NOPEC previews anniversary enrollment for Parma and council presses for clearer materials on rates and 'do not knock' rules

Tony Ramos of NOPEC told Parma City Council on March 16 that the energy-aggregation program will send anniversary enrollment letters to eligible Parma households and that recipients can opt out by mail, phone or online. "If I'm happy with NOPEC and I don't want to change anything, I stick that letter either in the circular filing cabinet or I put it in a drawer somewhere and keep it for my records," Ramos said, describing the enrollment process and customer options.

Ramos introduced Andrea Wolozin as NOPEC's new relationship manager and said the administration and NOPEC's executive office will share official pricing information with council before letters arrive. He warned that market conditions are raising rates: "the 8.9¢ a kilowatt hour that you're currently paying is not what the rate's going to be starting in June," he said, adding that aggregation customers are likely to remain among the more competitive options available.

Council members pressed for a clear communications toolkit that residents can use to understand the program and evaluate whether to opt out. A council member suggested a single-page explainer and talking points for ward meetings; Ramos said NOPEC will provide a community toolkit and supplemental materials to the administration and clerk.

Members also raised repeated complaints about door-to-door solicitors targeting seniors. "I just mailed to a group of seniors the do not knock information, because that time has come already and they're out there door knocking," a council member said, urging stricter enforcement and registration of solicitors. NOPEC staff and the service director said NOPEC maintains and distributes an updated "do not knock" spreadsheet to registered peddlers and that unpermitted canvassers remain the enforcement problem. The law director said the office will review federal limits on local solicitation hours and whether municipalities can adopt more restrictive local rules.

Ramos provided conflicting dates in answering when letters will hit mailboxes: in one exchange he said letters would start mailing April 1 and end April 15; in another he said letters would begin going out May 1. He told council that official rate notifications would be provided to the mayor and clerk in advance of the mailing.

Next steps: NOPEC will supply the administration with the community toolkit and officials said the administration will distribute official rate information to council as soon as it is available.