The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) voted this week to approve $105 million in subsidies incurred by two coal power plants, one of which isn't in the state.
The commission's order adopted the findings of an auditor which concluded that the costs of the rider charged for AEP Ohio, AES Ohio and Duke Energy Ohio were appropriate.
Advocates for Ohio's electric customers argued against the subsidies for 2020 plant operations. They argued the plants were run inefficiently and the losses should fall on the conglomerate of energy companies that own the facilities — the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation, which AEP Ohio, AES and Duke are a part of.
The subsidies were enabled by the corruption-laden House Bill 6, but had to be approved by state regulators.
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Some of House Bill 6 was repealed after an investigation uncovered the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history and led to criminal charges against several Ohio officials, including former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder.
The subsidies were not repealed, though some lawmakers have introduced stalled bills in an effort to do so.
PUCO has approved subsidies to the plants in other years, too.
It's predicted to cost consumers $1 billion by 2030.
