Officials ask PUCO for 'immediate intervention' on AEP rate hike
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Officials from Highland and Clinton counties met Friday with representatives from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), and have asked for "immediate intervention" in addressing a recent AEP rate hike.
Ohio 86th District Rep. Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville), Highland County Chamber of Commerce President Katy Farber, and Clinton County Economic Development Director Bret Dixon met with PUCO representatives in Columbus Friday. They are now asking that Highland County residents assist them in a grassroots campaign to get PUCO's attention and assistance.
As reported earlier this week by The Highland County Press, Jeff Rennie, an AEP spokesman, said the "new rates are the result of a compromise between AEP, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and many other companies and groups. The plan calls for AEP to change gradually to prices set by market forces."
Rosenberger said the group met for a fact-finding meeting, and that Farber presented them with the electric bills of Highland County entities that have been impacted by the rate increase, including small businesses, government buildings, Highland District Hospital, and other commercial businesses.
"We needed to bring to their attention the dramatic increases these folks have seen in the community, the businesses, and the residential aspect as well. It is a topic they are going to investigate," Rosenberger said. "We stressed that time is of the essence for a lot of these folks."
During a meeting of the Highland County Board of Commissioners this week, commissioner Tom Horst read from a list of county invoices from AEP. One bill increased from $212 to $790, and another increased from $180 to $978, and another from $444 to $617. Two Hillsboro businesses told The Highland County Press their bills increased approximately 40 percent from the previous month.
A hearing on the increases is currently pending before the commission, Rosenberger said, and Highland County residents and business owners who have been impacted need to contact PUCO, and reference the pending case number.
"We are requesting PUCO to get involved in this case as soon as possible, so we can move forward and take a look at these rates. We need help from the people of Highland County to make this go forward," Rosenberger said.
"What did result from this meeting was that it was very clear we quickly need to mobilize a grassroots effort in the county," Farber said. "We need anyone who has been effected - residential, commercial, non-profit - to chime in and make their voice be heard."
The PUCO can be reached by through their website, www.puco.ohio.gov. Under the heading "Be Heard" is a link to file a complaint. Residents can also call (800) 686-7826. Each Highland County person who initiates a complaint needs to reference case number 11-346-EL-SSO, Farber said, so that all the complaints will be collected together in the same file.
"The power of our numbers can speak for us. That's our ammunition," Farber said. "We need enough people to say, 'I have a problem,' and they can reference that case number. That is how we get their attention. A lot of people have called already, but we need to put the pieces together, and to keep it up."
Rosenberger said that the case number is vital in making sure that PUCO's attention is being drawn to the same place.
When asked how they felt the issue was being handled coming out of the meeting with PUCO representatives, Farber said, "There is a lot more work that needs to be done."
"Time is of the essence," Rosenberger said.
Rosenberger said that he is drafting a letter Friday night to PUCO's chairman, "asking for immediate intervention. In conjunction, Katy will also be drafting a letter asking for immediate intervention on behalf of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce. The most important thing right now is to get that message to PUCO."
Farber said, "We need everyone in Highland County who has a problem to speak up and go on the record. We are seeing businesses with bills that have increased hundreds of dollars. It has a dramatic, dramatic impact. It's not just commercial. It's residential too. If you have been impacted, you need to speak up."
Dixon said that Farber and Rosenberger were very clear in their message to PUCO on behalf of Highland County.
"These two people expressed that this was not acceptable for Highland County, for businesses and for residents," Dixon said. "That message was heard loud and clear. If they took anything away from this meeting, it was that this was not acceptable. PUCO now knows they have a problem on their hands and they need to deal with it."
Officials from Highland and Clinton counties met Friday with representatives from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), and have asked for "immediate intervention" in addressing a recent AEP rate hike.
Ohio 86th District Rep. Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville), Highland County Chamber of Commerce President Katy Farber and Clinton County Economic Development Director Bret Dixon met with PUCO representatives in Columbus Friday. They are now asking that Highland County residents assist them in a grassroots campaign to get PUCO's attention and assistance.
As reported earlier this week by The Highland County Press, Jeff Rennie, an AEP spokesman, said the "new rates are the result of a compromise between AEP, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and many other companies and groups. The plan calls for AEP to change gradually to prices set by market forces."
Rosenberger said the group met for a fact-finding meeting, and that Farber presented them with the electric bills of Highland County entities that have been impacted by the rate increase, including small businesses, government buildings, Highland District Hospital and other commercial businesses.
"We needed to bring to their attention the dramatic increases these folks have seen in the community, the businesses, and the residential aspect as well. It is a topic they are going to investigate," Rosenberger said. "We stressed that time is of the essence for a lot of these folks."
During a meeting of the Highland County Board of Commissioners this week, commissioner Tom Horst read from a list of county invoices from AEP. One bill increased from $212 to $790, and another increased from $180 to $978, and another from $444 to $617. Two Hillsboro businesses told The Highland County Press their bills increased approximately 40 percent from the previous month.
A hearing on the increases is currently pending before the commission, Rosenberger said, and Highland County residents and business owners who have been impacted need to contact PUCO, and reference the pending case number.
"We are requesting PUCO to get involved in this case as soon as possible, so we can move forward and take a look at these rates. We need help from the people of Highland County to make this go forward," Rosenberger said.
"What did result from this meeting was that it was very clear we quickly need to mobilize a grassroots effort in the county," Farber said. "We need anyone who has been affected - residential, commercial, non-profit - to chime in and make their voice be heard."
The PUCO can be reached by through their website, www.puco.ohio.gov. Under the heading "Be Heard" is a link to file a complaint. Residents can also call (800) 686-7826. Each Highland County person who initiates a complaint needs to reference case number 11-346-EL-SSO, Farber said, so that all the complaints will be collected together in the same file.
"The power of our numbers can speak for us. That's our ammunition," Farber said. "We need enough people to say, 'I have a problem,' and they can reference that case number. That is how we get their attention. A lot of people have called already, but we need to put the pieces together, and to keep it up."
Rosenberger said that the case number is vital in making sure that PUCO's attention is being drawn to the same place.
When asked how they felt the issue was being handled coming out of the meeting with PUCO representatives, Farber said, "There is a lot more work that needs to be done."
"Time is of the essence," Rosenberger said.
Rosenberger said that he is drafting a letter Friday night to PUCO's chairman, "asking for immediate intervention. In conjunction, Katy will also be drafting a letter asking for immediate intervention on behalf of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce. The most important thing right now is to get that message to PUCO."
Farber said, "We need everyone in Highland County who has a problem to speak up and go on the record. We are seeing businesses with bills that have increased hundreds of dollars. It has a dramatic, dramatic impact. It's not just commercial. It's residential too. If you have been impacted, you need to speak up."
Dixon said that Farber and Rosenberger were very clear in their message to PUCO on behalf of Highland County.
"These two people expressed that this was not acceptable for Highland County, for businesses and for residents," Dixon said. "That message was heard loud and clear. If they took anything away from this meeting, it was that this was not acceptable. PUCO now knows they have a problem on their hands and they need to deal with it."
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