Report: Bills to Repeal OVEC, Reform Ratemaking Face Uphill Climb

As previously reported, Senate Bill 143 is OMA-supported legislation to implement a clean repeal of Ohio’s electric security plans (ESPs) to help reduce electricity costs and increase consumer protections.

However, the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Mark Romanchuk (R-Ontario), said this week he has low expectations that either SB 143 or separate legislation to repeal rate-payer funded subsidies for OVEC’s coal plants will be seriously considered by the full legislature “unless there’s another shoe to drop” — referring to the FirstEnergy scandal.

Sen. Romanchuk said the culture in the Statehouse has been slow to change even after the House Bill 6-related convictions of ex-speaker Larry Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges. Read more on Sen. Romanchuk’s comments as reported by Gongwer News Service. 9/20/2023