A referendum for changes to DeKalb’s energy supplier could be on the ballot by March 2012.

The change would entail finding a different energy generator, one that would supply energy to local businesses and families for less money. DeKalb Mayor Kris Povlsen said currently Commonwealth Edison buys its energy from generators and then supplies it to the city. Povlsen said residents can opt out of the current plan, and they will be able to opt out of the change, if it is implemented.

“Right now, everyone is a ComEd customer,” Povlsen said. “We can get our power from a variety of sources, like how you can buy your gasoline from a Shell station or another station. The gas is still the same, it comes from different sources. ComEd will still be our distributor… but we’ll be able to get [energy] from different possible energy sources.”

First Ward Alderman David Jacobson said the change would go to the city council at the next meeting Nov. 8. After that, Povlsen said if the council discussed the potential change, there would be a public hearing where DeKalb residents could give feedback. The council would then decide whether or not to put the energy change on the March ballot. If the change makes it to the ballot and is passed, it will be implemented.

“It should extend out discounts to all the residents here,” said 4th Ward Alderman Brendon Gallagher. “Right now, Commonwealth Edison maintains the lines, repairs the lines and delivers electricity to your home. They go out and buy it and they charge you a fee for it. People can, if I’m not mistaken, purchase through a third party and just [get energy] individually.”

Gallagher said the city council staff will “go through the vetting process” to determine which generator can provide energy for DeKalb at the lowest cost.

“The assumption is that we’ll get a better price as an aggregate-a community-than you would as an individual,” Povlsen said. “It’s not forcing anyone to go into a power source. It’s us providing a better one and a cheaper one than we have now, but you can still opt out.”