News
Buchtel Voters Turn Down Electric Aggregation
By: Athens Messenger staff reports
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Voters turned down electric aggregation in the Nov. 4 election, although the result wasn't known until Friday's official count broke an 81-81 election-night tie.
The official vote was 83 against aggregation and 81 in favor.
Aggregation is the process by which electricity customers pool together to seek better rates.
The 83-81 vote is not close enough to trigger an automatic recount, according to Athens County Elections Director Debbie Quivey.
Aggregation was approved in both Jacksonville and Trimble on election night. Friday's official count had it winning in Jacksonville by a vote of 76-67 and in Trimble by 44-36.
Official counts include provisional ballots and absentee ballots that are not counted election night.
Prior to the election, mayors in all three villages said that if voters endorsed aggregation the intent was to join the Southeast Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC), the organization formed by Athens and Athens County to pursue electric aggregation. SOPEC is in the process of negotiating with electricity companies.