East Central Reporter

Mayor Randy Rich will offer commentary on the electric aggregation rate when the Oblong Village Council convenes for its regular meeting at 7 p.m. today, March 2, in the Municipal Building at 202 S. Range St.

Oblong belongs to a consortium of hundreds of Illinois communities that are pursuing the Opt-Out Municipal Aggregation Program. This is a statewide initiative requiring voters to pass a referendum that automatically combines the electric load for residential and eligible small businesses for purchasing purposes, with the exception of customers who actively choose not to participate in the municipality's or county's purchase program.

Oblong has used Homefield Energy as its supplier of choice since November 2012, with a current rate of approximately 4.480 cents per kilowatt hour within the regional Ameren Illinois service area.

The Village of Oblong board of trustees will handle a variety of additional matters on its agenda, beginning with any additions or deletions to the agenda and approval of regular board meeting minutes from Feb. 3.

Delinquent water bills will be handled as usual, followed by committee reports from police; building and park; sidewalks and lights; street and alley; water and sewer; and finance and development.

Bill payments will be authorized prior to adjournment.