Ex-utilities PUCO chairman lobbies against profit guarantees

COLUMBUS (AP) — The former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio is helping lead a lobbying campaign against a pair of deals that the commission is now considering.

Todd Snitchler emerged as a leading opponent of proposals by two energy firms, American Electric Power and FirstEnergy, saying the deals would undermine the competitive market he helped establish as chairman, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

Snitchler, who now works for Vorys Advisors LLC, a Columbus lobbying firm, was PUCO’s chairman from 2011 to 2013. He led several cases that helped move Ohio toward an open electricity market in which power plants compete to offer the lowest prices.

His client now is the Alliance for Energy Choice, comprised of eight members that include electricity producers and a trade group.