PUCO denies rate impact waivers sought by AEP and FirstEnergy
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today denied waivers requested by AEP-Ohio and FirstEnergy in their respective electric security plan cases and required the utilities to file additional information. The Commission ruled that the information, including projected customer rate impacts, is vital to its consideration of the utilities’ rate proposals.
“The PUCO is committed to an open and transparent process as we evaluate the AEP and FirstEnergy electric security plan filings,” PUCO Chairman Todd A. Snitchler stated. “Therefore, it is imperative for the Commission and other parties to have access to all data related to customer rate impacts and any other known costs so that we may evaluate each case in an efficient and effective manner. The public interest is at stake.”
In electric security plan applications filed with the PUCO earlier this year, AEP and FirstEnergy requested waivers of certain data requirements outlined in PUCO rules. The utilities characterized their requests as an effort to expedite the consideration of each case.
The Commission denied AEP’s request for waivers from filing the projected rate impacts related to the proposed generation resource rider and the projected costs of the Turning Point solar project. Separately, the Commission denied FirstEnergy’s request for a waiver from filing the projected rate impacts of its plan as well as waivers from filing information about governmental aggregation programs, retail shopping levels and provisions for economic development, job retention and energy efficiency. In denying these waivers, the Commission required AEP and FirstEnergy to supplement their initial electric security plan applications with additional information by May 2, 2012.
[[In-content Ad]]
The Commission granted limited waiver requests to FirstEnergy on other issues, including corporate separation, because the issues raised are not applicable to the regulated FirstEnergy companies in this case.
Today’s Commission entries in case numbers 11-346-EL-SSO and 12-1230-EL-SSO are available online at www.PUCO.ohio.gov. Click on the link to Docketing Information System and enter the case number.