Village of St. Bernard

The St. Bernard Village Council have chosen to give residents the opportunity to vote on providing Council authority to explore electric and natural gas aggregation programs. The following questions will be on the November 4, 2025, ballot.

Issue 20:

“Shall the Village of St Bernard have the authority to aggregate the retail electric loads located in the Municipality, and for that purpose, enter into service agreements to facilitate for those loads the sale and purchase of electric, such aggregation to occur automatically except where any person elects to opt out?”

Issue 21:

“Shall the Village of St Bernard have the authority to aggregate the retail natural gas loads located in the Municipality, and for that purpose, enter into service agreements to facilitate for those loads the sale and purchase of natural gas, such aggregation to occur automatically except where any person elects to opt out?”

Electric AND NAUTAL GAS Ballot IssueS Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Energy (electric and natural gas) Aggregation Program? 

  • Community aggregation programs combine the residential and small business purchasing power of the group in the pursuit of getting favorable and stable energy prices. 

Why are Natural Gas (Issue 21) and Electric (Issue 20) Aggregation Issues on the November 4th ballot?

  • By law, registered voters must VOTE FOR aggregation programs before community leaders can develop and aggregation plan. 

Is there any cost associated with the Energy Aggregation ballot issue? 

  • No, this is not a levy or a tax on any resident. The Council is simply asking residents if they would like to pursue Energy Aggregation programs. 

What does my YES vote mean? 

  • A YES vote will allow the Village’s Council to pursue a certification through the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to start the process to determine if Energy Aggregation programs are a viable option for the Village. 

What does a NO vote mean? 

  • A NO vote will end the issue and residents will remain with Duke Energy or a supplier of their choice. 

Will this save me money on my utility bill? 

  • These programs are designed to save money and stabilize energy costs. They provide security against volatile energy pricing. Savings are always a priority but cannot be guaranteed. In most cases, residents do see a reduction in their electric costs compared to Duke Energy’s default supply costs. Dozens of the surrounding communities have enacted these programs to help their residents.

Who will bill me for my energy? 

  • You will continue to receive one monthly bill from your Duke Energy.

 If the issue passes, can I choose not to participate OR can I leave the program at any time?

  • Yes, you can leave or rejoin the program at any time without any cost.

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Questions?

Your energy supplier(s) can answer most program questions. In addition, the Energy Alliances team is available Monday - Friday 8AM - 4:30PM by phone at (513) 794-5555 or (800) 735-0359, or you can leave us a message while we’re out and we will get back to you as soon as possible! You can also visit our contact page for more ways to get in touch.

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Misleading Sales Tactics?

Door-to-door solicitors are everywhere and the phone calls to buy energy seem to never end. Don’t be fooled by these offers. The supplier of the aggregation will never come to your door! Some salespeople may display a solicitor’s permit or official looking badge. THE PERMIT IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE COMMUNITY, and the badge may be misleading. They may claim they work with the utility or XYZ Energy company and offer rates far below anything you presently are receiving. Please do not show them your energy bill.  Also, beware of robo-calls and phone solicitors claiming that “your utility account has been flagged for review.” This could also a scam by an unethical broker or supplier designed to mislead you.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to close the door on the solicitor and call your local officials.