PUCO Maintains Current POLR Charges at AEP Ohio, Subject to Refund

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio will allow Columbus Southern Power and Ohio Power to continue to charge existing tariffed rates, reflecting current POLR and environmental carrying charges, until a further order on a remand proceeding, with the caveat that the companies shall file new tariffs explicitly making such charges subject to refund based on the outcome of the remand case.

"The Commission finds that making the current tariff rates subject to refund, pending the outcome of the remand proceedings, to be the most reasonable means to facilitate a just process for AEP-Ohio customers and the Companies, and to avoid rate volatility for some customers," PUCO said.

Previously, PUCO had ordered the removal of such charges from the tariff. In filing tariffs in response to such order, AEP Ohio removed POLR charges as set in its electric security plan, which is subject to the remand, but had sought to continue the collection of POLR charges as they existed before the electric security plan.

PUCO will also accept testimony and allow discovery on the POLR charge issue, and established a schedule to hear the case on remand.

The case is 08-917-EL-SSO et. al.