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Ashford Leads
Efforts to Post-pone Highly Contentious Utility Bill
House Bill 239
The Democratic Public Utilities Committee members, led by
Ranking Member Ashford (D-Toledo), were able to postpone a
possible vote in a committee meeting Tuesday, on HB 239.
House Bill 239 is a unilateral bill that charges all of
Ohio’s electric customers up to $2.50 a month and $2,500 a
month for non-residential customers.
“The Democratic Members stood as a team to collectively make
their voices heard and to stop an unfair bill that is being
pushed on the backs of seniors, the working class and poorer
Ohioans.” Ashford said. “There are many outstanding
questions we have about this bill and more time is needed
before we consider such costly legislation through a
committee vote.
The Ohio Valley Electric Corporation (OVEC) and its
subsidiary, Indiana-Kentucky Electric Corporation, were
formed in 1952 by investor-owned utilities for the purpose
of providing the large electric power requirements to the
Ohio River Valley area. The bill would allow Ohio’s
utilities to recover costs of their share of OVEC and its
two coal plants, Kyger Creek in Ohio and the Clifty Creek
plant in Indiana.
“The members of the Public Utilities committee have heard
hours of testimony from those who have concerns with the
bill as well as with those who are proponents of this
legislation,” said Ashford.” With the bill (HB 239) now in
its 10th version, we need adequate time to review
the changes thoroughly as well as to hear exactly how this
affects all customers in Ohio.”
House Bill 239 would call on Ohio citizens to subsidize
electric generation cost associated with the output from the
Ohio Valley Electric Corporation for the Ohio utility
companies that are pushing the bill (Duke Energy Ohio, AEP
Ohio and Dayton Power and Light). The legislation enables
all of Ohio’s three utilities to recover a net impact up to
$483,034 through fiscal year 2030. Customers in Ohio will
see an increase in their utility bills, capped at $2.50 per
month for residential customers and up to $2,500 for
non-residential customers through December 31, 2030.
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