Naperville Council Seeks Electricity Options and Deadlines Beyond IMEA Contract

City leaders want a clear roadmap to evaluate alternatives and set long-term energy goals.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Naperville City Council has directed staff to provide a timeline and options for the city's future electricity supply beyond its current contract with the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA), which expires in 2035. The council wants to better understand non-IMEA alternatives and set clear long-term energy goals, such as reducing carbon emissions or limiting price increases, before deciding how to proceed.

Why it matters

Naperville's current electricity contract with IMEA has become a point of contention, with some council members and residents opposing the agency's reliance on coal-generated power. By seeking a clear timeline and evaluating all options, the city hopes to make an informed decision that aligns with its long-term energy priorities and goals.

The details

The Naperville City Council voted to pause contract extension negotiations with IMEA last month, which had proposed extending the city's contract to 2055. The council now wants staff to provide a timetable for evaluating IMEA, exploring alternatives, and understanding the risks and deadlines involved in the decision-making process. Council members emphasized the need to set clear energy goals, such as reducing carbon emissions or limiting price increases, to guide their evaluation of electricity options.

  • The current contract with IMEA does not expire until 2035.
  • The council halted contract extension negotiations with IMEA last month.
  • IMEA had requested the city extend its contract to 2055, which 29 of its 32 member municipalities have already agreed to.

The players

Naperville City Council

The governing body of the city of Naperville, Illinois, responsible for making decisions about the city's electricity supply and long-term energy goals.

Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA)

A joint action agency that currently provides electricity to the city of Naperville and 31 other member municipalities in Illinois.

Scott Wehrli

The mayor of Naperville, who emphasized the need for a clear roadmap and deadlines in the city's electricity decision-making process.

Supna Jain

A Naperville City Council member who expressed a desire to explore non-IMEA options for the city's electricity supply.

Ian Holzhauer

A Naperville City Council member who stressed the importance of setting clear energy goals before evaluating electricity options.

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What they’re saying

“We cannot afford to drift through this process”

— Scott Wehrli, Mayor (chicagotribune.com)

“I also want to note that while council voted to pause negotiations with IMEA, that vote did not pause the markets, regulatory change or the timeline that we are up against. The clock is still moving”

— Scott Wehrli, Mayor (chicagotribune.com)

“For me, specifically, I want to see non-IMEA options”

— Supna Jain, Councilwoman (chicagotribune.com)

“To my knowledge, no one's ever said, 'Hey, the city's goal is to cut carbon emissions by 10% or 15%, or the city's goal is to make sure prices don't go up by more than 5%. These aren't super hard concepts, but right now … (we) don't even know what we want”

— Ian Holzhauer, Councilman (chicagotribune.com)

What’s next

City staff will return to future council meetings with a timeline and electricity options for Naperville beyond 2035. A workshop outside of regular council meetings will also be held to determine the city's electricity goals.

The takeaway

Naperville's decision-making process around its future electricity supply highlights the importance of setting clear long-term energy goals and thoroughly evaluating all options, including alternatives to the city's current provider, to ensure the best outcome for the community.