Berea Releases Statement on Change in Electricity Supplier

BEREA, OH - The city has released a statement on the impending change of electricity supplier for residents and businesses. Berea is a member of the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC), which selected FirstEnergy Solutions to provide electric generation service to participants at a savings of 6 percent off for residents and 4 percent off for small businesses.

Negotiations between NOPEC and FirstEnergy crumbled Oct. 28 and the company notified NOPEC that it would be ending its contract three years early. As a result, come January or February, residents and small business owners will see a new company providing their electricity.

NOPEC does say that it expects to have a new service provider selected in the near future.

No one will experience interruptions in their service, so don't fear sudden blackouts in 2017. It does mean that you will return to the default provider unless you choose a different company. Residents will also get a letter that should provide contact information for questions.

“I want to particularly emphasize that there will be no disruption in service to any NOPEC customer.
NOPEC was shocked and dismayed by the sudden demand for unilateral contract concessions made by
FirstEnergy Solutions and disappointed by the equally sudden contract termination,” Chuck Keiper, NOPEC's executive director, said.

Among the concerns cited by Keiper was the desire to continue holding adequate security for the supply
of electricity to NOPEC customers. This was a particular concern amid numerous published news reports
raising the possibility of FirstEnergy Solutions filing for bankruptcy

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