Fixed charges in Ohio
What are fixed charges?
Your utility bill contains various types of charges. Some of these charges increase or decrease depending upon how much electricity you use. Other charges, known as fixed charges, do not.
Fixed charges in Ohio
Several Ohio utilities, including American Electric Power (AEP), Dayton Power & Light (DP&L), Duke Energy, and FirstEnergy, have asked the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to allow them to increase these charges. Doing so would make it harder for Ohioans to go solar, because making fixed charges a larger percentage of a customer’s utility bill reduces the amount customers can save by using less energy. This is true if they go solar or simply try to reduce consumption. This is also why raising fixed rate charges penalizes low- and fixed-income users who already struggle to pay their utility bills. Boosting fixed charges locks customers into paying more.
Take action
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Tell the Public Utility Commission of Ohio that fixed charges against solar aren’t fair The PUCO is accepting public comments on proposed fixed charges. Tell them you oppose increasing fixed charges. Could higher fixed charges negatively affect your or your family? Spread the word about PUCO’s proposed increases. |
Ohio resources
- Critics say Ohio utility’s proposed fixed charge increase will slow efficiency, clean energy – This article from Midwest Energy News details AEP’s request to double the fixed charges it levies on customer electric bills and explores how such an increase would discourage the installation of solar and energy efficient technologies.
- Ohio utility seeks to double its fixed distribution charges – This Midwest Energy News article outlines AEP’s previous attempt to increase fixed charges for all customers, in response to the growing number of solar installations.