NOPEC and NOAC join the utilities and 17 other parties, including the cities of Cleveland and Akron, staff of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and several manufacturing, education, hospital and consumer groups, in support of the ESP.
Anthony Alexander, president and CEO of FirstEnergy, said: “This plan is supported by a broad coalition representing residential, commercial, industrial and low-income customers. We are hopeful that the PUCO will act soon to approve the ESP so that our customers can take advantage of the benefits offered in this plan.”
As part of this agreement, the companies will provide additional benefits to customers including $12m for the companies’ Fuel Fund to support low-income payment assistance programs during the three-year plan period; $300,000 to support energy efficiency and other programs to benefit Toledo Edison customers; and support for the development of wind and solar facilities in Ohio through long-term contracts to purchase renewable energy credits.
In addition, the customers will not pay certain costs related to transmission projects approved by the PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission organization, for the longer of the five-year period from June 1, 2011, through May 31, 2016, or when the amount of costs avoided by customers totals $360m, provided PJM’s cost allocation methodology is not substantially altered.
A regional environmental group has also agreed to support aspects related to renewable energy support, and four low-income agencies have agreed not to oppose the ESP.
Under the proposed ESP, which was filed in March 2010, base distribution rates will remain in place through May 31, 2014. The plan also outlines a competitive bidding process that will be used to establish generation supply and pricing for customers who do not choose alternative suppliers. In addition, the companies will provide $3m for economic development and jobs support in their service territories and $1.5m for low-income customer assistance programs.
