Aggregation Program
In 2011, voters approved a ballot initiative to allow the City of Cincinnati the ability to negotiate on behalf of its citizens and small businesses for a favorable price from suppliers of electricity and natural gas. Through this program, the City shops for service on behalf of eligible residential and small business customers to get the best rates. By combining ("aggregating") all these customers, the eligible residents and small businesses get better utility prices than if they all were to stay on the basic Duke utility rate.
In 2016, Cincinnati residents saved 1.5 million dollars on Electricity and $2 million in natural gas costs when compared to Duke Energy through the Cincinnati Aggregation Programs
Cincinnati is the 1st aggregation program in the nation to offer 100% carbon free energy for both natural gas and electricity. All electric aggregation program participants receive 100% green energy. It is the largest carbon reduction program in the City and abates approximately 250,000 tons of CO2 annually.
In 2017, the City of Cincinnati added green natural gas option in the Aggregation Program. Customers must “opt in” to this program. Constellation will purchase carbon offsets generated from biogas sources such as landfills or farms. Not only does this option capture green house gas that would otherwise be released into the ozone, it also reduces our reliance on sources of natural gas that are captured through mining methods such as fracking. Residents who do not select the green natural gas option will not be charged a premium and will receive gas at the Cincinnati Natural Gas Aggregation rate described in detail below.
The current Aggregation Program providers are:
| Supplier | Contact Information | Current Contract Dates | |
| Electricity | Dynegy Energy Services | 1-855-326-0520 | Until May 2020 |
| Natural Gas | Constellation Energy Services (CES) | 1-844-830-3336 | Until October 2020 |
| Green Natural Gas Option | Constellation Energy Services (CES) | 1-844-830-3336 | Until October 2020 |
How Can I Join?
There are two ways to join the Aggregation Program:
- Periodically, all Duke Energy Ohio customers who are eligible for aggregation will be automatically "swept" into the Aggregation Program. If this happens to you, you will receive an "Opt-Out" letter (one for Electricity and one for Natural Gas, depending on the timing), allowing you to opt out of the Aggregation Program. If you do not opt-out, you will become part of the Program. The City, in September 2017, sent opt-out letters for the natural gas program.
- Customers are not automatically “swept” into the Green Natural Gas Program but must “Opt-In” due to the additional cost of $0.0285 per 100 cubic feet (ccf) of natural gas used. You must notify Constellation at 1-844-830-3336 or return the green natural gas mailer to participate.
- If you want to join the Aggregation Program at any time, please contact the appropriate provider listed above and sign up to join the Program
If you have contracts with a natural gas or electricity provider that is outside of the City's Aggregation Program, but want join City’s Program, you should review the provisions of your current contract to determine options, as the terms of each contract can vary - early cancellation may result in a fee from your current provider.
There is no cost for enrollment in the Aggregation Program for eligible customers. There is no cost to leave the Aggregation Program at any time.
Who's Eligible?
Many households and small businesses are eligible.
Households must be current in their payments to their current provider, and may not be Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) customers.
Generally, residential customers who are not currently under contract with another competitive supplier and small commercial customers that consume less than 500,000 cubic feet of gas per year or 700,000 kilowatt-hours electricity per year at a single location are eligible to participate. Please contact the providers above to assist you in determining your eligibility.
How Much Will I Save?
Savings on Electricity: To estimate what your savings per kilowatt-hour (KWH) will be through the Aggregation Program, locate your Price to Compare on your electric bill. Subtract the Aggregation price ($0.0557- Year 1) from the Duke Price to Compare ($.0615) to determine your savings per kWh. Multiply that number by your total monthly usage. The final number is how much you can expect to save each month you use the same amount of electricity. Average annual savings are estimated to be the following:
Year 1: $0.0557 per kWh
Average savings to residents*: $84
Year 2: $0.0541 per kWh
Average savings to residents*: $107;
Year 3: $0.0509 per kWh
Average savings to residents*: $144;
Savings will vary based on electricity use. These savings projections are based on the current Duke SSO rate of $0.0615 and an average residential use of 1,200 kilowatts per month.
Savings on Natural Gas: The Natural Gas aggregation program is a variable rate that is set by market price of natural gas monthly. Constellation charges a $.01217 administrative fee per ccf in addition to the market rate. Due to the fluctuation in natural gas prices, participants in the gas aggregation program may, in some months, pay more than the gas cost recovery (GCR) price charged by Duke. However, projections (based on historical pricing analyses) indicate that over a year’s time, the aggregation rate will provide the savings for participating households when compared to the current GCR price. In 2016, the average savings was 11.6% compared to Duke.
Green Natural Gas from renewable sources: Residents who choose to participate may notify Constellation to supply them with green natural gas for an addition .0285 per ccf or about $2 per month on top of the current aggregation rate. By receiving green natural gas you will prevent the CO2 equivalent of burning almost 5,000 lbs of coal and achieve a carbon footprint reduction of 825 pounds of CO2 per month. Combined with the Cincinnati Electric Aggregation Program, your home’s energy needs will be 100% carbon free.
Please go to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for more information.