Rep. Brennan to PUCO: Protect Consumers' Right to a Fair Hearing in Utility Rate Cases

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D–Parma) today sent a letter to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) urging the Commission to reconsider recently adopted changes to its rules governing utility proceedings.

Rep. Brennan said he agrees with concerns raised by the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC), Ohio’s statutory advocate for residential utility consumers, that the new rules could make it more difficult for consumer representatives to fully challenge utility requests for higher rates. The OCC has identified PUCO Case No. 25-0695-AU-ORD as involving consumers’ due-process rights and their right to a fair hearing.

Among the changes Rep. Brennan is questioning are limits on cross-examination, shortened briefing deadlines, page limits on legal briefs and changes to intervention deadlines.

“I understand the desire to make PUCO proceedings more efficient, but efficiency cannot come at the expense of a fair process for Ohio consumers,” said Rep. Brennan. “When a utility asks for hundreds of millions of dollars in additional charges, consumers deserve to know that the evidence behind that request will receive a thorough examination.”

Rep. Brennan also expressed concern about restrictions on the length and timing of post-hearing briefs, arguing that complex rate cases require sufficient time for parties to analyze the complete evidentiary record and present their legal arguments.

The OCC’s current consumer advocacy work before the PUCO includes numerous rate cases and other proceedings involving electric, natural gas and water utilities. The agency states that its role is to represent Ohio’s residential utility consumers in proceedings concerning the prices and quality of essential utility services.

“Ohio regulates monopoly utilities for a reason,” Rep. Brennan concluded. “Consumers often cannot simply take their business somewhere else when their utility proposes a higher bill. That makes the regulatory process critically important. We need a process that is efficient, but also transparent, thorough and fair.”

Rep. Brennan has formally submitted his concerns to the PUCO and asked the Commission to reconsider the changes.