Ohio
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
Commissioners
5Active Proceedings
2Docket No. 24-0468-EL-AIR
FirstEnergy sought a $190 million electric distribution rate increase; PUCO approved a customer-protection settlement in January 2026. Updated delivery rates take effect March 1, 2026.
Docket No. 25-0392-EL-AIR
AEP Ohio filed a base rate case in 2025 seeking recovery of distribution system investments. Evidentiary hearings and settlement negotiations are ongoing.
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State Intelligence
Updated May 26, 2026Utility Landscape
American Electric Power Ohio (Ohio Power Co. / Columbus Southern Power, now AEP Ohio)
IOUCentral, southern, and portions of northwestern Ohio; approximately 1.5 million electric customers
AEP Ohio has been under heightened scrutiny following the HB 6 scandal fallout and has pursued grid modernization riders aggressively. The company filed a significant electric security plan (ESP) proceeding seeking to recover advanced metering infrastructure and transmission investments, drawing consumer advocate opposition.
FirstEnergy Ohio (Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company, Toledo Edison)
IOUNortheastern Ohio and Toledo-area corridor; approximately 1.6 million electric customers across three operating subsidiaries
FirstEnergy's Ohio utilities remain under a deferred prosecution agreement-related compliance shadow stemming from the HB 6 bribery scandal; PUCO has imposed enhanced compliance monitoring. Recent ESP and distribution modernization filings have been contested by the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC).
Duke Energy Ohio
IOUSouthwestern Ohio including Cincinnati metro; provides both electric and natural gas distribution service
Duke Energy Ohio received a combined electric and gas rate case order in 2024 authorizing modest base rate increases; the company is actively pursuing infrastructure rider recovery for gas pipe replacement under its PISTAL mechanism and has initiated grid modernization proceedings at PUCO.
Dominion Energy Ohio (now part of Enbridge Gas Ohio)
IOUNatural gas distribution across much of central, northern, and eastern Ohio; over 1.2 million customers
Following Enbridge's acquisition of Dominion's gas utilities, Ohio operations are transitioning branding and regulatory posture; the company has sought pipeline replacement cost recovery through the Infrastructure Replacement Rider and faces OCC scrutiny over methane leak management and affordability programs.
Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives (Buckeye Power / AES Ohio cooperative network)
coopRural counties across much of Ohio served by approximately 25 distribution cooperatives with Buckeye Power as the generation and transmission cooperative
Buckeye Power is navigating a generation transition following the planned retirement of the Cardinal coal plant; cooperatives have filed with PUCO regarding cost allocation for new capacity resources and have engaged in IRP proceedings tied to federal IRA incentives.
Columbus Division of Power (City of Columbus)
muniMunicipal electric service within Columbus city limits; approximately 80,000 customers
The Columbus municipal utility has pursued renewable energy procurement to meet the city's 100% clean energy commitment by 2030 and is not directly rate-regulated by PUCO, though it coordinates with AEP Ohio on transmission access and interconnection matters.
Key Issues
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HB 6 remediation and utility accountability: PUCO continues to implement structural oversight conditions on FirstEnergy Ohio and AEP Ohio stemming from the $1.3 billion bribery scandal; legislative proposals to reform ESP approval standards and limit utility political spending remain active in the General Assembly as of early 2026.
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Electric Security Plans and market-vs-regulation tension: Multiple Ohio IOUs are in or approaching ESP proceedings; the core dispute over whether Ohio should return to competitive market structures or permit continued ESP-based cost recovery remains unresolved, with the OCC and industrial customer groups opposing guaranteed utility margins.
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Grid modernization and AMI cost recovery: AEP Ohio and FirstEnergy Ohio are both seeking rider-based recovery of smart meter and distribution automation investments; PUCO is weighing whether to require a full rate case or permit tracker mechanisms, with consumer groups arguing for stronger performance benchmarks before cost recovery is approved.
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Natural gas infrastructure replacement and affordability: Enbridge Gas Ohio and Duke Energy Ohio are pursuing accelerated recovery of gas pipe replacement costs through infrastructure riders; low-income advocacy groups and the OCC have raised concerns about cumulative bill impacts, and PUCO is considering affordability conditions tied to rider approvals.
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Renewable integration and interconnection backlog: Ohio's share of PJM interconnection queue projects has grown substantially; PUCO has opened proceedings examining state-level siting reform under the replaced OPSB framework (post-HB 6 partial repeal) and is addressing how large solar and wind projects interact with distribution system planning obligations of Ohio IOUs.
Upcoming
Estimated deadline for initial comments in AEP Ohio grid modernization/AMI rider proceeding (Case No. estimated); PUCO staff report anticipated to follow in late summer 2026 per standard ESP-related docket scheduling.
Estimated evidentiary hearing date for Enbridge Gas Ohio infrastructure replacement rider annual review proceeding; OCC and industrial intervenors expected to challenge proposed rate of return and cost allocation methodology.
Estimated PUCO order deadline on pending FirstEnergy Ohio compliance filing related to enhanced corporate governance and political spending restrictions imposed as a condition of its prior ESP approval; order will determine whether enhanced monitoring period is extended or lifted.
Estimated opening of Duke Energy Ohio next electric distribution rate case or ESP filing window; company's current ESP authorization period is set to require renewal or replacement proceedings to be initiated by late 2026 to avoid service under market-rate default tariffs.
Commissioner Watch
View all ↗Limited public information is available about John Williams's background prior to his appointment to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, and his tenure appears relatively recent.
Limited public information is available about Lawrence K. Friedeman's regulatory background and the specific details surrounding his appointment to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
Limited public information is available about Daniel R. Conway's background prior to or surrounding his appointment to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
Limited public information is available about Dennis P. Deters's specific regulatory background and the precise circumstances of his appointment to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
Jenifer French was appointed to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio by Governor Mike DeWine and has served as Chair, bringing a background in law and public policy to the commission.
Staff
92| Name | Title | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Schilling | Director, Office of Public Affairs | (614) 644-6795 |
| Barbara Bossart | Chief, Reliability and Service Analysis Division | (614) 466-0793 |
| Robert Fadley | Director, Business Resources Department | (614) 466-3016 |
| David Lipthratt | Chief, Research and Policy | (614) 466-3016 |
| Marianne Townsend | Chief, Reg. Utilities Service | (614) 728-2855 |
| Tammy Turkenton | Director of Rates and Analysis | (614) 466-1825 |
| Manette Asta | Administrative Law Judge | (614) 466-3016 |
| Annie Baas | Utility Specialist | (614) 466-8238 |
| Erin Biehl | Public Information Officer | (614) 466-3016 |
| Jonathan Borer | Supervisor | (614) 466-3016 |
| William Brailer | Administrative Law Judge | (614) 466-3016 |
| Les Carter | Utility Analyst 2 | (614) 728-7795 |
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