CAMPAIGN ISSUE #2

Reinforcing Utility Relationships

One of the key responsibilities as your Township Trustee is making sure families in Howland receive fair, reliable, and affordable utility services. Utilities like electricity, natural gas, water, and internet are essential parts of daily life—and it’s our job to represent you when it comes to keeping those services accountable.

Following in-depth research and collaboration with city officials, utility suppliers, and respected community voices, I have outlined a thorough plan to enhance relationships with utility companies serving Howland Township to strengthen accountability and ensure fair, reliable service for the community as a whole.

How do we do that?

  • By participating in Community Choice Aggregation Programs, trustees can combine households together and negotiate lower electricity and gas supply rates. This often saves families money and helps keep bills predictable.

  • Trustees work directly with utility companies to make sure they respond quickly to outages, repairs, or billing issues. We can also bring concerns to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), which regulates utilities statewide.

  • All across the country, folks are becoming more energy-efficient to save on their monthly bills. Unfortunately, some utility companies have begun compensating for losses by jacking up fixed rates and burying hidden fees within complex line items. We push back, demanding clear, easy-to-understand contracts and billing so Howland residents know exactly what they’re paying for and why.

  • By coordinating with utilities on infrastructure projects like road repairs or new housing developments, we can reduce service disruptions and make sure upgrades are made fairly across the community.

How do we know it will work?

How do we know these strategies will truly strengthen accountability and ensure dependable service for Howland families? The answer is simple: they’ve already been proven. Communities across Ohio have successfully used these very approaches to build stronger, more reliable relationships with their utility providers.

  • In Plain Township (Stark County), trustees secured a fixed electricity rate for the community through aggregation, protecting residents from sudden price hikes for the foreseeable future and taking one less stressor off their plate.

  • Residents in Union Township (Clermont County) voted to approve Electric and Natural Gas Aggregation Programs for eligible Township residents and small businesses. Following the approval, trustees negotiated energy supply deals that gave both families and small businesses lower, more stable utility costs.

What does it all mean?

As Trustee, I can effectively reinforce relationships with utility companies by facilitating aggregation programs, negotiating service terms transparently, and leveraging regulatory avenues like PUCO—all to ensure Howland families enjoy fair, reliable, and affordable utility services. I will act as a bridge between residents and utility providers—making sure families in Howland get dependable service, fair pricing, and a community-first approach to utilities.