Page 35 - OCC-Annual-Report-2017-SPREADS

2017 Case Activity 2017 Case Activity

Case Number Party Consumer Impact Case Number Party Consumer Impact Case Number Party Consumer Impact Case Number Party Consumer Impact
2017-0204 Dayton Power Appeal was filed in early 2017. This appeal RM16-23 Electric Storage FERC's proposal in this case is to amend 17-2202-GA-ALT Columbia Gas Columbia is seeking to charge customers 17-0820-GA-ATA Dominion Dominion sought pre-approval from the
& Light ESP I challenged the rates the PUCO approved Participation its regulations to remove barriers to of Ohio for certain capital expenditures it Energy Ohio PUCO to reserve capacity on a pipeline that
(08-1094-EL- after allowing DP&L to withdraw from its the participation of Distributed Energy has deferred. The estimated deferred could serve customers in the Ashtabula
SSO et al) electric security plan. Included in the rates Resources in markets. Distributed Energy investment costs to be collected from area. OCC advocated that consumers
were stability charge subsidies. A decision Resources are electrical generation and customers requested by Columbia are should not have to pay because, among
is expected in 2018. storage performed by a variety of small $666.4 million. other reasons, Dominion was seeking pre-
2013-2026 FirstEnergy On appeal to the Supreme Court OCC argued grid-connected devices. Distributed 17-2118-GA-AAM Duke Energy- Duke is seeking authority to defer and later approval of a project with unknown costs
Alternative that FirstEnergy overcharged customers Energy Resources can include solar panels, Ohio, Inc. collect from customers, $3 million it paid whose prudency had not been established.
Energy Rider for renewable energy by purchasing electricity storage (e.g., batteries), small to help the City defray costs for a retaining The PUCO disagreed and approved
Appeal renewable energy credits at above market natural gas-fueled generators, electric wall. It is alleged that a retaining wall was Dominion’s request.
prices from one of its affiliates. OCC also vehicles, etc. needed after a landslide threatened City 17-0782-GA-RDR Vectren Energy Vectren seeks to update its energy
appealed the PUCO’s treatment of alleged ER16-372-004 PJM Fuel Cost FERC proposed changes to the rules and water and sewer lines, and that it could Delivery of efficiency rider charges. The rate that
protected materials. The utility also appealed policies in PJM's energy markets that affect some of Duke's gas pipes. PUCO Ohio, Inc. residential customers pay will increase by
the PUCO’s $43 million disallowance of could allow market participants to alter approval of the deferral request would about 33% as approved by the PUCO.
costs. The Court reversed the PUCO on energy prices away from the competitive mean that customers would likely have 17-0690-GA-RDR Duke Energy- Duke seeks to update its natural gas smart
the treatment of protected materials and market price. to pay the $3 million plus interest to Duke Ohio, Inc. grid costs. OCC asked the PUCO to engage
remanded for further PUCO review. The in future rates. In comments filed, OCC in a more detailed analysis of natural gas
Court also overturned the PUCO on the $43 opposed the utility’s request. The PUCO smart grid spending, but the PUCO did not
million disallowance, finding that the PUCO Natural Gas Cases at the Staff also recommended that the request adopt OCC's recommendation. Most Duke
engaged in retroactive ratemaking. That Public Utilities Commission of Ohio be denied. The PUCO has not ruled. residential customers pay approximately
ruling by the Court puts customers in danger 17-1905-GA-ORD PUCO - Gas OCC argued that benefits of projects $0.80 per month towards the gas smart
of having to pay for costs even if they are 17-2374-GA-RDR Columbia Gas Columbia gas seeks to update rates Rulemaking funded by consumers through economic grid costs.
not prudently incurred. OCC is addressing of Ohio for its energy efficiency (demand side development riders should outweigh costs
the implications of that ruling by advocating management) programs and infrastructure and be verified by the PUCO. 17-0596-GA-RDR Duke Energy- Duke seeks to update its charges
for tariff language that explicitly makes replacement program. (IRP). The IRP Ohio, Inc. to customers for remediation of its
collection subject to refund. charge proposed for the residential 17-1372-GA-RDR Dominion Dominion filed adjustments to its energy manufactured gas sites. The Ohio Supreme
customer is $8.91 per month, a reduction Energy Ohio efficiency charges to be collected from its
