06/12/2026
๐ฃNEWS RELEASE: Hudson City Council is currently considering legislation that would place a natural gas aggregation opt-out program on the November 2026 ballot for voter consideration. The legislation will be introduced on June 16 and is scheduled for additional readings on July 14 and July 21 before Council takes final action.
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ?
Since 2014, the City of Hudson has maintained agreements that allowed residents, businesses and other consumers to voluntarily participate in an opt-in natural gas aggregation program. Through this program, participants could choose an alternative natural gas supplier through enrollment facilitated by the City.
Over the past year, City staff and the City's energy broker have evaluated the current natural gas market and available program options. Due to changing market conditions, no alternative program has been identified that currently meets the City's standards for competitive pricing, cost stability and consumer benefit.
As a result, the City is exploring whether an opt-out aggregation model could provide additional opportunities for residents and businesses in the future.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ข๐ฝ๐-๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ด๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ?
Under Ohio law, communities may establish a governmental aggregation program that automatically enrolls eligible customers in a community-selected natural gas supply program unless they choose not to participate.
Customers would retain the right to opt out of the program and remain with their current supplier or choose another supplier. Customers already under contract with another supplier would not be automatically enrolled.
Importantly, the legislation currently before Council does not create a natural gas aggregation program immediately. Instead, it would ask voters whether the City should have the authority to establish an opt-out aggregation program in the future, as permitted under Ohio Revised Code Section 4929.26.
Numerous surrounding communities offer natural gas opt-out programs to their residents including Twinsburg, Stow, Tallmadge, Kent, Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn and Macedonia.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ช๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ณ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ?
If approved by voters in November, City Council would then develop a detailed plan of operation and governance for the program. State law requires at least two public hearings before any plan could be adopted. Residents would receive advance notice of those hearings, and the City would be required to provide clear information about program rates, terms, conditions and opt-out procedures.
Any future aggregation program would include provisions allowing customers to opt out without a switching fee during designated enrollment periods.
๐ข๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ป๐ฝ๐๐
Residents are encouraged to learn more about the proposed legislation and share their thoughts with City Council during the ordinance review process. The legislation is scheduled for consideration on:
โช๏ธFirst Reading: June 16, 2026
โช๏ธSecond Reading: July 14, 2026
โช๏ธThird Reading: July 21, 2026
If approved by Council, the ballot question would appear before Hudson voters during the November 3, 2026 general election. For more information on natural gas aggregation programs in Hudson, visit https://www.hudson.oh.us/930/Natural-Gas
