PUC Sets Status Conference On Pending Utility Application To Offer Program Meant To Facilitate Customer Purchases Of Decarbonized Natural Gas From Competitive Retail Suppliers

A Public Utilities Commission of Ohio hearing examiner has scheduled for February 13 a status conference in a proceeding considering an application by Dominion East Ohio to offer a program meant to facilitate the optional purchase of "decarbonized" natural gas by customers from competitive retail energy suppliers

As initially proposed, under DEO's proposed Decarbon Ohio Program, certified Energy Choice suppliers would be responsible for the purchase and sale of carbon offsets and marketing carbon-offsetting rate offers to interested customers. DEO would facilitate the Program by fulfilling three roles: "(a) educating customers on the importance of sustainability and the general availability of carbon-offsetting rate offerings; (b) administering the Program, including initial and ongoing review of supplier eligibility and Program compliance, customer enrollment, and the creation and maintenance of customer portals; and (c) validating that suppliers obtained sufficient certified carbon offsets to fully offset emissions associated with enrolled customers. The Program would be a voluntary, opt-in program for both customers and suppliers."

See more background on the proposed program here

The hearing examiner noted that the parties to the proceeding have been regularly meeting and negotiating since reply comments were filed in June 2022. Recently, the parties reached out to the attorney examiner requesting a status conference, indicating that it would be helpful to discuss some of the parties’ concerns and jointly determine the best procedural path moving forward. The stated goal of the status conference would be to identify a mutually agreeable process to streamline the presentation of issues to the Commission.

Case 22-179-GA-ATA