of $0.05 from the current rate, primarily customers. The PUCO issued an order finding Court found, earlier this year, that Duke
could continue to charge customers for
Electricity Cases at the due to the effect of the new tax law. The that Staff’s audit report be adopted and these costs. This update adds $1,296,160
Demand Side Management component of
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that rider charge to customers will increase Dominion must file an application to adjust to the remediation costs and $1.92 to the
its Demand Side Management rider rate
RM18-1 Grid Reliability This case deals with the Secretary of the bill by $1.88 per month for a residential annually. The PUCO Staff recommended residential customer’s monthly bill.
& Resilience Energy's request that FERC implement rules customer using 10 Mcf. that Dominion file a more detailed annual 17-0594-GA-ALT Suburban This case involves Suburban's request
Pricing regarding fuel reliability and resilience. The 17-2358-GA-WVR Direct Energy The marketers want to avoid using an application, which OCC supports. Natural Gas to start charging consumers under a
case deals primarily with whether certain Services, LLC, independent third party to verify enrollment Company straight-fixed variable rate design. This
fuel sources (coal and nuclear plants) Direct Energy of consumers who call the marketers. OCC 17-1197-GA-ATA, Duke Energy- This case deals with Duke's request to rate design imposes relative higher
should be subsidized by customers. OCC Business, LLC, opposes the marketers’ attempt to avoid 17-1198-GA-IDR Ohio, Inc. implement a mechanism to charge charges on low-use customers. The PUCO
urged FERC not to authorize subsidies Dominion compliance with PUCO rules that protect customers for costs to subsidize economic approved this rate design in prior cases for
because they harm markets and the Energy consumers who change their natural gas development projects through the all the major gas companies. In view of
customers who rely on markets to bring Solutions, Inc., supplier over the telephone. infrastructure development rider. this history, OCC notified the PUCO of its
them reasonably priced electric service.
Interstate Gas 17-1139-GA-AIR, Ohio Gas This case deals with Ohio Gas Company's decision not to contest Suburban’s request
RM17-2 Uplift Cost FERC proposed to revise its regulations Supply, Inc., 17-1140-GA-ATA, Company request to increase the rate it charges while expressing its opposition to the SFV
Allocations concerning uplift. Uplift refers to payments and SouthStar 17-1141-GA-AAM consumers for natural gas service. Ohio rate design. Suburban’s application was
that a regional grid operator makes to a Energy Gas, OCC, and PUCO Staff entered into a approved by the PUCO.
generation resource whose commitment and Services, LLC settlement, which was approved by the 17-0521-GA-IDR Columbia Gas This case deals with Columbia's request
dispatch result in a shortfall between the 17-2284-GA-SLF Vectren Energy This case deals with whether Vectren must PUCO in February 2018. The settlement of Ohio to increase the rate it charges consumers
costs in the resource’s offer and the revenue Delivery of give certain customer information to a decreased Ohio Gas’s original rate increase under its Infrastructure Development Rider.
earned through market clearing prices. Ohio, Inc. certified retail natural gas supplier that proposal to address the new federal
FERC’s proposal in this case was to allocate has not been approved by the utility to corporate income tax rate established by 17-0220-GA-EXR, Vectren Energy This case deals with financial audits
such uplift costs to those market participants participate in its retail choice program. OCC the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Ohio Gas 17-0320-GA-UEX, Delivery of of various charges to customers under
whose transactions are reasonably expected intervened in the case to protect consumers customers are the first utility customers 17-0420-GA-PIP Ohio, Inc. Vectren's tariffs (Exit Transition Cost
to have caused the costs. from giving gas suppliers unlawful access in Ohio to receive the benefit of an offset Rider, Uncollectible Expense Rider, and
to their private information. to their utility rates to reflect the recent Percentage of Income Payment Plan Rider).
decrease in the federal income tax rate
which resulted in savings of over $600,000
per year for customers or around $1.00 per
customer per month.

32 Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel Annual Report 2017 33