About 50 people attended the session held by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio at Cleveland's City Hall. They represented First Energy customers from the CEI and Ohio Edison service areas.
Most were there to protest the rate hike.
Ronald Miller of Elyria lives in an all electric home and told the board Ohio Edison has projected `his' cost increase will top 70% per year, and raise his annual bill by more than a $1000.
MILLER:"So I would ask ask you to please protect us, and do not allow these increases to occur.
First Energy's rate hike request – which it calls an Electric Security Plan – outlines a five year phase-in of price increases, which it says are designed to ensure price stability and product availability, while allowing systemic improvements.
The company says the average rate hike is 5.3% next year, followed by 4% and 6% increases in 2010 and 11.
Several people spoke to First Energy's record profits in recent years, and while customers like Miller might be extreme examples, 249 other customers banded together to impress how potentially devastating the hikes would be to them.
They are Ohio school systems, which, in addition to the rate increases, will be losing a price break schools have enjoyed for some years. Their power costs will jump 13% - a collective $11 million – that’s prior' to any hike the PUCO may allow.
Ken Clickenger spoke for the Euclid School District, one of several represented at the hearing.
CLICKENGER:"In Euclid we're bracing for a 284 thousand dollar increase which will slash into our budgets, causing us to lay off employees."
Hearings will continue around the state as the PUCO tries to determine the need for the first increase in basic rates since 1990 for Ohio Edison customers, the first since1996, for CEI customers.
A final decision must be reached by year's end.
