City Council Approves Energy Agreement with MC Squared

30-Month Agreement to Match ComEd’s Electricity Supply Price

The Evanston City Council has approved a 30-month agreement with Chicago-based MC Squared Energy Services as part of the City’s community choice electricity aggregation program, providing a pathway to achieve its renewable energy and carbon neutrality goals.

The agreement will support the goals of the Climate Action and Resilience Plan by moving the City closer to its goals of 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and community carbon neutrality by 2050. As part of the new agreement, MC Squared will provide $500,000 in revenue to the City annually for 30 months – $1.25 million total – at no additional cost to residents. This revenue will be put towards reducing barriers to accessing renewable energy for low-income residents, incentivizing energy efficiency and electrification, and purchasing voluntary renewable energy credits.

Guaranteed Price

The new agreement differs from previous aggregation programs in that participants are guaranteed to pay the same rate as ComEd’s monthly electricity supply price, which can be found by visiting pluginillinois.org and searching for the “Price to Compare” for ComEd. This price-match program ensures that residents do not have to pay a premium for the City’s progress toward its renewable energy and carbon-neutrality goals.

Since 2012, Evanston’s aggregation program has helped the City reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) and an average of over 100,000 MTCO2e annually. Preliminary data from the City’s 2020 greenhouse gas emissions inventory shows that emissions have been reduced by 35% since 2005, and a large portion of that progress is attributable to electricity aggregation.

Opt Out by April 30

The City and MC Squared will mail a letter to residents this month detailing the new agreement. Residents who wish to continue in the City’s aggregation program do not have to take any action and will be automatically included in the program. Residents who do not wish to be enrolled in the program should opt out by April 30 by completing and returning the mailing’s enclosed opt-out card, by calling 855-697-0285, or emailing Evanston@mc2energyservices.com. There is no enrollment, switching, or early termination fee associated with this agreement.

MC Squared also provides an online portal that residents can use to sign up for the program. Residents should visit mc2energyservices.com/Special, enter the code “Evanston” into the box, and click “Submit.” On the next page, individuals must complete three short steps to see if they are eligible to participate. Those enrolling should have their 10-digit ComEd account number handy.

Be Wary of Solicitations

Residents are reminded to be cautious of door-to-door and phone solicitations from electricity suppliers claiming to represent the City of Evanston or the City’s electricity supplier. No party representing the City’s electricity aggregation program will call customers to request their account numbers or any other personal information. Residents who wish to report aggressive or misleading solicitations should call the Evanston Police Department’s non-emergency number at 847-866-5000.