Ohio Consumers' Counsel

The state’s consumer advocacy group on utilities and Ohio’s manufacturers are asking the Public Utilities Commission to audit the subsidies paid to two coal-fired power plants in the last two years.

Ohio Consumers' Counsel attorney Bill Michael's line of questioning on Tuesday suggested companies like Amazon, Meta and Microsoft can afford to pay their fair share, when it comes to purchasing electricity.

The increase could mean AES Ohio electric customers have to foot a bill $40 higher a year.

Earlier this month, AEP Ohio announced plans for another rate increase that the company said will pay for reliability-focused improvements to the electric grid. Under the plan, rates will go up about $1.50 a month or an average annual increase of less than 1 percent.

But consumer advocates representing manufacturers and residential electric customers, and staff at a state regulatory agency are pushing back.

Consumer advocates asked for changes to a program meant to keep homes warm even when people can’t pay. But the Ohio Public Utilities Commission denied those requests in their meeting Wednesday.

Two of Ohio's Republican House of Representatives are sponsoring the effort to reform how the state appoints regulators to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

Columbia Gas of Ohio is asking the Ohio Public Utilities Commission to approve nearly tripling the flat, monthly distribution charge 1.4 million customers pay before the cost of natural gas usage is added to the bill.

The utility bosses talked about their companies' priorities and if they can get help from the then-chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

FirstEnergy will pay a $230 million fine in a plea deal with federal prosecutors in the federal investigation into the $1.6 billion bailout for Ohio’s two nuclear energy plants. But some argue state leaders have not done enough to prevent back room dealing that can lead to scandals like this.