AES Ohio consumers might see an increase in the cost of their electric bill. But the Ohio Consumers鈥� Counsel is on the .
The Ohio Consumers鈥� Counsel estimates AES residential customers could pay about $40 more a year. That鈥檚 because AES Ohio is proposing an increase in its Transmission Cost Recovery Rider.
This fee allows the utility to recoup the cost of electricity transmission paid to the regional grid operator.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (or PUCO) staff for AES Ohio鈥檚 application. A decision is anticipated later this month, according to the utility.
If the Public Utilities Commission approves the increase, the new rates would be effective June 1.
This updated cost reflects the increasing demand for electricity, AES Ohio spokesperson Mary Ann Kabel said.
鈥淲e're also replacing legacy transmission equipment, to reliably serve our customers. As that grows and that demand continues, we want to ensure our customers have safe, reliable power,鈥� Kabel said.
But J.P. Blackwood from the Ohio Consumers鈥� Counsel said the increase might not be appropriate.
鈥�We carefully analyze these proposals to make sure that the utilities aren't overcharging consumers because we know consumers are hurting,鈥� Blackwood said. 鈥淲e know there's a lot of consumers who can't pay the bills at the price they are today, let alone, if there's another $40 a year.鈥�
AES Ohio isn鈥檛 the only energy supplier pursuing a rate increase to make up for their transmission costs; AEP Ohio and First Energy鈥檚 three utilities made their own that were approved by the PUCO earlier this year.
The Ohio Consumers鈥� Counsel said it attributes the rise in these rates across utilities to supplemental transmission projects.
These are transmission enhancement or expansion meant to 鈥渁ddress local reliability needs,鈥� according to Ohio鈥檚 regional grid operator, .
Blackwood said these projects aren鈥檛 regulated by any agency to make sure they鈥檙e necessary.
In September, the Ohio Consumers鈥� Counsel filed a to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to step in and look at regulating supplemental transmission projects.