18 Communities to Offer Natural Gas Aggregation Program
Local Residents and Small Businesses to Benefit from Fixed-Rate Pricing
The Miami Valley Communications Council (MVCC) has announced a new natural gas aggregation program that will begin this fall. MVCC acts as the certified governmental aggregator for 18 local communities. The program will provide residents and small businesses with a fixed supply rate of $7.195 per MCF from Archer Energy, offering price stability in an unpredictable natural gas market.
Participating communities include Brookville, Centerville, Eaton, Englewood, Fairborn, Germantown, Huber Heights, Kettering, Miamisburg, Monroe, Moraine, New Lebanon, Oakwood, Trotwood, Troy, Union, Vandalia and West Carrollton. Clayton and Lewisburg are pursuing natural gas aggregation as a ballot measure for voters in November 2025.
“Our electric aggregation program with Dynegy has saved participants nearly $350 annually since its inception in 2023,” West Carrollton City Manager Amber Holloway said. “This natural gas program continues our commitment to helping residents and small businesses access competitive rates and achieve budget stability, even in a volatile market.”
Gas supply service will begin with the November 2025 billing cycle and continue through May 2027, at which time a potential new contract term and rate will be evaluated through a competitive bid process.
Eligible residents and small businesses will receive an opt-out notification letter from Archer Energy in early to mid-September. Residents and small businesses who want to join the program do not have to do anything; they will be automatically enrolled. Anyone wishing not to participate can simply call the number listed on the letter to “opt out” of the program and remain on default-service supply with CenterPoint Energy (CPE). Oakwood offers its residents and small businesses an opt-in program, meaning that to participate, they must contact Archer Energy.
Eligible participants may leave and rejoin the program at any time, with no early termination or additional fees. CPE will continue to provide its typical monthly invoicing services to customers in the program, along with its standard regulated distribution services. Likewise, participating residents and small businesses will still call CPE for service issues.
History
Miami Valley Communications Council is a municipal communications and technology organization representing the eight member cities of Centerville, Germantown, Kettering, Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood, Springboro and West Carrollton. The council also has affiliate agreements with other Miami Valley cities. MVCC was formed in 1975 as a council of governments to monitor, regulate, and administer common cable television franchise agreements, manage the operation of the council's cable access television channels, and develop and implement intergovernmental projects designed to strengthen communications between member cities and their citizens. A policy-making body consisting of delegates representing member cities governs the council.
Funding
MVCC is funded through franchise fees paid by the cable service provider. Franchise fees are rent that the cable company pays for placing its wires over or under the public rights-of-way (streets.) MVCC uses these franchise fees to support its community access television activities, cooperative intergovernmental projects, and to explore new and changing technologies that will benefit member communities. The council, in turn, provides many services to our communities at little or no cost.