VIDEO: Village Board Holds Q&A on Electricity Referendum

Following the Village Board's meeting Saturday, officials answered residents' questions about the April 5 ballot referendum, which deals with electricity rates. The referendum asks:

"Shall the Village of New Lenox have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such program?"

Residents asked if they could stay with ComEd. The answer is tricky, because ComEd technically does not supply the power to residents currently; it's merely a distributor. Even if the village decides to switch suppliers, ComEd will remain the distributor and will still handle billing. Even so, residents have the chance to opt out of the program and stick with the current provider.

"People say, 'I don't want to leave ComEd,'" Mayor Tim Baldermann said. "Well ComEd left you a long time ago."

Other residents asked about items they've received in the mail recently that offers them cheaper electricity rates. That's likely because they want to get individual residents before the village as a whole can decide which option is best, Baldermann said.

"I think there's a strategic advantage because of the strength in numbers we would have," Village Administrator Russ Loebe said.

No one seemed opposed to the referendum or the option it would give the village. In fact, one resident went as far to say it's a "no-brainer."

"It's a win-win for residents," resident Duncan Bachmann said. "You're not putting a gun to the head of residents. If they don't want to save money, they don't have to."

To see a presentation given at the meeting that further explains the referendum, view the video above. If you get seasick, you might want to listen and not watch; the camera is a bit shaky.

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