Many protest Ohio Edison rate plan

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.

Read more in Friday’s Vindicator and on Vindy.com