Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

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Contact: Anthony Rodriguez
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Energy efficiency, renewable energy rules include several improvements recommended by OCC

COLUMBUS, Ohio – April 15, 2009 – At first glance, the energy efficiency and renewable energy rules approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) take into account many of the necessary protections advocated by the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC) that will ensure all utilities meet their obligations required by the state’s electric energy law.

“As two of the most important components to diversify Ohio’s portfolio of energy resources, the rules for energy efficiency and renewable energy seem to appropriately provide for planning and reporting to ensure the state’s mandates can be achieved,” said Consumers’ Counsel Janine Migden-Ostrander. “These mandates were the jewels of Senate Bill 221 that the OCC strongly supported.”

The OCC, with 16 other consumer and environmental advocates, stressed the importance of these rules in more than 160 pages of joint comments filed in September 2008. The advocates agreed with some portions of the rules proposed by the PUCO staff, such as annual reporting requirements which show how each utility will meet its electricity demand, but made suggestions for improvements. Among the improvements sought were:

Independent energy efficiency program evaluations to ensure benchmarks are met and necessary adjustments can be made;
Renewable energy purchased through a competitive bidding process; and
Annual resource planning filings by each utility to specify the cheapest and least risky resources it plans to use to meet its electric demand while reporting on its progress to meet the energy efficiency and renewable energy benchmarks.

The OCC will evaluate the PUCO’s ruling to determine if additional action should be taken to protect residential consumers.

The rules will require approval from the Joint Committee for Agency Rule Review before they are effective.

About the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate, represents the interests of 4.5 million households in proceedings before state and federal regulators and in the courts. The state agency also educates consumers about electric, natural gas, telephone and water issues and resolves complaints from individuals. To receive utility information, brochures, schedule a presentation or file a utility complaint, residential consumers may call 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622) toll free in Ohio or visit the OCC Web site at www.pickocc.org.