Many object to rise in rate


By Ed Runyan

Many object to rise in rate

Several local school officials spoke of cost increases of more than $100,000 per year.

AUSTINTOWN — Area residents turned out in large numbers to tell the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio of their opposition to a proposed electricity rate increase being sought by Ohio Edison.

The speakers attending the hearing at Austintown Middle School on Thursday night ranged from school officials to elderly people to business people.

Officials representing several school districts spoke against the proposed rate increase. They also urged Ohio Edison to keep a program called Energy For Education that has helped reduce prices for 249 school districts in Ohio for more than 10 years.

Business manager Rich Archer from Canfield schools said the two increases would cost the district about $172,000 more per year. Austintown schools Superintendent Doug Heuer estimated the amount at $101,000, and business manager Mark Donnelly from Warren City Schools put the amount at more than $180,000.

Lee Elizabeth McCue was among about 20 individuals who spoke before PUCO attorney Gregory Price at a hearing attended by more than 100 people.

The 76-year-old Canfield woman said reports of Ohio Edison’s having no rate increase since 1990 seem inaccurate to her.

Having checked her electric bills from 2005 and 2008, she noticed there are five charges on the bill in 2008, while there were only four in 2005. “It sounds like an increase to me,” she said. “No matter where you turn, there are increases,” she said of gasoline and other costs of living. Several speakers talked of the economic troubles facing area residents.

Vesna Vukasinovich, home energy services director of the Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership, said she sees senior citizens all the time “with tears in their eyes who don’t know how they are going to pay their bills. They can’t pay any more. It just can’t happen.”

Ohio Edison sought the rate increase last summer. It would raise costs about $6 per month for an average customer whose bill is now $89 per month. It would go into effect Jan. 1, 2009.

The increase would be on distribution charges only, not the actual cost of electricity. The PUCO is holding 10 hearings around Ohio Edison’s service territory before deciding on the request.

Rick Reese, assistant Ohio Consumer’s Counsel, said the turnout at Thursday’s hearing was the largest of the three he has attended so far.

“We think what they are asking for is too much,” he said.

After Dennis Woods, assistant executive director of the Ohio Schools Council spoke of Ohio Edison’s $1.3 billion profit in 2007 and projections of further profitable years ahead, several people joined him in asking why a rate increase was even being considered at this time.

He said the $1.3 billion was a record amount.

Ellen Raines, an Ohio Edison spokeswoman, said of the company’s profits: “Our profitability allows us to reinvest in our system.” The company’s costs for aluminum, copper wire and vehicles have all risen, she said.

Frank Moran of Austintown stood up twice to ask the PUCO’s Price why none of the PUCO members were present to hear the comments in person, rather than in a transcript. He said PUCO members have attended previous hearings in person.

“We need you to be watchdogs for us,” Jerry Yablonkai of Youngstown said of the PUCO. “We don’t have people to wine and dine you and ask for rate decreases.”

runyan@vindy.com

By using this site, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use.

» Accept
» Learn More