The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) this week said federal regulators are now confronting the same large-load cost-shifting risks OMA has warned about in Ohio. FERC’s action requiring regional grid operators, including PJM, to address large-load interconnection, transmission cost transparency and cost shifting reinforces a basic principle. Data centers and other large energy users should pay for the infrastructure needed to serve them, not shift those costs onto manufacturers, families and small businesses.

“Of course utilities do not like reforms that make it harder to pass the bill to existing customers,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “That is exactly why reform is needed. If a data center causes new grid costs, the bill should go to the data center, not to Ohio manufacturers and other customers. Utilities should not get to turn speculative load forecasts into guaranteed revenue and call that customer protection.”

OMA said FERC’s action should be a warning to Ohio policymakers, not an excuse for weaker state-level protections. Last week’s rushed push to pass Substitute House Bill 646 reinforced the need for real safeguards, not utility wish lists repackaged as customer protection.

Real customer protection requires verified demand, cost causation, upfront payment for caused upgrades and nondiscriminatory rules that apply fairly to all customers. Ohio policymakers should not leave manufacturers, families and small businesses on the hook for infrastructure built around forecasts that may never materialize. 6/18/2026