The Peoria County Board approved a New-York-based consultant as part of an energy-purchasing program.  Peoria Public Radio’s Alex Rusciano reports:

Good Energy will look for low-cost energy suppliers for Peoria County under the agreement.  State law allows municipalities to pass a referendum that lets them seek bids for cheaper electricity suppliers.  County Administrator Lori Curtis Luther says the program is a win-win for homeowners:

“If this bid were to come back and not beat Ameren’s annual published process, we simply would not award that bid,” Curtis Luther says.

“But I think based on electricity pricing right now it is forecast that our residents could save from $125 to $150 per year.”

Curtis Luther says the program could save if an estimated 10-thousand County residents one-million-dollars in annual energy costs if they’re in the program.  The referendum to participate in the program is set for the spring ballot.  In other business the County is aiming to have a Local Initiative Support Corporation open shop in the coming months.  Officials say the group could help low-income residents with job and school assistance if it becomes a reality.  More information is expected in the coming weeks.