Energy Program News

Contact:

Amy Gomberg, Environment Ohio, 614-312-9123 (c), 614-460-8732 (o)

Ryan Lippe, Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, 614-466-7269

Columbus, Ohio – Today, a group of environmental and consumer advocates joined forces to submit reply comments in the electric rule making proceeding at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).  Over 30 interested parties commented on the proposed rules that dictate the future of energy efficiency and renewable energy in Ohio.

The comments came in response to draft rules the PUCO recently released regarding renewable energy and energy efficiency. The rules implement Senate Bill 221, the recently passed landmark energy bill that was signed into law by Governor Strickland on May 1st.  SB 221 requires utilities to use an ever-increasing percentage of advanced and renewable energy from such sources as wind and solar power as well as make significant investments in energy efficiency.

 “The legislative commitment to renewable energy and energy efficiency are clear,” said Amy Gomberg of Environment Ohio.  “Ohio’s electric utilities' transparent attempts to undermine this new law should be rejected by the PUCO.”

Over a dozen environmental and consumer groups joined together to form the Ohio Consumer and Environmental Advocates (OCEA) and watchdog the Public Utilities Commission process.  Their comments shine the light on Ohio’s utilities and other energy users that are attempting to escape the requirements of the law by rewriting key issues through the PUCO process. The issues relate to the development of a renewable energy market and strong energy efficiency programs. 

"We need monitoring and verification to hold the utilities accountable," said Janine Migden-Ostrander, Ohio's Consumers' Counsel, the residential utility consumer advocate. "Eliminating loopholes is also vital to ensure the intent of Ohio's energy efficiency and renewable standards are met."

OCEA found the comments from the electric utilities to be disheartening. In their comments, the utilities attempt to:

1. Deceptively charge customers more money than necessary to meet the renewable energy benchmarks that they are required to meet by-law;
2. Use non-renewable energy resources, like storing the energy from coal-fired power in a water tower, to meet the renewable energy requirement;
3. Allow new expensive advanced nuclear or coal facilities to wipe out the renewable energy requirements;
4. Oppose long term planning that will result in the lowest rates for customers;
5. Take credit for energy efficiency investments made years ago, to meet future energy savings requirements;
6. Avoid the industry-standard monitoring and verification programs to guarantee energy efficiency savings

“Energy Efficiency programs need to benefit all customer classes,” stated Nolan Moser, of the Ohio Environmental Council. “Utilities shouldn't be able to duck statutory energy efficiency requirements by offering sweetheart deals to large commercial and industrial customers with no monitoring and verification protections to ensure that savings are actually achieved."

Today was the final day to comment on the proposed regulations, and the PUCO will take each of the comments into consideration for their final ruling.

“The PUCO can create winning solutions for customers, workers, industry, and the environment,” said Jen Miller, Conservation Program Coordinator with the Sierra Club Ohio Chapter. “The aggressive timeline for developing and commenting on these rules has been challenging, and we hope the PUCO will continue to review their effectiveness, and include public participation throughout that process.”

The PUCO will continue to develop the details of the energy efficiency programs through each electric utility’s proposed rate plans. 

“Despite their lack of attention to energy efficiency, the least cost resource, we look forward to working with the electric utilities to create effective energy efficiency programs for Ohio,” noted Dave Rinebolt, Executive Director with Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy.

Ohioans can weigh in on these rate plans, energy efficiency programs, and renewable energy at the hearings that the PUCO has scheduled around the state. For more information about these hearings and how to testify go to http://www.environmentohio.org/eehq/events or visit the PUCO’s website at http://www.puco.ohio.gov/PUCO/Consumer/Information.cfm?id=8662

  ***

Environment Ohio is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization that focuses exclusively on protecting Ohio’s air, water, and open spaces.