaining.

Residents must still opt out of a three-month contract that begins in October with Constellation. All Quincy residents will automatically be opted in at 7.383 cents per kilowatt hour. Ameren Illinois’ rate is 8.136 cents per kilowatt hour.

In other action, aldermen:

• Learned 283.45 tons of waste was collected during last week’s city-wide cleanup, compared to 266 tons last year.
• Recognized Alan Munger, an assistant chief with the Quincy Fire Department, for his 25-year anniversary.
• Recognized Sgt. Ryan Witt, Sgt. Nicholas Hiland and Officer Kristopher Billingsley with the Quincy Police Department for their 20-year anniversaries.
• Learned Sgt. Brent Holman with the Quincy Police Department is being deployed to North Carolina for disaster recovery efforts related to Hurricane Helene.
• Gave permission to the AirMedCare Network to have the Air Evac helicopter at Upper Moorman Park from 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 2 for the Quincy Park District Fall Festival. 
• Approved an application for a revocable permit for encroachment of the city right-of-way from Ashley Neil, owner of 2535 Elm, requesting permission to lay a concrete pad and install a small shed.
• Permitted the annual Veterans Day parade to be held Nov. 9.
• Approved the continued use of 700-702 S. 17th as a two-family residential dwelling (duplex) in an R1C zoning district.
• Approved placement of a pole sign at 420 N. 34th that advertises for Dunham’s Sports at 3415 Broadway.
• Denied a special permit for a planned development to allow for the operation of a commercial bar and grill at 906 Lind and to obtain a liquor license to operate video gaming terminals.
• Approved a request by Gray Television for a subdivision of property (one lot to two lots) at 501-503 Hampshire under the “small tracts” provision of the subdivision ordinance.
• Approved rezoning property at 1840 N. 18th from R1C (single-family residential) to C2 (commercial) and rezoning 1900 Seminary Road from M1 (light industrial) to C2 (commercial) to allow for the operation of a vehicle washing facility.
• Heard Mayor Mike Troup read a proclamation declaring October 2024 as a National Month of Service.
• Approved amending the investment policy to update the financial institutions performing investment services for the city.
• Approved an invoice from Ted’s Shirt Shack for $22,392.40 for safety apparel (shirts, hoodies and winter coats) for Machinists Local 822 union members. Approximately $235 per person is being spent for 95 sets of apparel.