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Contested Opt-Out Municipal Aggregation Withdraws Application
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The Township of Howland, Ohio has withdrawn its application for certification by the PUC of Ohio as an opt-out government aggregator
Howland's application was similar to that of Newton Township, except that Howland, unlike Newton Township, had its application review suspended prior to the automatic approval deadline. As previously reported, Newton Township had initially received certification under automatic approval, but PUCO later ordered further review of the Newton application, and set the matter for further proceedings, after Palmer Energy Company Inc. alleged that Newton Township's application had been deficient. See our prior story here for more background.
Howland's withdrawal is specific to only the Township of Howland application, and does not pertain
to Newton Township’s application
With regards to Howland, Palmer Energy Company Inc. has alleged that Howland did not complete all of the steps required to be completed under PUCO's rules, which by rule must be completed prior to a filing for certification at PUCO. Among other things, Palmer has alleged that Howland did not provide: (1) an appropriate authorizing ordinance/resolution, and (2) any
demonstration or indication that the requisite election and vote on whether the Township should
form a Township governmental aggregation program were held.
Palmer Energy Company operates an opt-out aggregation for Trumbull County, in which the Township of Howland is located
Buckeye Energy Brokers, Inc., which serves as Howland's consultant, had cited a 2008 vote authorizing the Howland aggregation. Palmer Energy Company alleges that such vote only related unincorporated areas, and cannot be relied upon by Howland Township
With the delay and ultimate withdrawal of an opt-out program, Howland Township on its website currently promotes an "Endorsement Program" under which customers may sign up for natural gas supply with Eastern Power & Gas LLC on an opt-in basis, for an 18-month fixed rate of $4.70 per Mcf (April 2026 [May 2026 billing cycle] through September 2027)
Howland: PUCO Case 26-0008-GA-GAG
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March 20, 2026
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Copyright 2026 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com
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