Case Study

4th Largest Illinois County Achieves Long-Term Budget Certainty and Significant Cost Avoidance for Its Residents

4th Largest Illinois County Achieves Long-Term Budget Certainty and Significant Cost Avoidance for Its Residents

The opportunity

Will County, Illinois, sought to reduce energy costs, improve contract management, and incorporate renewable energy into its procurement strategy.

Will County, the fourth-largest county in Illinois, faced challenges managing its electricity and natural gas procurement across multiple government facilities. Without a centralized approach to managing existing energy agreements, the County lacked visibility into competitive purchasing opportunities and strategies to control long-term energy costs.

Already utilizing OMNIA Partners for other public-sector purchases, Will County had an opportunity to access Tradition Energy’s procurement services through the existing OMNIA agreement. The County sought a more strategic approach that would deliver greater budget certainty, reduce utility costs, and incorporate renewable energy into its overall purchasing strategy.

Analysis

Tradition evaluated Will County’s utility portfolio, developed a competitive procurement strategy, and incorporated renewable energy objectives into its purchasing approach.

Tradition conducted a comprehensive analysis of electricity and natural gas accounts across County-owned facilities. The review revealed that electricity accounts remained on default utility supply rather than competitive agreements. Additionally, most natural gas accounts had continued under post-contractual supply arrangements for nearly a decade, while others were served directly by the local utility.

Working with County leadership and stakeholders, Tradition evaluated renewable energy goals and incorporated those objectives into competitive supplier requests. The team aggregated electricity and natural gas requirements to solicit multiple competitive bids, while providing detailed market intelligence and procurement recommendations to support informed decision-making.

Tradition also supported the County’s development of a renewable natural gas (RNG) facility at an existing landfill. Recognizing the facility’s anticipated electricity requirements, Tradition assisted with demand forecasting and conducted a separate competitive procurement process evaluating various product structures suited to the new operation.

The Result:
Lower Costs, Long-Term Stability

$600,000 in Annual Cost Avoidance

Through competitive electricity and natural gas procurement, Tradition helped Will County achieve $600,000 in annual avoided utility costs. By evaluating multiple supplier offers and securing favorable contract terms, the County reduced energy expenses while strengthening financial predictability across its facilities.

48-Month Budget Certainty

Tradition negotiated 48-month electricity and natural gas agreements, providing Will County with greater long-term budget stability. Throughout the procurement process, Tradition presented market analysis and competitive bid results to the County Board, helping leadership evaluate purchasing decisions and understand the factors influencing energy prices.

50% Renewable Electricity Offset

Tradition incorporated renewable energy certificates (RECs) into the County’s procurement strategy, offsetting 50% of its electricity demand. The team also supported planning and procurement for the County’s developing renewable natural gas facility, aligning energy purchasing decisions with broader sustainability and infrastructure objectives.

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4th Largest Illinois County Achieves Long-Term Budget Certainty and Significant Cost Avoidance for Its Residents