For the first time, this year Ironton residents will have the opportunity to vote on having their electricity and natural gas bills cut down through a program provided by Aspen Energy.

“If residents pass these items, it allows the city the opportunity to go out and enter an agreement with a third party supplier,” Aspen Energy senior energy consultant Marc Hollinger said. “It only affects people who already don’t have agreements in place with a third party supplier.”

Hollinger said the majority of Ironton residents don’t currently have a third party supplier, so this would benefit Ironton residents.

The program gives residents the chance to opt out if they choose, because once passed, all Ironton residents will be enrolled.

“Being a part of the program gives the average household a savings of about $200 a year,” Hollinger said. “With 4,800 households in Ironton, the total savings could reach close to $1 million.”

Ironton Mayor Rich Blankenship said he is in support of the program for the city.

“I’ll support it to let Aspen Energy search the market, because if there’s a cheaper price, I’ll take advantage of it,” Blankenship said. “The most important thing is that they can opt out of the program at any time and no one will bother them about the city’s program. I think it’s worth a shot.”