Choice Utility With Optional REC Rider To Lower Price Of RECs Charged To Customers

According to an audit report from a consultant retained by the PUC of Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio (DEO) has stated that it intends to lower the cost of its GoGreen REC add-on product in Ohio

In Ohio, the Duke GoGreen program allows customers to purchase a minimum of two 100-kilowatt-hour (kWh) blocks of RECs for $2 per month. Customers do not switch their supplier (SSO or retail) under the program

The audit report states, "Based on the most recent evaluation, the Company [Duke Energy Ohio] determined that a price of $0.90 per 100 kWh block for the Ohio GoGreen program is appropriate with the current program participation levels and DEO is in the process of preparing and filing a tariff to reduce the block price for the Ohio GoGreen program to $0.90 per 100 kWh block."

While Duke has stated an intent to lower the price, the audit consultant recommended that the Ohio GoGreen price mirror the price for Duke's Indiana GoGreen program (which, at currently posted pricing, would mean a further reduction in the Ohio price, as the Indiana program is priced, for the minimum of two 100-kilowatt (kWh) blocks of RECs, at $1.60 a month)

"We recommend that DEO adjust the cost of participating in its Ohio GoGreen program downward to match the cost of participating in the Indiana GoGreen program.," the auditor said

The audit report also notes that Duke Energy Ohio had in recent years been purchasing Green-e certified RECs for the GoGreen program, but in 2022 began also purchasing non-Green-e RECs for the program, due to the increasing costs of Green-e certified RECs versus non-Green-e RECs. Duke Energy Ohio is not required to use Green-e RECs for GoGreen, and the audit consultant agreed with Duke's approach

The auditor said, for GoGreen, "We recommend that DEO purchase the least expensive GoGreen RECs regardless of whether they are Green-e Certified and which can be retired specifically for the GoGreen program. In other words, DEO does not need to purchase RECs that are Green-e certified for its Ohio GoGreen program and should only purchase Green-e certified® RECs for GoGreen if the prices are comparable to prices for non-Green-e certified RECs."

The Ohio GoGreen Power program had participation totaling 9,328,700 kWh in 2020. This equated to 9,328.7 RECs for 2020

The Ohio GoGreen Power program had participation totaling 7,781,200 kWh in 2021. This equated to 7,781.2 RECs for 2021

The Ohio GoGreen Power program had participation totaling 8,968,800 kWh in 2022. This equated to 8,968.8 RECs for 2022

Case No. 23-0089-EL-RDR