Ohio PUC staff is urging rejection of FirstEnergy competitive bid process

摘要

FirstEnergy's proposal for a series of descending clock auctions in 2008 to set future retail power prices in its northern Ohio service area most likely would increase electric prices for customers and should be rejected by the Public Utilties Commission, the PUC staff recommended last week.rnThe Akron-based parent company of Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating and Toledo Edison is ready to go to market in 2009 after its existing rate certainty plan expires at the end of next year. To that end, it is asking the commission to approve a comprehensive plan that includes a competitive bid process, or CBP, next year for its three Ohio utility units.rnThe company is suggesting a phased-in approach to prevent residential rate hikes from eclipsing 15% annually (EUW, 13 Aug, 10).