Changes ahead for rate cases
With the passage of House Bill 15, signed by Governor Mike DeWine in May 2025, the PUCO is entering a new era of rate analysis.
What does this mean for utilities, stakeholders, and consumers?
The latest News Bureau article breaks down how House Bill 15 is transforming PUCO’s approach to rate cases, highlighting key procedural changes and their potential impact.
PUCO adopts settlement in Suburban Natural Gas rate case
The PUCO has approved an unopposed settlement allowing Suburban Natural Gas to increase its annual distribution revenue by $1.19 million and set its return on equity at 9.75%. The utility will also continue its pipeline replacement and capital investment programs through 2032, with all associated costs subject to PUCO oversight and approval. Residential customers are expected to see an average monthly bill increase of about $4.73.
More information about this case is available here.
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PUCO directs Ohio utilities to publish distribution hosting capacity maps
The PUCO has directed Ohio’s electric distribution utilities to publish distribution hosting capacity maps on their websites by May 31, 2026.
Distribution system hosting capacity maps, a requirement of House Bill 15, will allow the public, engineers, and stakeholders to access the hosting capacity of the electric grid.
More information is available on the PUCO website.
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House Bill 15 rules continue to be implemented
The PUCO finalized two sets of administrative rules implementing provisions of HB15.
- Retail electricity and natural gas suppliers may enroll customers using any valid form of government-issued identification, or sufficient alternative. Distribution utilities must also update their tariffs to detail financial assurances retail suppliers must make to protect their customers from their possible default.
- Mercantile customers who choose to return to their local electric utility’s standard service offer must be re-enrolled within three business days of their request.
Changes to Ohio Administrative Code will be submitted to the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review before becoming effective.
Click here for more information on the PUCO rulemaking process.
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Legislative testimony
On March 18, Federal Energy Advocate Sarah Parrot gave testimony before the House Energy Committee. Her presentation discussed advanced transmission technologies.
View her presentation and remarks here.
On March 24, PUCO Chair Jenifer French joined the Ohio Senate Energy Committee to discuss generation and transmission planning in Ohio.
Read her full testimony here.
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OPSB denies construction of solar energy project in Morrow County
The Ohio Power Siting Board denied Crossroads Solar I, LLC’s proposal to construct a 94 megawatt solar-powered electric generation facility in Morrow County.
Crossroads Solar proposed to construct the facility within a 726-acre project area in Cardington, Lincoln, and Westfield townships. The OPSB found that, based on the opposition to the project from each of the local elected government entities within the project area and their constituents who are impacted, the proposed project would fail to serve the “public interest, convenience, and necessity” as required under Ohio law.
The Board noted that any positive benefits from the project are outweighed by the consistent and substantial opposition to the project by the area residents and as expressed through the local governmental entities. These include the lack of commitment to local sheep grazing, despite being a highly publicized component of the project; as well as a lack of trust from local governments due to the developer’s plans to sell the rights to another company before the facility is operational.
Read the full details of the case here.
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PUCO approves rail crossing safety upgrades in Mahoning County
Safety upgrades have been approved at a rail crossing in the city of Youngstown, Mahoning County.
Youngstown & Southeastern Railroad (YSRR) will install flashing lights and gates at the Poland Avenue grade crossing in Mahoning County by Dec. 18, 2026. Federal funds will pay $506,534 to complete the project.
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Federal comments filed
The PUCO Federal Energy Advocate has filed comments before the regional grid operator, PJM Interconnection.
The comments address proposed revisions to the PJM Open Access Transmission Tariff to establish an Expedited Interconnection Track for new generating facilities.
Read the full document and other federal comments here.
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Duke Energy Ohio prefiling notice
Duke Energy Ohio has given notice to the PUCO indicating that the company intends to file an application for an approval of an increase in its electric distribution rates.
The notice has been filed in Case No. 26-0132-El-AIR.
View the case docket here.
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2025 annual damage prevention report
Damage prevention laws are designed to maintain public safety when excavating around utility facilities and to ensure the reliability of those facilities.
The PUCO issues an annual Underground Technical Committee (UTC) report of its damage prevention each fiscal year.
Read the 2025 report here.
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PUCO inspector featured in CVSA magazine
PUCO Hazardous Materials Investigator Joe Frilling met an inspiring young man named Levi while participating in the third annual 9/11 Climb – an event hosted by Ohio Department of Public Safety to honor the first responders who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.
In an article published in Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) Guardian Magazine, Frilling described Levi as exceptionally motivated and positive, noting that although Levi uses a wheelchair, he refuses to let it limit him. His determination inspired hundreds of event participants when he left his wheelchair to run around a Major League Soccer field.
Learn more about Levi and read Joe's full article on page 14 of Guardian magazine.
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Little leaks can lead to big trouble
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, household leaks waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water nationwide each year, and the average home loses about 10,000 gallons annually to easily correctable drips.
These common leaks are often simple to fix, and the tools needed to repair them can quickly pay for themselves through water savings.
Get tips on how to check and fix leaks in less than 10 minutes!
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