AEP Ohio case finds settlement amid controversy

On Sept. 7, AEP Ohio called it quits---not in offering power but in a series of cases pending before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). In the end, the final settlement gives AEP the OK to merge Columbus Southern Power (CSP) and Ohio Power (OPCo) into a single unit.

There are other issues laid to rest as well, including a mandate to transition to a competitive generation market by 2015.

AEP Ohio seems pretty happy with the outcome, but not everyone in Ohio is thrilled.

On the happy side of things: AEP Ohio, of course.

"After a decade of legislative and regulatory changes to Ohio's market for electricity, this agreement allows an appropriate transition to a fully competitive electricity generation environment for AEP in the state," said Nicholas Akins, AEP president, in a written statement. "With the clarity this agreement provides, AEP is adopting a new Ohio business model that transforms the company into two entities---a regulated energy delivery system and a separate generation business. It also advances key state policies while sustaining investment in Ohio."

And the agreement was signed by a lot of stakeholders---20 or so organizations that AEP Ohio dubbed as “representing a broad range of customers.”

Among the biggest features of the agreement: a timeline for that open market move that has AEP supplying capacity to retail at a discount for three years, a fund to bolster economic efforts and a continuation of the company’s low-income fund, and an option for customers to choose renewable sources.

According to AEP, in 2012, typical CSP customer bills will decrease a bit (about $4) while typical Ohio Power bills will increase a bit (about $4). But, right now, it’s not the customers who are doing the complaining about this deal, it’s retail provider FirstEnergy Solutions.

They sent out a release in response to the deal that claimed customers would “be forced” to fork over a billion above competitive price values.

"The settlement filed today is no better for customers than AEP's initial plan which was overwhelmingly opposed by consumer and business groups," said Donald R. Schneider, President of FirstEnergy Solutions in another written statement. "With this settlement, customers will be denied the benefits of low prices from the competitive market and be illegally burdened with high electric prices for years to come---all to benefit AEP shareholders at the expense of customers. The plan also unfairly favors large industrial customers by providing them with cheaper electric rates at the expense of residential and low-income customers."

Details on how that billion breaks down or number supporting the claim that the settlement favors industrial customers at the expense of others were not provided in the release, although it is fairly common for all power companies to cut higher end/heavier use customers, like commercial and industrial users, a break.

As with any deal ever made, it seems this one has winners and hecklers. Since this settlement is a compromise, it seems to fit the very definition of it---that nobody is totally happy.