Federal Regulators Stand Up for Customers, Fair Electricity Market

(WASHINGTON, DC – April 27, 2016) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today overturned the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio’s decision to grant subsidy requests from Ohio-based utility giants AEP and FirstEnergy. Their bailout proposals would have forced Ohio customers to bail out old, inefficient power plants for the next eight years at an estimated cost of $6 billion.

“Today, federal regulators stood up for customers and defended fair markets and competition, sending a clear signal to any utility trying to bail out their uneconomic power plants through political prowess. FERC’s decision to block these bailouts will save Ohioans $6 billion while spurring energy innovation and reducing harmful pollution.”

• John Finnigan, Lead Counsel, Climate and Energy, Environmental Defense Fund