HOWLAND TWP., Ohio - Howland Township residents could be getting lower gas rates starting in March. The township has requested to enter into an aggregate program with Buckeye Energy broker to secure a 4.70 per MCF rate. That's lower than the county wide aggregate program rate with Palmer Energy at 4.919 per MCF.

“We know that everybody is getting hit with increases across the board…we just felt it was a good time for us to see what we could do for our residents,” James Pantalone, the Administrator for Howland Township said. 

The township has participated in aggregate programs before. By opting out they join Liberty Township who has also secured their own rates.

Palmer Energy, the supplier of the county's gas, has filed with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to try and stop the township from opting out. The filing states “broker made false representations in the Township’s Application” and believes it’s “questionable whether the Township even has the authority to form a governmental aggregation program under Ohio law.”

The Trumbull County Commissioners agreed to the county program but said it’s not them trying to stop the township. 

“I think they have the right to do that,” Tony Bernard, Trumbull County Commissioner and a Howland Township resident himself said. “If they think that's in the best interest of their residents, I fully support it.”

The townships program would last from March until September of 2027 but the county's program locks in their rate longer from March of this year to March of 2029. 

The township will have to go rate hunting again when their contract expires. There's no way of knowing what rates will be offered then but the township feels they’d be in a better spot because they won’t be shopping in the middle of the winter. 

The township also believes they would have the option to just enter back into the county's program if they chose in September of 2027. 

“This is certainly not township versus county, this is both of us working to really do something good for our residents,” Pantalone said. 

Commissioner Bernard feels good about the rates for the rest of the county saying they were lucky to lock in when they did. 

“I signed the agreement on a Friday and that Monday it went up a dollar fifty more and it’s my understanding that in the past week it’s even gone up more than that,” Bernard said. “...I think at the end of the day the county’s program is going to be a far better rate than anybody.”

All residents in either aggregation program always have the option to opt out and hunt for their own rates. 

Howland Township will know if they are approved to enter the aggregation program next week.