Another: Muni Aggregation Returns Customers to ComEd, Says Customer's Can't Switch Away from Utility Until September 2014!

The village of Fox River Grove, Illinois, announced that it was returning customers under its opt-out municipal electric aggregation back to Commonwealth Edison after bids for a new term of the pool could not beat ComEd's rate.

According to a news release from the village, "When residents and small businesses are returned to Com Ed, there will be a two month opportunity to switch to another provider."

"After that period, accounts must remain with Com Ed until September, 2014," the village said.

Although it was not immediately clear, the aggregation's drop of customers back to ComEd will appear to trigger a 12-month minimum stay with ComEd.

Specifically, ComEd's retail supplier handbook states that if a mass market customer is being served under Rate RDS (competitive supply), and their current supplier drops them, they will default to Rate BES (default service) unless they are enrolled by another supplier. If the customer is placed on Rate BES, there is a minimum stay of 12 monthly billing periods.