PUCO sets Nov. 30 deadline for revised FirstEnergy light-bulb plans

SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR

COLUMBUS — State regulators have asked FirstEnergy to submit revamped plans by the end of the month for the distribution of millions of energy-efficient light bulbs to its customers.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio wants to see an alternative proposal for the compact fluorescent light bulbs by Nov. 30, including specifics on how the CFLs will be issued and what the company intends to do to promote their installation and use.

Once that plan is in hand, PUCO will give interested parties a week to file their responses to the program.

FirstEnergy spokeswoman Ellen Raines said the company is developing the alternatives and would meet PUCO’s deadline for filing.

Those alternatives include distributing CFLs to customers who request them, rather than delivering bulbs directly to all. The 3.5 million CFLs it already purchased remain stored in a warehouse pending the outcome.

But the plan will have an ultimate cost to customers. Raines said the company would seek cost recovery for its energy-efficiency initiatives.

The decision Wednesday came a week after PUCO heard oral arguments on the controversial light-bulb plan, which caused an outcry among customers when they learned of the costs involved and prompted officials to stop First- Energy’s planned distribution to its residential and some small- business customers.