Advocacy Group Takes Aim At AEP, FirstEnergy Rate Deals With New Website
February 04, 2016
A new advocacy group has formed to oppose rate plans by AEP and FirstEnergy in Ohio that would “guarantee consumer-paid subsidies” to prop up the two companies’ older, unprofitable generating facilities. Called the Alliance for Energy Choice, it is a non-profit organization whose focus is to promote fairness and competition among the state’s electric utilities and to combat the kind of “handouts and backroom deals” that critics say the deals represent.
As part of its “Fight the Hikes” campaign, the alliance has created a website designed to educate consumers on the risks facing ratepayers, including soaring power bills; to debunk claims from AEP and FirstEnergy that reliability will be threatened if the Public Utilities Commission does not approve their proposals; and to provide opportunities for Ohio consumers to have their voices heard in the debate. To learn more about the alliance, the issue, the costs, and the need for businesses and individuals to act now, go to http://www.fightthehikes.com.