Mayor, commissioners address AEP rate hike
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings brought concerns over a sudden spike in electricity costs to the Highland County Board of Commissioners during their Feb. 1 meeting.
As earlier reported by The Highland County Press, Jeff Rennie, an AEP spokesman, said the "new rates are the result of a compromise between AEP, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and many other companies and groups. The plan calls for AEP to change gradually to prices set by market forces."
Two Hillsboro businesses told The Highland County Press this week their bills increased approximately 40 percent from the previous month.
Commissioner Tom Horst read from a list of county invoices from AEP that included large rate increases from the previous month. One bill increased from $212 to $790, another increased from $180 to $978, and another from $444 to $617."
"And this has been a very mild winter," Horst said.
In an occasionally turbulent exchange with commissioners, Hastings said, "This is an issue that I can't specifically do anything about. It is a state issue. It's another institution: AEP, EPA, they're all the same letters.
"If we take this lying down, everything I campaigned on is out the window."
Hastings referenced that a state agency – the Ohio Adult Parole Authority – that leases space in one of his uptown Hillsboro buildings does not pay its electric bill.
"The state doesn't pay the utility; they put it on the property owner," he said.
Unless a compromise on the significant rate increases is realized, Hastings said, "It would be better for me to vacate the building. I can tell you this is a major issue. We have to draw the line."
Commission President Shane Wilkin said he has spoken with State Rep. Cliff Rosenberger and Highland County Chamber of Commerce President Katy Farber about the American Electric Power rate increases.
Wilkin said Farber informed him the Ohio Chamber of Commerce said Highland County has been the only Ohio county to call about the increases.
Hastings said, "We have no voice. Deregulation was sold as a consumer benefit – it's the exact opposite. This is going to have to have active citizens' involvement. Everyone who gets an AEP bill needs to take action."
According to Horst, "PUCO froze their (AEP's) rates – that has run out. They gave us a grace period. Now AEP is trying to recoup what it lost in the last 10 years."
"That's the story AEP is telling," Hastings said.
Horst said consumers need to contact their state lawmakers and look at options to purchase electricity elsewhere.
"Tom, I beg to differ with you," Hastings said. "We need to play hardball. We need to take the fight to them. If they want to turn off the lights, let 'em."
After that heated comment, Hastings, who had been addressing the commissioners, turned to several citizens in attendance and, raising his voice, said: "You can write all the stories you want about who I'm sleeping with or how I do my hair. ... We need to say we're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore."
The mayor then rose to leave before Horst asked him to calm down and return to the meeting.
"That's not an atmosphere we want in our meetings," Wilkin said of the mayor's outburst. "It won't happen again."
"We need to get a concerted effort to address Cliff (Rep. Rosenberger), Dave (Sen. David Daniels), AEP, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, small business owners and the County Commissioners Association," Wilkin said.
"We need to schedule a meeting quickly, take the fight to them and have a unified voice," Hastings said. The mayor pointed out that "One of the city's 48 AEP accounts costs $4,000 per month. This will affect the city, big-time."
Horst suggested consumers call Michael Frazier at the Public Utilities Commission at (614) 387-5460.
Meanwhile, commissioners agreed to organize a public meeting to address the issue.[[In-content Ad]]Commission appoints three new Board of DD members
In other action, commissioners unanimously appointed Leo Kuhn, Cheryl Lyle and Donnie Barrera to the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities during their Feb. 1 meeting.
Kuhn and Lyle will serve the unexpired terms that end in December 2013. Barrera will serve an unexpired term that concludes in December 2012.
At the Board of DD's recent meeting, Linda Allen was re-elected as board president, while Sam Snyder was elected vice president, and Debbie Tissot was elected secretary. Karen Adams also serves on the board.
Superintendent Fred Williams said he was pleased and excited over the board appointments.
"We thought some of the negative publicity might be a deterrent, but we were very encouraged by the interest to serve on our board," Williams said. "We looked for a balance – business experience, public service experience and ministerial experience. These people have shown a very high interest in serving on the board."
Operations manager Tim Clouser joined Williams in reporting to the commissioners that there are several projects under way at the facility. They asked commissioners' approval to move forward on a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning project and a fire suppression system.
The Board of DD earlier voted to approve the renovations. Clouser said the project would be completed at state minimum pricing and would be between $225,000 and $250,000.
The costs will be paid through the contingency and sustainability funds, Williams said.
* * *
• Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer provided updates on the county airport and Highland County wastewater property issues. He reported that six area property owners had requested monthly fees be waived. Commissioners agreed on two of the requests, sought additional information on others, and rejected one request over a question of inhabitability.
"I don't think we should waive the fee on something considered possibly inhabitable," Horst said. "A lot of people live in houses that I wouldn't live in."
"I would request more information (from the Board of Health) on that property," Wilkin said.
* * *
• John Hern updated commissioners on a Xerox print management service that can track print usage for all county offices. Wilkin said it was "something we can take a look at. We can run this by our IT provider and get back to you."
