When Lemont residents head to the polls March 20, they’ll be asked to choose from a pool of primary candidates in county, state and Congressional races.

This election season, another decision will also rest in voters’ hands. Lemont is among dozens communities asking residents to approve a referendum that could mean lower electric bills for homeowners and small businesses.

Under a plan known as electric aggregation, the electric loads of each community would be combined, with the Will County Governmental League acting as a broker to try to negotiate cheaper power rates. The plan is made possible by the deregulation of Exelon, parent company of ComEd, because the power giant is no longer the sole provider of electricity in Northern Illinois.

For each community where residents approve the referendum, the governmental league will solicit bids from ComEd competitors. The league could consider bids from any of 23 alternate electricity suppliers in Illinois, so long as their rates are lower than what ComEd is offering.

Last year, New Lenox and Crest Hill teamed up for a similar aggregation plan, snagging a rate that officials say will save residents 25 percent on their power bills.

Sounds like a good deal, right? What do you think? Will you vote in favor of the referendum? Or do you not want the government brokering your power rates for you?