Thousands of Valley households and businesses who receive their electricity through the non-profit electricity aggregator NOPEC are being notified by mail that their electric supplier is changing.

NOPEC is an organization that purchases utilities, including electricity and natural gas, from providers in bulk to get lower rates for consumers.

However, NOPEC is now telling the cities, villages and townships that they will not be providing electricity to its customers because the rate they purchased the energy is now considerably higher than what is being offered on the open market.

A statement posted on NOPEC's website states that "Over our 20-year history, we have delivered competitively priced electric rates. But due to a variety of unprecedented market conditions, that’s changed. International tensions and hotter than normal weather have driven energy prices to unpredicted high levels, which is putting our current prices in contrast to the historically low pricing NOPEC customers have enjoyed in the past."

The letter said "...beginning immediately, we are transitioning all electric customers enrolled in our Standard Program Price option back to the utility default service. This will allow you to receive the utility’s currently lower monthly rate, referenced as the “Price to Compare” on your monthly bills.

So what does this mean? NOPEC is switching their customers temporarily to what's called the "Standard Supplier Offer" or SSO until Spring - and the good news is most electric bills that receive service from NOPEC will see significant savings.

In the Valley, the City of Warren, McDonald; Liberty Township; Coitsville; Milton Twp; Jackson two; Jackson Twp; Ellsworth Twp; Goshen Twp; Green Twp; Beaver Twp; Sebring; Smith Twp; Know, Butler Tips; Hanoverton; Unity and Middleton Twp. all use NOPEC.

It's these communities that will see this change - and if you got this letter - according to Ohio Public Utilities Director of Public Affairs Matt Schilling, you don't have to do anything. You will automatically be switched to your default supplier - which is Ohio Edison.

And while the rate is considerably lower, Schilling said lower rates might be offered by other suppliers that provide electricity options to the Valley. But consumers need to what the fine print, which may include variable rates, termination fees or longer locked-in rates... which may be good or bad for consumers, depending on rates going forward.

Consumers wishing to look for lower rates should visit the website energychoice.ohio.gov to compare plans.