Ohio Edison seeking approval

April 22, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

By SEAN BARRON

AUSTINTOWN

Ohio Edison Co. is seeking approval by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio of a new three-year electric security plan to replace a similar one that’s set to expire next year.

The PUCO had a public hearing Wednesday at Austintown Middle School on Raccoon Road to gather people’s input about the plan.

The session allowed the public to offer testimony that the PUCO is to consider regarding whether to approve the proposal.

Ohio Edison is one of three utility companies that filed the comprehensive plan last month with the commission.

If approved, the proposal would allow FirstEnergy Corp. to establish its next electric security plan for the supply and pricing of electric service from June 1, 2011, through May 31, 2014, noted Mark H. Durbin, FirstEnergy’s senior public relations representative.

The agreement would, in effect, continue providing to consumers nearly all the benefits in the current plan, which the PUCO approved March 25, 2009, and will expire May 31, 2011, Durbin explained.

The electric security plan provides customers with rate stability, assists low-income people, supports economic development and jobs and encourages investments in utility infrastructure, he continued.

Durbin said he hopes the commission will make its ruling by May 5, in part because many issues related to the plan have been discussed and debated.

Also at the hearing were representatives of the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, which opposes the plan.

Christopher F. Verich, outreach and education specialist with the OCC’s Northeast Ohio region, said the new proposal would let FirstEnergy collect up to $390 million through quarterly increases as part of a larger recovery charge to customers over about 2 Ω years.

Also, the utilities commission should be given more time to review the specific complexities in the proposal, Verich noted.

Another reason the plan should be rejected is because some economic- development arrangements will likely cost customers millions of dollars in additional charges, he said.

The local session was one of eight public hearings scheduled until Tuesday throughout the state.

PUCO commissioners are to use testimony from the meetings as a basis to accept, reject or modify the proposal.