Polo Joins Community Solar Program to Cut Energy Costs

POLO — The City of Polo has approved participation in the Illinois Shines Community Solar program, a move expected to save approximately $4,000 annually on municipal utility costs. The agreement provides a 15% discount on ComEd’s regulated energy rate for city water and sewer accounts with no upfront cost. Polo joins Oregon, Byron, and Ogle County in the state-supported program, which distributes solar energy credits to participating municipalities. The city’s current energy contracts include rates as low as 4.184 cents per kilowatt-hour for street lighting and 7.523 cents for pumping services, compared to ComEd’s rate of over 10 cents. A separate decision on natural gas contracts was postponed for two weeks.