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OCC Newsletter – Summer 2026
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Welcome to the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel’s (OCC) email newsletter! We think you’ll find the information below useful.
In This Issue:
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Celebrating 50 Years
of Consumer Advocacy
The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) is proud to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026. Created by the Ohio General Assembly and Ohio voters in 1976, OCC serves as Ohio's independent residential utility consumer advocate.
For five decades, OCC has represented the interests of millions of Ohio households before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the Ohio General Assembly, federal agencies, and the courts, while educating consumers about their utility rights and helping them navigate issues involving electric, natural gas, telephone, and water utility services.
We look forward to celebrating the many partners, consumer advocates and supporters who have helped advance our mission over the past 50 years.
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Weatherize for Energy Savings
Weatherizing your home can lower energy bills year-round. Hot air leaks through the same places that cold air does. OCC’s Conserve Energy and Save Money fact sheet offers several DIY tips in the “Long-term Energy Planning” sections. Even more tips to improve home energy efficiency can be found at www.occ.ohio.gov/publications#energy-efficiency.
Income-eligible households can use the federally funded Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) to improve their home’s energy efficiency and reduce energy costs. See OCC’s fact sheet for details.
Also, check with local utility companies to see if there are any programs or rebates to help improve a household’s energy efficiency.
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The Summer Crisis Program Helps Eligible Ohioans
The Summer Crisis Program (SCP) started July 1 and is available until Sept. 30, 2026 for eligible Ohioans. The program assists consumers with electric utility bills, central air conditioning repairs, an air conditioning unit and/or fan purchases. OCC’s fact sheet provides details.
Also on July 1, the state administration of the energy and weatherization assistance programs is now being done through the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (ODJFS) through its newly created Office of Community Support Services (OCSS). However, the day-to-day management of these programs stays the same working through existing community partners, such as Community Action Agencies.
Use OCC’s Assistance page to find where to apply for assistance and learn other valuable information about staying connected to utility service.
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Preparing for Data Center Development in Ohio
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As demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence continues to grow, more communities across Ohio are being considered as locations for data centers. These facilities can bring investment and construction activity, but they also raise important questions about infrastructure, utility costs, and long-term community impacts.
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Maureen Willis, Ohio Consumers’ Counsel
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Understanding Your Ohio Electric Bill
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OCC Challenges Rising Transmission Costs
OCC is fighting at the state and federal levels to protect consumers from unjustified transmission costs.
At the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), OCC is challenging a proposed transmission rate increase from Grid Growth Ohio, a joint AEP and FirstEnergy venture. Further review by FERC was ordered after OCC’s protest of the $1.6 billion increase.
At the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), OCC opposed an AES Ohio transmission rider, arguing that data centers should pay their fair share of transmission costs before additional costs are passed on to residential consumers. OCC will continue advocating to prevent large energy users from shifting those costs to Ohio households.
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Settlement Would Reduce Proposed AES Ohio Rate Increase
AES Ohio, the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, PUCO Staff, the City of Dayton and nine other parties have negotiated a settlement in AES Ohio’s three-year distribution rate case.
The proposed settlement would significantly reduce the utility’s requested rate increases. If approved, residential distribution rates would increase about 1% in 2027, 1.5% in 2028, and less than 1% in 2029. The agreement would also lower AES Ohio’s proposed profit rate to 9.5% and keep the monthly residential customer charge at $12.
The settlement also would require data centers to pay for the transmission upgrades they need and a fair share of existing transmission costs, helping protect residential consumers. It would also require AES Ohio to spend at least 80% of its approved bill-payment assistance budget. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio must approve the settlement before it can take effect.
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OCC Continues Fight for Full AES Ohio Refunds
Following a unanimous Ohio Supreme Court ruling, OCC presented expert testimony showing AES Ohio consumers are owed $82.6 million, including interest, in significantly excessive earnings from 2018 and 2019.
Despite OCC’s evidence, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio ordered only about $11 million in refunds. OCC is reviewing the decision and evaluating its next steps to continue advocating for the full refunds consumers deserve.
