FirstEnergy granted extension to revamp light-bulb plan

By Marc Kovac

The company purchased 3.5 million light bulbs and had planned to deliver them directly.

COLUMBUS — State regulators have given FirstEnergy a couple of more weeks to submit revamped plans for distributing millions of energy efficient light bulbs.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio issued the extension earlier this week, setting a new submission deadline of Dec. 15. The company was to have a plan to the state by Tuesday.

“Our plan is to submit a complete energy efficiency filing that will include the compact fluorescent light program,” said FirstEnergy spokeswoman Ellen Raines. “... Our goal all along has been to submit that filing by the middle of December, so we will be working toward meeting the Dec. 15 deadline.”

Late last month, FirstEnergy asked PUCO for the extension, outlining its desire to include the light bulb distribution as part of a larger energy-efficiency program.

The company purchased 3.5 million light bulbs and had planned to deliver them directly to residential and some small business customers, recouping the costs involved through customers’ bills.

But the move caused an outcry when customers learned about the costs involved and prompted PUCO Chairman Alan Schriber to stop the distribution. The company has since been developing a new program for distributing the bulbs, including allowing customers to request them or receive discounts through selected retailers.