AEP, PUCO meeting set for March 23

A meeting has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, March 23 at the Public Utility Commission of Ohio hearing room, 11B, 180 E. Broad St., Columbus.

In a March 16 letter from AEP senior counsel Matthew J. Satterwhite to the PUCO chairman, Todd A. Snitchler, the commission was informed that the meeting will address the "matter of application of Columbus Southern Ohio Power and Ohio Power Company for authority to establish a standard service offer pursuant to Section 4928.143 of the Ohio Revised Code of an electric security plan."

The AEP letter references Case Nos. 11-346-EL-SSO (Highland County consumers' case number), 11-348-EL-SSO, 11-349-EL-AAM, and 11-350-EL-AAM, and seeks "approval of certain accounting authority."

After numerous complaints from Highland County small business owners and other consumers over excessive increases in their recent AEP bills, last month PUCO ordered AEP to restore its rates to December 2011 levels.

In late February, the commission disapproved AEP-Ohio’s electric security plan (ESP) as it was outlined in a settlement agreement submitted by 21 of 31 parties to the case. Upon consideration of arguments raised by parties who did not sign the settlement agreement and upon becoming aware of the actual impacts of the agreement, the Commission found that approving the agreement does not benefit ratepayers and is not in the public interest.

The commission ordered AEP to return its rates, as mandated by Ohio law, to levels similar to those in place in December 2011. These rates will remain in place until a new rate plan is adopted.

“Our decision effectively hits the reset button on AEP’s electric security plan, allows us to start over from the beginning, ensure that we have a complete picture of any proposal, and balance the interests of all customers and the utility,” Snitchler said last month. “Ohio remains committed to continuing down the path towards fully competitive markets.”

The Highland County Chamber of Commerce has been an active advocate for the local business community regarding this issue. Beginning with a meeting with PUCO and Ohio Rep. Cliff Rosenberger on Feb. 3 through the Feb. 23 PUCO meeting, the Chamber of Commerce has been leading the conversation to affect positive change for local business community, and will continue to be involved in this issue.

"The PUCO understood the importance of their decision and its resounding impact on those effected ratepayers, and its effect on our ability to create a better business climate for our economy," Rosenberger said. "PUCO’s decision to return the rates to a sustainable level is the right decision, I will be watching the case’s future hearings to avoid a similar situation.”

Since AEP-Ohio has indicated that it intends to file this modified ESP by the end of March, the input received the March 23 meeting may or may not be incorporated into the filing.

A meeting has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, March 23 at the Public Utility Commission of Ohio hearing room, 11B, 180 E. Broad St., Columbus.

In a March 16 letter from AEP senior counsel Matthew J. Satterwhite to the PUCO chairman, Todd A. Snitchler, the commission was informed that the meeting will address the "matter of application of Columbus Southern Ohio Power and Ohio Power Company for authority to establish a standard service offer pursuant to Section 4928.143 of the Ohio Revised Code of an electric security plan."

The AEP letter references Case Nos. 11-346-EL-SSO (Highland County consumers' case number), 11-348-EL-SSO, 11-349-EL-AAM, and 11-350-EL-AAM, and seeks "approval of certain accounting authority."

After numerous complaints from Highland County small business owners and other consumers over excessive increases in their recent AEP bills, last month PUCO ordered AEP to restore its rates to December 2011 levels.

In late February, the commission disapproved AEP-Ohio’s electric security plan (ESP) as it was outlined in a settlement agreement submitted by 21 of 31 parties to the case.

Upon consideration of arguments raised by parties who did not sign the settlement agreement and upon becoming aware of the actual impacts of the agreement, the Commission found that approving the agreement does not benefit ratepayers and is not in the public interest.

The commission ordered AEP to return its rates, as mandated by Ohio law, to levels similar to those in place in December 2011. These rates will remain in place until a new rate plan is adopted.

“Our decision effectively hits the reset button on AEP’s electric security plan, allows us to start over from the beginning, ensure that we have a complete picture of any proposal, and balance the interests of all customers and the utility,” Snitchler said last month. “Ohio remains committed to continuing down the path towards fully competitive markets.”

The Highland County Chamber of Commerce has been an active advocate for the local business community regarding this issue. Beginning with a meeting with PUCO and Ohio Rep. Cliff Rosenberger on Feb. 3 through the Feb. 23 PUCO meeting, the Chamber of Commerce has been leading the conversation to affect positive change for local business community, and will continue to be involved in this issue.

"The PUCO understood the importance of their decision and its resounding impact on those effected ratepayers, and its effect on our ability to create a better business climate for our economy," Rosenberger said.

"PUCO’s decision to return the rates to a sustainable level is the right decision, I will be watching the case’s future hearings to avoid a similar situation.”

Since AEP-Ohio has indicated that it intends to file a modified ESP (electric security plan) by the end of March, the input received the March 23 meeting may or may not be incorporated into the filing.