Village Authorizes Collective Bidding for Electricity Rates

Village of Beecher Meeting | January 26, 2026

Article Summary: To combat fluctuating energy prices, the Beecher Village Board authorized the Village Administrator to lock in fixed electricity rates for village facilities. The village will participate in a collective purchasing pool to secure the lowest possible bid for its water and sewer operations.

Electricity Contract Key Points:

• Collective Bidding: Beecher is utilizing the Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative (NIMEC), a pool of over 160 municipalities, to leverage buying power.

• Target Facilities: The contract applies specifically to commercial accounts, such as village water and sewer facilities, rather than residential homes.

• Fixed Rates: The move is designed to avoid the floating hourly market rates associated with larger commercial accounts serviced by ComEd.

• Administrative Authority: The Village Administrator is now authorized to sign a contract on the day bids are presented to ensure the village captures the favorable rate immediately.

The Beecher Village Board on Monday, January 26, 2026, approved a resolution authorizing the Village Administrator to enter into a contract for electricity for the village’s commercial facilities.

The resolution allows the village to participate in a bid process managed by the Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative (NIMEC). Trustee Todd Kraus, Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee, introduced the measure, which passed unanimously.

According to the resolution, Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) no longer offers fixed rates for larger commercial accounts, instead using floating market rates that change hourly. To mitigate the risk of volatile pricing, the village is joining a cooperative pool to secure fixed rates for a term of one to three years.

Because commodity pricing changes rapidly, the board granted the Village Administrator the authority to sign a contract with the lowest bidder on the same day NIMEC presents the bids. The contract will be presented to the Village Board for ratification at the following meeting.