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Energy Consultant Seeks Denial Of Broker's Renewal License, & Forfeitures
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Palmer
Energy Company, Inc. filed a motion at the PUC of Ohio seeking that PUCO deny the natural gas broker/aggregator renewal application of Buckeye Energy Brokers, Inc. ("Buckeye"), with Palmer alleging that Buckeye, "has demonstrated an ongoing and persistent
disregard for the Commission’s rules and Ohio law".
Specifically, Palmer alleged that Buckeye, "has flouted Ohio law and the Commission’s rules governing the
creation of township aggregation programs on at least three occasions," with Palmer alleging that Buckeye filed, on behalf of Newton Township and Howland Township, government aggregation certification applications which Palmer alleged were, "deficient
and inaccurate," and which Palmer alleged, "included false representations[.]"
As previously reported (details here), Palmer alleged that the aggregation certification applications of Newton and Howland did not comply with law because, among other reasons, Palmer alleged that the townships impermissibly relied on a prior vote governing opt-out aggregation for unincorporated areas of a county as authorizing their township aggregation plans. Palmer alleged that Buckeye undertook a similar application with respect to Charlestown Township (discussed further below)
Palmer alleged, "Buckeye’s actions have directly interfered with Trumbull County’s (the County) opt-out
natural gas aggregation program, which is administered by Palmer. Specifically, Buckeye
encouraged and facilitated the withdrawal (or attempted withdrawal) of several townships within
Trumbull County from the County’s aggregation program in order to instead form independent
township specific aggregation programs overseen by Buckeye. These sudden withdrawals from
the County program jeopardized the County’s contract with its chosen supplier and the County
program pricing due to changes in the load profile and load risks of the County program."
In addition to denying renewal, Palmer asked that PUCO rescind Buckeye’s existing electric and gas broker/aggregator authority, and impose forfeitures on Buckeye
Separately, the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council requested that PUCO reconsider PUCO's issuance of a governmental
aggregator certificate to Charlestown Township. The certificate was already granted on April 27, 2026, under a 30-day automatic approval process after no protests were filed
Buckeye had filed Charlestown's government aggregation application with PUCO
NOPEC alleged, "Charlestown’s application lacks proof that the township complied with the requirements of
R.C. 4928.20(B) and R.C. 4928.20(C). There is no evidence that electors of the township voted
to approve a township aggregation program as required because no vote on the issue occurred.
Further, there is no evidence that newspaper notification regarding two public hearings on a plan
of operation of governance was published for two consecutive weeks, or that the two public
hearings on a plan of operation of governance were actually held. That is because the public
meetings and public notices for the plan of operation and governance never happened."
NOPEC alleged, "It appears Charlestown skipped the statutory requirements of R.C. 4928.20(B) and (C)
because it previously was part of a Portage County’s aggregation program. However, Charlestown must comply with the requirements of R.C. 4928.20(A) - (C) if it wishes to create its own
standalone township aggregation program."
Case 02-1676-GA-AGG - Buckeye renewal application
Case 26-0280-EL-GAG - Charlestown application
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July 13, 2026
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Copyright 2026 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com
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