News and Analysis
Kasich Opposes Nuke Bailouts
August 25, 2017Governor Kasich has been pretty much silent, publicly, about the proposed (and expensive) nuclear plant bailouts sought by FirstEnergy. Not any more.
This week, at the ribbon cutting for a 900 megawatt gas-fired generator in Oregon, a suburb of Toledo, the governor said he opposes the so-called “zero emissions credits.” He said the nukes are the company’s responsibility, not the state’s.
FirstEnergy and its legislative allies continue to push for passage of the bailout legislation this fall. The governor’s public position is a big deal, and welcomed by Ohio’s electricity consumers, whose access to innovative, affordable market rates has been constrained by above-market riders approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
The Oregon plant is one of 10 gas-powered plants under development in Ohio. As the governor said, the markets are working to attract new investment in new technology in Ohio. 8/23/2017
Trump Won’t Use Emergency Power for FirstEnergy Coal Plants
August 25, 2017The Associated Press this week broke a report that the “Trump administration has rejected a coal industry push to win a rarely used emergency order protecting coal-fired power plants, a decision contrary to what one coal executive said the president personally promised him.”
Bob Murray, CEO of Murray Energy, a major coal company, has stated that the president, in private conversations with Murray and FirstEnergy, agreed to use the emergency power for the coal plants.
“The Energy Department’s authority comes from section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, designed for major problems such as war, natural disasters or increased energy demand that require federal government intervention. It appears the Energy Department’s reading of the law precludes it from using the authority to save coal jobs,” according to a report in the Washington Examiner. 8/23/2017
FirstEnergy Permitted to Collect New Rider
August 18, 2017The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) rejected requests for reconsideration of an October 2016 ruling that grants FirstEnergy an above-market customer charge of approximately $204 million per year for up to five years.
The OMA Energy Group opposed the ruling and requested that the PUCO reconsider its decision.
Even though the final order was issued this week, FirstEnergy began collecting the charge on customer bills in January.
The OMA Energy Group has 60 days to appeal the case to the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Read an analysis from OMA energy counsel Kimberly Bojko of Carpenter Lipps & Leland. 8/17/2017
PowerForward Videos on YouTube
August 18, 2017The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has a new YouTube channel for its “PowerForward” series of events. PowerForward explores new technologies and their potential impacts on the electricity grid. The program just completed a three-day session on presentations by experts in the technologies.
View the videos. 8/14/2015
Oil & Gas Boom Driving Jobs and Manufacturing
August 4, 2017The American Petroleum Institute this week released a study quantifying the economic impact of the U.S. gas and oil industry.
The study includes economic impact state reports. The Ohio fact page touts an estimated $38 billion in annual economic activity and an estimated 16,000 manufacturing jobs supported by the industry. 8/2/2017
Funding Available to Help Reduce Energy Costs and Improve Energy Efficiency
July 28, 2017The state’s Energy Loan Fund is now accepting applications. The fund helps entities including manufacturers implement energy efficiency improvements to lower energy use and costs. Eligible applicants receive low-interest financing to install efficiency measures that reduce energy by at least 15 percent. Technical assistance is available to facilitate the required energy audit for potential applicants.
Loan amounts vary depending on the project from $250,000 to $2.5 million. Technical assistance is also available to help eligible applicants identify energy efficiency measures for their facilities.
Learn more here. 7/25/2017
PUCO’s PowerForward Features Leading Speakers
July 28, 2017This week, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) held phase two of its PowerForward examination into aspects of grid modernization, specifically exploring technologies including distributed generation, storage and micro-grids.
UTC, GE and Honda of America were among nearly two dozen presenters before members of the PUCO. Other speakers were from electric utilities, information technology firms and others.
Here’s video of the presentations. 7/27/2017
Final Agenda is Set for PUCO’s PowerForward, July 25-27
July 21, 2017The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has added another round of speakers and presenters for PowerForward: Exploring Technologies, and the final agenda is all set.
PowerForward, July 25-27 in Columbus, Ohio, is open to all. There is no need to register and the event is free to attend. 7/14/2017
Cupp to Chair House Public Utilities Committee
July 14, 2017
Rep. Robert Cupp (R-Lima) has been tapped to chair the House Public Utilities Committee. Serving in his second term in the House, Cupp will bring to the post his extensive experience as a leading member of the Ohio Senate, county officeholder, appellate judge and Supreme Court of Ohio justice.
Cupp succeeds Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) who was recently elevated to House Majority Floor Leader.
The Public Utilities Committee is considering multiple bills that will impact customer electric costs and affect competitive markets for power. The House is expected to convene a task force on energy policy over the summer. 7/13/2017
Conference Committee Eliminates Utility Subsidy Amendment
June 30, 2017Earlier this week the OMA, together with AARP, NFIB, Ohio Chemistry Technology Council and the Office of Ohio’s Consumers’ Council, urged the state budget conference committee to strike language that would have created a new way for utilities to obtain consumer-paid subsidies. The conference committee did just that, protecting customers from unwarranted electricity cost increases.
The Senate had inserted language into the budget bill that would have allowed utilities to increase rates to improve their corporate credit ratings.
In a press release OMA president Eric Burkland said: “The OMA commends the Conference Committee for recognizing that enabling Ohio’s electric utilities to raise customers’ electric rates to bolster the utilities’ credit ratings is bad public policy. Eliminating this provision from the budget bill will thwart the utilities’ latest ploy to seek a financial bailout by their customers by shifting ordinary business risk from shareholders to ratepayers.” 6/29/2017