The City of Carthage's municipal electric aggregation program (MEA), paused since March 

2022, will resume in April under a new contract with Constellation New Energy for electric supply to 

participating homeowners and small businesses.. A small business is defined as one that uses fewer 

than 15,000 kilowatthours a year. 

Constellation submitted the low bid to serve the City's MEA program with a proposal to 

supply electricity at 11.924 cents per kilowatthour. That rate will be fixed for 18 months, beginning 

with meter readings in April. Ameren's current rate is 11.833 cents. Consumers who have Ameren 

supply their electricity also pay for electricity Ameren buys that is not included in the utility's rate. 

MEA participants are not subject to the additional charge, which has averaged .34 cents per 

kilowatthour over the last seven months. 

Constellation last week began sending letters to each eligible resident of the City. It includes 

information about the new supply rate, terms, and the right of eligible residents to opt out at no cost. 

Those who wish to participate will be enrolled automatically and need to do nothing. Those who 

prefer not to participate can opt out by calling Constellation's customer care center tollfree at 800- 

243-8072 or completing and returning a coupon with the letter in the postage-paid envelope. 

Additional information is available by calling the toll free number. 

Ameren in March will also send a letter to each eligible participant to remind them of the 

new supplier for Carthage's electric aggregation program and the right to opt out. 

The City of Carthage, whose eligible voters at a referendum in 2012 authorized electric 

aggregation, in March 2022 suspended the program for one year when it found open-market prices 

for electricity were significantly higher than Ameren's electric rate. Residents could choose another 

electric supplier or return to Ameren supply for electricity. 

Consumers who participate in the City electric aggregation program will continue to write 

only one check for electricity. Ameren bills will include Constellation's electric supply cost. Service 

calls will continue to be handled by Ameren for residents in the City. 

SIMEC, LLC, of Quincy is the consultant for City of Carthage's MEA program.