WKSU News: Ohio regulators want to hear why some groups support coal-plant bailouts

Monday, January 4, 2016 Ohio regulators want to hear why some groups support coal-plant bailouts PUCO says groups must provide depositions by WKSU's ANDY CHOW	Reporter Andy Chow

AEP’s Bill Allen was on the stand during a PUCO hearing, giving testimony on the utility’s plan to guarantee profit for its coal plants.

Courtesy of ANDY CHOW

The state' utility regulators are looking over a plan that would guarantee a profit for two utilities that operate coal plants by raising the price on electric bills. And they want to hear why certain groups are OK with it. Statehouse correspondent Andy Chow reports.

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AEP’s latest draft would keep three coal units afloat for eight years and then guarantee their closure by 2030.

The Ohio Consumers’ Counsel represents customers in these cases. The counsel's William Michael wants three groups, IGS Energy, Direct Energy and the Sierra Club, to give depositions on why they aren’t opposing AEP’s plan.

“This is a $2 billion case. It is a case of the most gravity and I think the commission would benefit from a very robust record.”

Those groups argued that answering questions about why they signed off on the plan could violate attorney-client privileges.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio ruled for the consumers' counsel and asked those three groups to provide depositions at some point this week.

Akron-based FirstEnergy also wants a coal-plant guarantee, but has yet to get the support of any environmentalists. Both it and AEP says consumers would benefit in the long run.