* * *
• Commissioners also met in executive session to discuss personnel matters.
As earlier reported by The Highland County Press, Jeff Rennie, an AEP spokesman, said the "new rates are the result of a compromise between AEP, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and many other companies and groups. The plan calls for AEP to change gradually to prices set by market forces."
Two Hillsboro businesses told The Highland County Press this week their bills increased approximately 40 percent from the previous month.
Commissioner Tom Horst read from a list of county invoices from AEP that included large rate increases from the previous month. One bill increased from $212 to $790, another increased from $180 to $978, and another from $444 to $617."
"And this has been a very mild winter," Horst said.
In an occasionally turbulent exchange with commissioners, Hastings said, "This is an issue that I can't specifically do anything about. It is a state issue. It's another institution: AEP, EPA, they're all the same letters.
"If we take this lying down, everything I campaigned on is out the window."
Hastings referenced that a state agency – the Ohio Adult Parole Authority – that leases space in one of his uptown Hillsboro buildings does not pay its electric bill.
"The state doesn't pay the utility; they put it on the property owner," he said.
Unless a compromise on the significant rate increases is realized, Hastings said, "It would be better for me to vacate the building. I can tell you this is a major issue. We have to draw the line."
Commission President Shane Wilkin said he has spoken with State Rep. Cliff Rosenberger and Highland County Chamber of Commerce President Katy Farber about the American Electric Power rate increases.
Wilkin said Farber informed him the Ohio Chamber of Commerce said Highland County has been the only Ohio county to call about the increases.
Hastings said, "We have no voice. Deregulation was sold as a consumer benefit – it's the exact opposite. This is going to have to have active citizens' involvement. Everyone who gets an AEP bill needs to take action."
According to Horst, "PUCO froze their (AEP's) rates – that has run out. They gave us a grace period. Now AEP is trying to recoup what it lost in the last 10 years."
"That's the story AEP is telling," Hastings said.
Horst said consumers need to contact their state lawmakers and look at options to purchase electricity elsewhere.
"Tom, I beg to differ with you," Hastings said. "We need to play hardball. We need to take the fight to them. If they want to turn off the lights, let 'em."
After that heated comment, Hastings, who had been addressing the commissioners, turned to several citizens in attendance and, raising his voice, said: "You can write all the stories you want about who I'm sleeping with or how I do my hair. ... We need to say we're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore."
The mayor then rose to leave before Horst asked him to calm down and return to the meeting.
"That's not an atmosphere we want in our meetings," Wilkin said of the mayor's outburst. "It won't happen again."
"We need to get a concerted effort to address Cliff (Rep. Rosenberger), Dave (Sen. David Daniels), AEP, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, small business owners and the County Commissioners Association," Wilkin said.
"We need to schedule a meeting quickly, take the fight to them and have a unified voice," Hastings said. The mayor pointed out that "One of the city's 48 AEP accounts costs $4,000 per month. This will affect the city, big-time."
Horst suggested consumers call Michael Frazier at the Public Utilities Commission at (614) 387-5460.
Meanwhile, commissioners agreed to organize a public meeting to address the issue.[[In-content Ad]]Commission appoints three new Board of DD members
In other action, commissioners unanimously appointed Leo Kuhn, Cheryl Lyle and Donnie Barrera to the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities during their Feb. 1 meeting.
Kuhn and Lyle will serve the unexpired terms that end in December 2013. Barrera will serve an unexpired term that concludes in December 2012.
At the Board of DD's recent meeting, Linda Allen was re-elected as board president, while Sam Snyder was elected vice president, and Debbie Tissot was elected secretary. Karen Adams also serves on the board.
Superintendent Fred Williams said he was pleased and excited over the board appointments.
"We thought some of the negative publicity might be a deterrent, but we were very encouraged by the interest to serve on our board," Williams said. "We looked for a balance – business experience, public service experience and ministerial experience. These people have shown a very high interest in serving on the board."
Operations manager Tim Clouser joined Williams in reporting to the commissioners that there are several projects under way at the facility. They asked commissioners' approval to move forward on a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning project and a fire suppression system.
The Board of DD earlier voted to approve the renovations. Clouser said the project would be completed at state minimum pricing and would be between $225,000 and $250,000.
The costs will be paid through the contingency and sustainability funds, Williams said.
* * *
• Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer provided updates on the county airport and Highland County wastewater property issues. He reported that six area property owners had requested monthly fees be waived. Commissioners agreed on two of the requests, sought additional information on others, and rejected one request over a question of inhabitability.
"I don't think we should waive the fee on something considered possibly inhabitable," Horst said. "A lot of people live in houses that I wouldn't live in."
"I would request more information (from the Board of Health) on that property," Wilkin said.
* * *
• John Hern updated commissioners on a Xerox print management service that can track print usage for all county offices. Wilkin said it was "something we can take a look at. We can run this by our IT provider and get back to you."
* * *
• Commissioners also met in executive session to discuss personnel matters.