Legislation (House Bill 389) has been introduced to create new, utility-run energy efficiency programs. The bill comes after the legislature spent the past several years trying to eliminate such programs, and did so successfully in 2019 via the scandal-tainted House Bill 6. Sponsored by Reps. David Leland (D-Columbus) and Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), HB 389 would allow electric distribution utilities to implement “energy waste reduction” programs, which would be targeted at residential consumers. Individuals who did not want to participate would be required to opt out. Commercial and industrial users would be excluded. 8/16/2021