The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has finalized new rules allowing electric utilities to seek rate increases based on projected spending rather than costs they have already incurred.

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) Energy Group proposed a one-way true-up requiring utilities to refund customers when forecasts prove too high, while preventing them from collecting more when they underestimate. The Ohio Consumers’ Counsel separately proposed refunds with interest for overcharges. The commission rejected both proposals.

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but utilities fared better. The PUCO declined to require automatic sharing of all supporting documents at the start of a case and gave utilities more time to calculate and return overcollections.

“So utilities can overestimate and keep customers’ money, or underestimate and come back for more?” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of energy and advocacy services. “The commission rejected safeguards against either outcome. Utilities make the predictions. Customers should not have to pay for every miss.” 7/27/2026