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City Will Soon Pay Less for Electricity

Carthage will pay less for electricity for city operations beginning next month. The city has signed a three-year contract with Ameren Energy Marketing at a bit more than 4.3 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Mayor Jim Nightingale says the city council solicited bids from several energy companies.  He says the response was overwhelming and frustrating.

He says, “Once a company contacts us their sales people just hound you to death.”

The city did not feel it had the expertise to sort through the information.  It  turned to a broker, Stone River Group, to help it through the process.

The company's Don Frontone estimates the contract will save the city $10,000 per year. The company will not charge the city for its services. Frontone says it is paid by the energy companies.

The city also signed a three-year contract with Stone River Group.

The city also plans to put a referendum before voters in November that would allow the city to buy power in bulk for residences and small businesses. The city will consider the measure at its next meeting. It would have to hold two public hearings before the election.

If the measure is approved, residents could still opt-out of the agreement.