Ottawa to try to get back into electricity purchasing for residents

Ottawa’s city council has authorized Mayor Dan Aussem to negotiate and sign a deal for the bulk purchase of electricity for city residents. The city hasn’t participated in the electric aggregation program for a couple years because Ameren Illinois was offering the best rates. But now, City Hall thinks the market could be changing. And because it changes fast, the City Council doesn’t want to have to bring something for a vote days or weeks after a deal is reached when the rate might not last that long. So if the city negotiates a deal the mayor believes is good, he can sign it right away.