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Environment Groups Appeal Approval Of FirstEnergy Rate Plan
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Environmental groups objecting to a utility’s electricity rate increases totaling more than $600 million over three years have appealed state regulators’ approval of that plan to the Ohio Supreme Court.
The Ohio Environmental Council, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Environmental Law and Policy Center have appealed last year’s ruling by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The groups’ statement Friday said the commission’s ruling amounts to a bailout of Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp.
The groups say regulators agreed to a plan that subsidizes old and expensive plants provides no benefits to customers.
The commission estimated that a household using an average of 750 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month would see monthly bills increase $36 a year.
A message seeking comment was left Monday for the utilities commission’s spokesman.