Ratepayer protection
Data centers have quickly become one of the biggest drivers of electricity demand in Ohio and across the PJM region. From artificial intelligence to cloud computing, the digital services we rely on every day require massive amounts of power; demand is rising faster than ever before.
Meeting that need will require new generation as well as significant investments in infrastructure to deliver electricity where its needed. But who should bear the cost?
In Ohio, we're working to ensure that costs created by data center development are paid by the companies — not other consumers.
Read the latest article from PUCO Chair Jenifer French on what steps we're taking to protect ratepayers while still supporting economic growth.
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OPSB approves sheep grazing at Madison County solar project
The Ohio Power Siting Board has approved Madison Fields Solar Project, LLC’s plan to update its vegetation management plan to incorporate sheep grazing in combination with mowing.
Madison Fields plans to utilize sheep grazing between March 15 and December 15, dependent on weather conditions. A 65-acre portion of the project, located on the southern end of the project site, will serve as the initial grazing area with an initial maximum stocking rate of 260 sheep.
In separate business, the OPSB denied Sloopy Solar Energy, LLC’s proposal to construct a 180 megawatt solar-powered electric generation facility in Harmony Township, Clark County. The OPSB technical review and analysis used a broad lens to consider the project’s potential benefits and impacts to the public interest, both locally and statewide. The OPSB found that the unanimous opposition of local governments in the project area, as well as the overwhelming public opposition to the project, outweighed the positive attributes of the project.
More OPSB news from June's monthly meeting here.
Additionally, OPSB issues an annual report of its account each calendar year in accordance with ORC 4906.03.
View the 2025 OPSB annual report here.
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PUCO issues order on Aqua Ohio water and wastewater rate increase application
The PUCO has issued an order setting new rates for Aqua Ohio Water and Aqua Ohio Wastewater.
Aqua Ohio is permitted to set water service rates that will increase its annual revenues by approximately $9.5 million; Aqua Ohio Wastewater is permitted to set rates for sewer service that will increase its annual revenues by approximately $1.04 million.
The Commission rejected a proposed increase to the fixed customer charge for water service, which will remain unchanged. An average residential customer will experience a monthly water bill increase of approximately $9-$15 depending on service territory.
Service territories where rates are set by local government ordinance rather than the PUCO are not impacted by the decision.
More information about the order is available here.
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PUCO denies FirstEnergy’s application to loosen reliability standards
The PUCO has denied the application to establish new, more lenient minimum reliability performance standards for The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (CEI), Ohio Edison Company, and The Toledo Edison Company. The current standards will remain in place.
The Commission order noted the significant amount of public outreach it received from customers, stakeholders, and local and state elected officials in opposition to the proposed standards.
The Commission also highlighted the utilities ongoing grid modernization efforts that are expected to improve system reliability, and the utilities’ ongoing commitment to improve service reliability in the Barberton and Lakewood communities following 2025 PUCO investigations into frequent power outages.
More information about the order and reliability standards is available here.
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Upcoming outreach
Come see us this summer! PUCO staff will be available to answer utility questions and help consumers at the following upcoming outreach events:
Interested in having a speaker from the PUCO attend your community event? Request a speaker here.
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New electric capacity hosting maps available
Ohio law requires electric distribution utilities to publish hosting capacity maps, disclosing the hosting capacity available for new loads (load that can be added) and new generation (generation that can be added) by circuit, as well as other additional data.
These new Ohio electric capacity hosting maps are now live and will be updated quarterly.
Click here to check out the maps.
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MACRUC 31st Annual Education Conference
Regulators, industry leaders, and policy experts gathered in Columbus for the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners’ (MACRUC) 31st Annual Education Conference. Hosted at the Hilton Columbus Downtown, the conference delivered a robust agenda centered on reliability, infrastructure, affordability, and the accelerating demands of data center growth.
PUCO commissioners and staff played key roles in shaping discussions on reliability, load growth, consumer protection, broadband policy, and long-term infrastructure planning.
Thanks to all who attended and participated!
Learn more about MACRUC here.
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In June, we observed Lightning Awareness Week! All summer long, you can protect yourself from lightning strikes with these safety steps:
🏡 Go indoors immediately
Seek shelter in a fully enclosed building or hard-topped vehicle. Open porches, picnic shelters, and tents are NOT safe.
🔌 Unplug electronics
Unplug sensitive appliances before the storm hits to protect them from power surges.
🚿 Avoid plumbing & corded phones
Lightning can travel through pipes and wires. Postpone your shower and dishwashing until the storm passes.
🛑 Stay away from downed lines
Always assume fallen power lines are live and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet away and report them immediately.
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 Interested in joining our team? The PUCO employs engineers, lawyers, analysts, accountants, customer service representatives, human resource professionals, auditors and many more!
Positions are posted regularly to Careers.Ohio.gov. Use the filter to select "Public Utilities Commission" to see all open jobs.
View all open positions at Careers.Ohio.gov.
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