In March and November of 2012, Collinsville voters twice defeated a ballot measure that would have given them the option to participate in electric aggregation. Simec Energy is hoping Caseyville residents do not repeat that history in 2014.

Caseyville Village Hall / Photo by Roger Starkey

Electric aggregation was voted down by Caseyville voters in March. With a voter turnout of 16.7 percent, the measure was defeated 263-160.

The problem, Reg Ankrom, Simec Energy president in Illinois, said, was that he did not inform the citizens very well.

“We will do a better job this time of letting people know what this is about,” Ankrom told the Caseyville Village Board before they voted to include electric aggregation on the November ballot.

Electric aggregation allows a municipality or county to negotiate with electric suppliers for a rate based on the combined consumption of its customers. Simec Energy would represent Caseyville in this process.

Residents, however, do not have to participate in the program. If a Caseyville resident chooses to opt into the aggregation he or she can do so free of charge. Residents can also choose to opt out, free of charge, at any time, Ankrom said. Ameren Illinois would remain an option.

Before the November election, Ankrom plans to distribute information to Caseyville residents to help them better understand the program, how to opt in, what happens if they opt in and how to opt out.

“If they vote no this time, it will based on the information they have received, not because someone told them to vote no,” Ankrom said.