A message from Chair French
Each year I continue to be more impressed by the hard work and dedication of each and every staff member of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). 2025 was no different. Each department stepped up to ensure all Ohioans received safe and reliable utility service from the hundreds of regulated entities across the state.
During 2025, I had the privilege to speak about the state of energy in Ohio as well as both the PUCO and the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) before various committees at the Ohio Statehouse.
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Data centers continued to be a hot topic, specifically related to electricity use to operate the facilities and the resulting rates. To help keep residential and other commercial customers from seeing spikes on their bills, we issued a precedent-setting decision requiring data centers to pay a fair share for the infrastructure they cause to be built. We are also seeing many new data centers seek to build behind the meter power plants to service the facility without adding additional strain to the electric grid.
Throughout the year the PUCO staff also dug into cases related to FirstEnergy and the investigations surrounding its involvement in the passing of House Bill 6 during the 133rd General Assembly. The PUCO issued orders that required the company to provide restitution to consumers and pay civil forfeitures.
Each year our agency participates in the state’s Combined Charitable Campaign. In 2025, PUCO employees donated $24,105 through payroll deduction pledges, one-time donations and money collected during internal events. This surpassed our goal by 18 percent. In addition, the agency held a canned food drive in December to donate to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective. Staff contributed 1,063 pounds of food, which was nearly double what we collected in 2024.
As the year comes to a close and the start of 2026 approaches, I am confident that we will continue to work tirelessly for the good of Ohioans through everything we do.
Sincerely,
Jenifer French
Read selected highlights from the PUCO's 2025 Year in Review below.
For the full recap, click here.
Notable cases
AEP Ohio
AEP Ohio had two notable cases that the PUCO provided decisions on during 2025. First, in July the PUCO authorized AEP Ohio to implement a distribution automation circuit reconfiguration project. This project would see equipment installed that would detect power outages and automatically reroute power to minimize customer impact.
The second case saw the PUCO direct AEP Ohio to file new tariffs that would apply to rates for data centers. In the first of its kind case, the tariffs would require data centers to pay for certain costs related to projected energy use so that other customer classes are held harmless from the increase in infrastructure and electric generation necessary for the centers.
Read more about the circuit upgrades and data center tariffs.
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Duke Energy Ohio
The PUCO authorized an electric security plan for Duke Energy Ohio. In the approved plan, the PUCO eliminated the 3-year bids to minimize price volatility, the development of a distribution capacity hosting map to lead to more efficient grid planning and the implementation of an energy efficiency program to help low-income customers lower energy usage.
Learn more about Duke’s ESP.
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AES Ohio
A settlement agreement was reached that reduced the increase of rates asked for by AES, maintained the current customer charge and eliminated reconnection fees.
Learn more about the settlement.
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Enbridge Gas Ohio
The PUCO issued an order to lower distribution rates as opposed to the increase Enbridge Gas Ohio requested in its original filing. Bill impacts have not yet been fully established due to necessary tariff approval.
Read more about the decision on Enbridge’s rate increase request.
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FirstEnergy
Originally asking for $190 million in increases for distribution rates, the PUCO provided an approximate $34 million annual increase. This order is set to lower annual revenues for two of the operating companies and increase for one.
Learn more about FirstEnergy’s rate increase.
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PUCO issued penalties against FirstEnergy related to House Bill 6 investigation
After many months of discovery and hearings, the PUCO ruled that FirstEnergy violated Ohio law, PUCO regulations and PUCO orders in relationship to the passage of Amended Substitute House Bill 6 from the 133rd General Assembly. In November, the PUCO ordered FirstEnergy to provide restitution to Ohio customers of more than $180 million. In addition, the company was ordered to pay civil forfeitures of over $60 million.
Read more about the cases and orders.
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Transportation safety
Underground damage prevention grants
In early 2025, the PUCO solicited applications for a grant program that would be administered by the Underground Technical Committee (UTC). Grant funding supports public awareness programs, training or other incentive programs to reduce the number and severity of underground utility damage incidents. The PUCO awarded nine entities with grants totaling $70,000.
Read more about the UTC grant program.
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Motorists and pedestrians to see safety improvements at many rail crossings across the state
Ohioans will see upgraded safety equipment and other improvements at 105 railroad crossings in 26 counties thanks to funding approvals from the PUCO in 2025. Improvements and equipment include flashing lights, gates, signage, illumination and work on crossing surfaces. More than $17 million was approved to be funded through the PUCO, federal funds and assistance from the Ohio Rail Development Commission.
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Hazardous materials training grants
Annually, the PUCO awards grants to educational institutions and local governments in Ohio to assist in training emergency responders to handle incidents related to hazardous materials. In 2025, 30 applicants were awarded a collective $800,000 for various programs.
Visit the Hazardous Materials Training Grants page to learn more.
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Protecting consumers
Call Center – assistance brings answers and savings for Ohioans in 2025
Call center staff at the PUCO are the frontline of the agency when it comes to helping utility customers get questions answered or issues resolved with utility companies. During the first 10 months of 2025, more than 50,000 Ohioans contacted the PUCO by telephone, email or letter with issues related to their utility service. From those contacts, staff helped over 1,860 residential and commercial utility consumers receive more than $2.4 million back in their pockets.
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Special Reconnect Order
For more than three decades, the PUCO has issued a Special Reconnect Order that allows Ohioans who are residential customers of PUCO-regulated electric or natural gas companies to keep their heat going even during times of financial struggle. Households who need to establish, maintain or restore service may pay $175 and a reconnection fee of no more than $36. During the 2024-2025 heating season, more than 204,000 Ohio households used the Special Reconnect Order.
Learn more about the Special Reconnect Order.
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Ohio Power Siting Board recap
During 2025, 123 new applications were filed (up 18 percent over 2024), and 117 staff reports were produced for a variety of projects that included, among others, several controversial solar proposals. The Board approved a total of 119 applications. Much of the work that went into these cases was done outside of the office through onsite inspections and public hearings. OPSB compliance staff conducted 350 inspections and investigated 43 public inquiries.
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Many of the projects brought to the OPSB include the need for public meetings or hearings. In all, the OPSB staff attended 37 after-hours hearings, meetings and conferences. The OPSB also saw the number of counties that have restricted wind and solar development increase to 40, which is a 10 percent increase over where Ohio was in 2024. The numbers listed above were as of the end of November.
In 2025, the OPSB issued certificates to four behind-the-meter natural gas power plants to be located at the site of data centers in central Ohio. These plants would add a total nameplate capacity of 736 megawatts.
PUCO Nominating Council seeks applications for PUCO commissioner position
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Nominating Council is seeking applications for the position of commissioner of the PUCO to fill a vacancy for the term commencing on April 11, 2026 and ending on April 10, 2031. Applications must be delivered to the Nominating Council no later than 5 p.m. EST on Jan. 9, 2026.
Applicants are required to send a current resume with a one-page cover letter attached as well as a financial disclosure statement.
More information about the position and application details are available here.
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