Ohio Removes Threat of Backdoor Bailout for Electric Utilities

(COLUMBUS - June 28, 2017) Ohio lawmakers yesterday removed from the state budget bill a provision that would have authorized increased electricity rates to support utilities’ credit ratings. The provision would have unfairly shifted the responsibility of the utilities’ financial health from the utilities to customers.

“Ohio utilities are determined to bail out their uneconomic, dirty power plants, and this budget provision was yet another backdoor attempt to get more money. Thankfully state lawmakers saw through the gimmick, and will not force Ohioans to shoulder the burden of the utilities’ bad business decisions. We hope state leaders will continue to stand up for customers when the subsidy-seeking utilities inevitably come back for more.”

• Dick Munson, Director, Midwest Clean Energy