With electricity prices forecast to rise faster than inflation through 2026, the Galesburg City Council voted 6-0 Monday night to authorize a new municipal energy aggregation agreement — a program that gives residents access to negotiated electricity rates that have historically beaten the standard Ameren price.
Ward 1 Alderperson Angelica Mangieri was not present for the vote.
The city participates in the Central Illinois Municipal Aggregation, or CIMA — a group of municipalities that pool together to negotiate a fixed electricity rate. From January through December 2025, participation in the program saved Galesburg residents a combined $18,997.97 compared to the default Ameren rate.
City Manager Eric Hanson told WGIL Monday morning that the current energy market is volatile, driven in part by overseas events, but that CIMA’s track record since 2013 reflects consistent savings — with no individual year in which the aggregation rate exceeded the base utility rate.
“The city gets absolutely nothing through this program other than we bid the power,” Hanson said. “If people take advantage of it because it’s a better rate, that’s the benefit.”
What this means for your electric bill
The new agreement will take effect when the current agreement expires in June 2026. The exact negotiated rate is not yet known — The Stone River Group, the city’s energy broker, expects to finalize and sign the new agreement with all participating municipalities on the same day in late March, as required by the program’s structure.
During Monday’s meeting, Mayor Peter Schwartzman asked Hanson about the likely length of the new agreement. Hanson said he would be surprised if it runs three years, and that a one-year term is more likely. He also noted the group is considering a 14- or 15-month agreement to shift the bidding cycle away from the period just before summer rates take effect — timing that has presented challenges in past years.
Hanson said a new feature is likely to be added this year — an automatic renewable energy credit that would appear directly on participating residents’ Ameren bills.
Participation in the program is optional. Residents who do not want to participate may opt out. The city is required by law to distribute opt-out mailers to eligible residents and businesses at least 60 days before the new agreement takes effect — which is why Monday’s vote was necessary now rather than after the rate is finalized.
Hanson said if the negotiated rate does not end up being competitive, the city will say so openly.
“If for some reason the rate doesn’t come back effective, we would tell people to go somewhere else,” he said.
City Council also approved Monday
The council approved the following items 6-0 Monday night. For details on each, City Manager Eric Hanson previewed them on Galesburg’s Morning News earlier in the day. Listen to that interview here, or in the above player.
Emergency demolition ordinance amendment: The council approved an update to the city’s emergency demolition ordinance, replacing a valuation-based trigger — which required demolition when damage exceeded 75% of a building’s value — with a public safety standard. The change allows the city to act more decisively when a structure poses an imminent danger, without being tied to a damage calculation that can be difficult to make in an emergency.
Evgenia Mediterranean Steakhouse liquor license: The council approved a Class A-1 liquor license for Evgenia, a new restaurant set to open at 41 South Seminary Street in early April. The restaurant will blend classic American steakhouse fare with Mediterranean cuisine. City Manager Hanson called it a destination restaurant that will drive traffic to other downtown businesses.
Weinberg Arcade facade improvement grant: The council approved a $40,000 facade improvement grant for the Weinberg Arcade at 64 S. Prairie Street, following two brick facade collapses last December. The building’s owners are contributing more than $280,000 in private investment toward the $324,400 project. Construction is expected to begin this week.
Lake Storey shared-use path land swap: The council authorized the sale of a portion of land adjacent to 1721 South Lake Storey Road — a right-of-way swap that is one of the final steps in the shared-use path project. The city exchanged a quarter-acre of right-of-way for a quarter-acre of wooded land near the lake. The lake level must remain low until trail construction through the inlets is complete, with a contract deadline of June 1.
