DeKALB – The DeKalb Township Board voted 5-0 to place a referendum on the April 9 ballot asking voters to authorize a power aggregation program.

Aggregation programs help to lower residents’ energy costs by allowing a unit of government to accept bids on power supply for a group of residents and business. Participants still receive a single energy bill. On average, participating households save $220 a year on their electric bills. Rock River Energy Services Co., the consulting firm which worked with the city of DeKalb on its power referendum, will guide the township through the process.

If the referendum passes the township will need to hold two public hearings on the issue before it is allowed to accept bids from power suppliers. The winning bidder will provide power for those residents in unincorporated DeKalb Township who have not opted out of the program. Residents of the city of DeKalb will not be affected in any way by the outcome of the referendum.