New Paris residents hear proposal to keep lights on

NEW PARIS, Ohio (WDTN) - New Paris residents gathered on Christmas eve to hear the details of a new proposal that will keep village leaders from flipping the switch on street lights for good.

Dayton Power and Light is the current service provider for the village; however, due to cuts in local government funding from the state,  the village can no longer afford the rate.

DPL Energy is now stepping in with a solution.  The company is offering to waive the cost to light the streets of New Paris, which costs the village $17,000 annually, and bundle it with a new, lower rate for residential and small commercial customers.

The proposal is based on a three year fixed rate of .06560/kWh with DPL Energy for all residential and commercial customers with an annual usage under 700,000 kWh.  The current price customers are paying with DP&L is .0975/kWh.

According to DPL Energy officials, this rate is a savings of over 30%.  It will save the average residential customer approximately $285 a year on their electric bill.  It is also projected to save village residents over a three year period approximately $365,000.

"It doesn't get any better than this," said Neil Hoffman, Mayor of New Paris.  "It would be silly for us not to accept this."

Village leaders will have a second hearing on this proposal Wednesday, followed by two additional public hearings in January.