Public hearings on Duke Energy Ohio’s natural gas rate application scheduled for March

Two local public hearings have been scheduled regarding Duke Energy Ohio’s applications to increase rates and charges and for approval of an alternative rate plan.

The local public hearings are scheduled as follows: 

March 8, 2023, at 6 p.m.
Mason Municipal Center | Fire Station 51, Community Room
4420 Mason Montgomery Rd.
Mason, OH 45040 

March 10, 2023, at 12:30 p.m.
Cincinnati City Hall | Council Chambers, Room 300
801 Plum St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202 

For more information on Duke's application, how to testify or how to submit a comment, click here.

OPSB approves solar energy projects in Hancock County, electric transmission line in Franklin County

In February's board meeting, the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) authorized South Branch Solar, LLC and Border Basin I, LLC to construct solar-powered electric generating facilities in Hancock County. The OPSB also approved AEP Ohio Transmission Company’s plans to construct a 138 kilovolt (kV) electric transmission line in Franklin County.

South Branch Solar is authorized to construct a 129.6 megawatt solar-powered electric generating facility in Washington Township; Border Basin Solar is authorized to construct a 120 megawatt solar-powered electric generating facility in Cass Township.

More information on all of these OPSB cases is available here.

It's not too late: Special Reconnect Order still available

The Special Reconnect Order allows residential customers who are disconnected or being threatened with disconnection from their utility to have their service restored or maintained with just a $175 payment.

The Special Reconnect Order runs through April 15, 2023 and no sign up is required.

More information is available here.

Check out the Utility Rate Survey

Looking for utility bill data?

The Ohio Utility Rate Survey dashboard provides an overview and comparison of electric, telephone, and natural gas utility rates in cities across Ohio. Data is updated on a monthly basis and goes back to January 2015.

The dashboard also displays bill components and trends by month.

Click here to give the dashboard a try.

Upcoming events

PUCO Chair French has the following speaking engagements scheduled for early March:

• March 1: Keynote address at the 27th Annual Ohio Energy Savings & Management Conference
• March 7: PUCO 101 presentation to the Ohio Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee
• March 8: PUCO 101 presentation to the Ohio House Public Utilities Committee
• March 9: PUCO budget testimony before the Ohio House Finance Subcommittee on Agriculture, Development and Natural Resources

Live streams for March 7, 8 and 9 will be available on the Ohio Channel.