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PUC Staff Seek Limits On Receivables Eligible For POR (Caps); Or "Wind Down" Of POR Program
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Staff of the PUC of Ohio have again proposed that East Ohio Gas Company d/b/a Enbridge Gas Ohio (EOG, formerly Dominion East Ohio) should impose a cap or other limit on purchased receivables in EOG's purchase of receivables program, or alternatively should "wind down" the POR program
Staff's recommendation was made in a report on EOG's current rate case. As first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com, Staff had made similar recommendations in EOG's prior rate case which was subject to a final decision in 2025 (2023 rate case)
EOG did not propose any changes to the POR program in its rate case.
EOG's POR program has had a 0% discount rate for approximately 20 years
In Staff's new report, Staff called Staff's recommendations, "[c]onsistent with the Commission’s Order in the 2023 Rate Case."
However, while PUCO in such 2023 rate case did hold that, "competitive suppliers [should] contribute to
their collection costs or limit the cost to ratepayers," PUCO's direction was that EOG shall "consider" applying a discount
rate to competitive suppliers to offset these costs, and that EOG shall "explore" other options such as
limiting the purchase of receivables to the Standard Choice Offer rate to protect ratepayers
Staff said that, in the 2023 rate case order, PUCO directed EOG to review and examine the purchase of receivables program as well as other means to protect ratepayers from what Staff termed "exorbitant" competitive charges passed through to all ratepayers through the UEX rider [uncollectible expense rider].
Staff reported that the amount of competitive charges purchased by EOG has increased 26% between 2024 and 2025, totaling over $759 million.
Based on a sampling of bills of EOG customers that were disconnected for non-payment, Staff reported that distribution charges amounted to 26% of the bill, commodity charges amounted to 26% of the bill, "transfer and miscellaneous charges" amounted to 45% of the bill, and late payment fees amounted to 2% of the bill
In contrast, a prior sampling cited in the 2023 rate case had shown that commodity charges accounted for 54% of disconnected customers' charges, with distribution charges accounting for 38% of customers’ charges
Staff reported that EOG's average customer arrearage at disconnection has been trending upward, from $991.10 in 2024 to $1,342.11 in 2026.
Disconnections have increased 14% between 2024 and 2025 (3,865 more disconnections). For disconnections, Staff said that EOG, "has not improved timeliness as the number of days between issuance of an initial disconnection notice and the actual disconnection has increased an additional 25 days in 2025 compared to 2024 with an average of 154 days".
While EOG's disconnections have slightly increased, which Staff had previously sought as a means to mitigate uncollectibles, Staff said that, "the disconnection timeline remains too long, and the amount owed at disconnection is too high."
"Consistent with the Commission’s Order in the 2023 Rate Case," Staff recommended that EOG file an application to revise the POR program in order to implement "limits or mitigating controls" on competitive charges, or, alternatively, "to wind down its purchase of receivables program within 90 days of the Commission Order in this matter."
Staff said, "The Company’s failure to review the purchase of receivables program in a separate proceeding or within this proceeding demonstrates to Staff that the Company has not taken sufficient steps to comply with the Commission’s Order."
"Staff believes that ratepayers should no longer be accountable for competitive suppliers’ collection costs and that the Company should wind down its purchase of receivable program or open an application to review the program," Staff said
In another choice matter, Staff recommended that EOG include language in its General Transportation Service (GTS) tariff stating that if a customer fails to obtain or arrange for service with a Supplier pursuant to section 1.1(a) of EOG's tariff, the customer will automatically default to the Large Volume Gas Sales Service (LVGSS) rate schedule for up to two months and then move to the Large Volume Energy Choice Transportation Service (LVECTS), if eligible, or until a Supplier is obtained.
Case 25-1097-GA-AIR et al.
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July 6, 2026
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Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com
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