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OCC Helps Defeat FirstEnergy’s Bid to Weaken Reliability Standards
FirstEnergy asked the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to lower the standards measuring how often customers lose power and how long outages last. OCC opposed the request, arguing that consumers have already paid hundreds of millions of dollars for grid improvements and deserve better reliability—not lower expectations.
The PUCO rejected FirstEnergy’s request and kept the current reliability standards in place for Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company, and Toledo Edison. OCC will continue advocating for stronger reliability standards and greater accountability in FirstEnergy’s pending rate case.
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OCC Advocacy Helps Protect Submetered Consumers
After more than a decade of advocacy, OCC welcomed Governor Mike DeWine’s veto of House Bill 173, which would have created a separate regulatory system for submetering companies. OCC urged the Governor to reject the bill because it would have left apartment and condominium residents with fewer utility protections than other Ohio consumers.
The veto preserves the opportunity for equal protections for submetered consumers. OCC will continue advocating at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to ensure these consumers receive the same rights and safeguards as other residential utility customers.
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As Ohio experiences rapid growth in data center development, the Consumers' Counsel is working to ensure residential utility consumers are protected from unnecessary costs.
OCC testified before the Ohio House and Senate Select Committee on Data Centers, urging lawmakers to ensure that data centers pay the costs they create rather than shifting those costs and risks onto residential consumers. Consumers' Counsel Maureen Willis emphasized that Ohio can support economic development while maintaining strong consumer protections and following cost-causation principles.
OCC has also provided input on legislation that would establish statewide tariff policies for data centers and will continue advocating for policies that protect Ohio consumers as demand for electricity grows.
As the General Assembly begins its new session, OCC looks forward to working with lawmakers on data center policies and other utility issues that affect Ohio's residential consumers.
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While affordability is at the forefront for Ohio utility consumers, some utilities are seeking new rate increases. These increases make utility bills less affordable. OCC is focused on the impact of rising utility costs on consumers. It is important for consumers to participate in these rate cases, making their voices heard by attending public hearings or filing comments.
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Natural Gas
Enbridge Gas Ohio (PUCO Case No. 25-1097-GA-AIR) is seeking a rate increase that would cost the average residential consumer about $7.60 more per month—roughly a 8% increase—adding to already rising household expenses.
Public hearings have been scheduled at the following times:
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6 p.m. Aug. 19, 2026, Frank J. Lausche State Office Building, 615 W. Superior Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44113
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6 p.m. Aug. 31, 2026, Lima Public Library, 650 W. Market St., Lima, Ohio 45801
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Electric
Duke Energy (PUCO Case No. 26-0132-EL-AIR) is seeking to increase electric distribution charges. A typical customers bill would increase by about $8.32 per month. If approved, Duke’s proposed distribution rate increase would take effect in 2027. https://www.occ.ohio.gov/factsheet/duke-energy-ohio-rate-increase-26-0132-el-air
FirstEnergy (PUCO Case No. 26-0347-EL-AIR) is seeking a three-year distribution rate increase. The company says it plans to spend about $800 million per year on its electric distribution system plus $83 million annually for tree trimming. If approved, Toledo Edison customers would see an average increase each year of $5.30 per month. The Illuminating Company customers would see an increase of $5.15 per month and Ohio Edison customers would see an increase of $4.26 per month. https://www.occ.ohio.gov/factsheet/firstenergy-rate-increase-26-0347-el-air
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Coming Soon…
Duke Energy recently filed a request to increase natural gas rates. OCC will update information as it becomes available.
The utility proposals discussed above are particularly concerning because it could raise fixed monthly charges that consumers must pay regardless of how much they use, meaning families cannot lower their bills through conservation.
Visit our Consumer Alerts page to stay up to date at www.occ.ohio.gov/consumer-alerts.
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Utility bills are going up, and understanding yours can save you real money. OCC's YouTube channel covers the basics:
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how to compare your energy choices;
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what your rights are as a consumer; and
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which assistance programs can help when bills get tight.
Each video is short, straightforward, and built to answer the questions Ohioans ask us most.
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