PAST CONSUMER ALERT:

Comment on AES’s Proposed Electric Rate Increase

What: Upon the Consumers’ Counsel’s request, the PUCO is inviting consumers to testify virtually with their views on the proposed electric distribution rate increase by AES (DP&L).

When: A local public hearing was held Nov. 16, 2021 virtually online.

How: Click for OCC information about how to testify at local public hearings: https://bit.ly/OCC-how-to-testify.

Questions: Dial 1-877-742-5622 for your advocate, the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel.

Can’t Attend?

Click on “File a Public Comment” at https://bit.ly/20-1651 or mail a letter referencing PUCO Case #20-1651, to: PUCO, 180 E. Broad St. 11th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215.

Details:

Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC): OCC has asked the PUCO to deny any rate increase for AES. That’s because AES signed (and the PUCO approved) an agreement in 2009 for a “rate freeze.” On Oct. 20, 2021, the PUCO wrote it will consider the rate freeze. AES should keep its word – no electric increase for Dayton-area consumers.

OCC also has other objections to an AES rate increase, including that AES’s proposed profits are too high for consumers to pay. Here is a link to OCC’s list of objections to an AES rate increase: https://bit.ly/OCC-AES-rate-objections.

AES (DP&L): AES has asked the PUCO for a $121 million rate hike (or a 14.34% increase for a typical residential consumer). A residential consumer using 1,000 kWh per month would pay about $13.42 more monthly ($161.04 annually) to AES. AES also wants to more than double its monthly residential fixed charge (the customer charge) from $7 to $15.66. AES collects the customer charge even if a consumer uses no electricity. (A higher customer charge does result in a lower variable charge per kWh. But a higher customer charge also means the consumer has less opportunity to save money by reducing usage.)

PUCO Staff: The PUCO Staff filed a report on July 26, 2021, recommending an AES rate increase of $61 to $67 million, about half of AES’s proposal. The PUCO Staff also recommended a lower customer charge of $9.75. Under the PUCO Staff’s proposal, a typical residential consumer using 1,000 kWh per month would see a monthly bill increase of $6.65.

Want to know more?

Visit this link: https://bit.ly/20-1651

Want to see the PUCO-approved subsidies that DP&L charged you since 2009? Visit this link: https://bit.ly/subsidy-scorecard