Choice State Consumers' Counsel Asks PUC To Open Investigation On Energy "Affordability"

The Ohio Consumers' Counsel has requested that the PUC of Ohio open an investigation, "to address the [energy] affordability crisis."

OCC's recommendation was included in OCC's comments on a nonbypassable universal service funding rider (Docket 26-859-EL-UNC), but OCC's sought investigation was not limited to the rider

While OCC in its comments cited data centers as a driver of energy cost increases, OCC's proposed affordability investigation was not limited to any specific issues. As such, to the extent any investigation is opened, other affordability concerns would likely be raised (OCC in the past has sought, among other things, rate caps for certain electric rates from retail suppliers, and other reforms such as limiting POR)

OCC said, "Today consumers are paying the bill for that spending and are facing additional increases, partially driven by data centers. It’s time for the PUCO to open an investigation into affordability, similar to the ones recently completed or in progress in the surrounding states of Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan."

OCC cited PUCO's prior PowerForward workshop and investigation process from 2018, which examined grid modernization, as an example of a process to create a roadmap to consider affordability issues