The Charleston Police Department is warning the community that suspicious door-to-door energy solicitors not associated with the city are making their way through Charleston.

The city is currently working to choose and contract with a new energy provider, but one has not been chosen yet.

Charleston City Manager Scott Smith said he has put out several press releases letting the Charleston community know about these solicitors, but many people may still be confused.

“Residents in Coles County who are not on electric with Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative and not under contract with another alternative retail electric supplier or on a fixed rate program with Ameren CIPS are automatically going to be in the city’s new municipal electric aggregation program,” Smith said. “They will be switched over sometime in January or February.”

Smith said the city of Charleston goes out for bid on Dec. 11.

“This is going to become a closed market for the energy providers,” Smith said.

“What they’re doing right now is running around town trying to solicit all of our residents and pressuring them into agreements,” he said.

Smith said the city is concerned with these solicitors because many residents think they are from the city energy provider.

“With our program, you don’t have to do anything,” Smith said. “I can just about guarantee that the price program that we’re going to have available to our residents will be cheaper than the direct sale of the solicitors.”

Lt. Brad Oyer of the Charleston Police Department said governments can negotiate better prices for their citizens.

“It’s a good thing for the consumer, but the city has not entered into any negotiations for energy as of yet, and anybody going door-to-door does not speak for anything the city is working with,” Oyer said. “They’re not licensed by the city.”

These solicitors have been going from town to town trying to get a cut of the profit while the city is in this transitional period, Smith said.

“They’re preying on people who don’t know enough about it,” he said. “They may get a savings from what they’re currently paying, but they’re likely not going to get the same deal they could get on the municipal electric aggregation program that the voters approved on Nov. 6.”

Smith said he encourages Charleston residents to be extremely cautious with solicitors.

“We do not go door-to-door, nor will we call you because it’s not anything related to the city’s program,” he said. “We will send a notice in late December or early January asking you whether or not you want to opt out of the plan.”

Residents have filed reports of harassment with the Charleston Police Department and Smith said they have received many phone calls about various solicitors.

“We’re not soliciting, and they are not in any way associated with our plan,” he said. “I would encourage any resident to wait until the city’s bids are in, the pricing announced and compare that rate to any solicitors’ and make an educated decision.”

Robyn Dexter can be reached at 581-2812 or redexter@eiu.edu.