Ohio House Sends Long Overdue Energy Bill to Governor Which Finally Ends HB 6 OVEC Handout

COLUMBUS – House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today commented on the passage of House Bill (HB 15), a new energy bill that, amongst other provisions, will repeal OVEC fees established in the infamous HB 6 scandal.

“I am pleased to finally repeal the OVEC fees from the corrupt HB 6 and add much-needed transparency to utilities’ rate review process. HB 15 has significant positive components, but there is more work to be done to meet the demand and needs of Ohio’s energy grid,” said Leader Russo. “The crimes of the HB 6 scandal still loom in Ohio and despite numerous proposals by Democrats, the Republican-controlled legislature has done nothing to prevent a similar political scandal from happening again. Without swift, meaningful legislative reform, Ohioans could be faced with another corruption scandal which could force Ohioans to once again foot the bill.”

Following former Republican House Speaker Householder’s racketeering arrest and conviction, House Democrats have introduced several pieces of legislation over multiple General Assemblies aimed at weeding out corruption, strengthening ethics, and ending the cost of corruption Ohioans are still paying for following the largest public corruption scandal in Ohio’s history. 

Ohio House and Senate Republicans and its supermajority have failed to advance any of these proposals to the governor to be signed into law or passed any reforms of its own. 

HB 15 passed the House on April 30th with a concurrence vote of 94-2 and will now head to Governor DeWine’s desk for signature.