According to Gongwer, consumer advocates and utilities are clashing over Ohio’s winter utility shutoff protections as the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) undertakes a broader review of administrative rules governing customer disconnections.

Advocacy groups are urging regulators to convert the PUCO’s annual Special Reconnect Order into a standing rule, arguing it would provide consistency and reduce the need for emergency actions during extreme winter weather. Utilities, however, are pushing back. AEP Ohio questioned the effectiveness of the winter heating season program, citing limited participation and warning that lower winter payments can leave customers with higher balances once the season ends.

Other companies weighed in with alternative proposals. Columbia Gas of Ohio urged regulators to expand eligibility for income-based assistance programs, while gas and electric providers also raised concerns about safety risks tied to same-day personal notice requirements for disconnections.

Manufacturers say the debate exposes a broader accountability issue in utility regulation.

“Utilities talk about discipline and market signals until winter hits,” said Lindsey Short, managing director of energy and advocacy services at the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “Then the rules bend, exceptions multiply, and costs quietly shift to customers.”

Short said Ohio’s regulatory framework should rely on clear, durable standards rather than seasonal workarounds that create uncertainty for customers and policymakers alike.

“Utilities want flexibility for themselves and certainty when it’s time to bill customers,” she added. 2/10/2026