DeKalb Township residents will vote April 9 on pooling together to save money on their electric bill.

Aggregation has been a very successful program for the city, said second ward alderman Tom Teresinski.

In Illinois, townships and cities are allowed to put a referendum on the ballot saying the government can bid out the citizens’ energy provider, said Township Supervisor Eric Johnson.

“Up until last year, only counties and cities were allowed to do this referenda,” Johnson said. “Last summer they changed it.”

Johnson said citizens approached the township about getting the aggregation.

The city voted and passed the program in 2012.

“That’s been a very positive program,” Teresinski said. “I’ve heard no complaints from anyone in my ward or in the city.”

Last year’s average savings was about $234 per family, Johnson said.

“This has passed on a lot of savings to our citizens,” Teresinski said of the city’s program. “This has been very good for our community.”

The main goal of aggregation is to save residents money on their electric bill.

“It allows people to get a better rate,” said DeKalb township trustee James Luebke. “It’s allowing people to take advantage of a slightly more open market.”

The aggregation is not a requirement. Luebke said residents have three opportunities to opt out. This is giving the people who don’t live in town a chance to get in on the savings, Luebke said.

“My personal standpoint is I think it’s a good thing,” Johnson said. “It will save people money and they can change it at any time.”

Luebke said he voted for the program as a trustee.

“It’s a good move,” Luebke said. “If you want to go in on it you can, if not you don’t have to.”

Energy Aggregation is on the April 9 ballot for the unincorporated DeKalb township.