State regulators freeze AES Ohio rates until new plan is developed

Wednesday members of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio voted to freeze rates temporarily for AES Ohio customers until the utility company can come up with a new plan.

“Today the PUCO agreed with the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel and others, over AES’s objection, that AES must honor its prior agreement to not charge consumers for another rate increase at this time. The PUCO’s denial of AES’s proposed rate increase serves justice and integrity in the state regulatory process for 527,000 Dayton-area consumers. That’s especially needed at this time of soaring energy prices and inflation,” a spokesperson for PUCO said in a release.

For AES to lift the rate freeze it needs to have a new electric security plan case, according to PUCO.

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The commission alleges AES’ proposal is dishonoring an agreement it made in 2009 with the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel and others – that it could not increase distribution service rates as long as it is collecting from consumers a $76 million per year subsidy charge.

In September AES Ohio, formerly known as Dayton Power & Light, filed an application for its latest electric security plan.

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For residential customers who use 750 kilowatt hours a month, the proposed plan would have initially raised customers’ costs less than $1.

Over three years, it would rise to $4 a month in added costs.

If approved it would have gone into effect in the summer of 2023.

PUCO will hold a public hearing on the matter Feb. 2 in Dayton.

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