Ohio Utilities Add Consumer Groups to Settlement

January 31, 2019

Enhancing Service for Ohio Customers

The Ohio grid modernization programs will enhance electric service for customers by reducing the frequency and duration of power outages, nearly eliminating estimated meter reads and providing customers with greater access to more detailed electric usage information. Key components include:

  • Installing 700,000 smart meters in the Ohio Edison, CEI and Toledo Edison areas.
  • Installing automated equipment on at least 200 distribution lines that can automatically isolate problems, prevent entire circuit lockouts, and quickly restore electric service.
  • Installing voltage regulating equipment on at least 202 circuits to provide energy efficiency benefits by reducing excessive voltage levels on the distribution grid.

Working with the PUCO staff to determine which circuits will be prioritized to maximize customer benefits.

​FirstEnergy’s Ohio utilities – Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company (CEI) and Toledo Edison – recently filed a supplemental settlement with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), which included additional parties agreeing to rate reductions for customers associated with the federal Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) and grid modernization investments.

The supplemental settlement added the support of residential customer and low-income advocates.  These parties join other key stakeholders who signed on to the original settlement filed last November, including the PUCO Staff, representatives of industrial and commercial customers, environmental advocates, hospitals, competitive generation suppliers and other parties.

Upon commission approval, the monthly electric bill of a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity is expected to include credits from tax savings of $4.30.

Under the supplemental stipulation, the benefits of the original stipulation remain intact:

  • The Ohio companies agree to return all tax savings resulting from the TCJA to customers.
  • The Ohio companies will make capital investments of up to $516 million in grid modernization over a three-year period (see sidebar for more details).
  • The settlement advances the PUCO’s PowerForward initiative to enhance customers’ electricity experience while keeping monthly bills affordable.

The supplemental stipulation includes added customer benefits and protections, such as providing residential customers with additional electric bill
reductions associated with tax savings.