AARP Strongly Opposes First Energy Nuclear Bailout Bill

Unfair legislation saddles Ohioans with yet another subsidy for failing business bailout

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Apr 06, 2017, 20:56 ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a statement today AARP State Director Barbara Sykes announced AARP's opposition to the newly introduced Senate Bill that would allow First Energy to directly charge Ohioans a monthly fee for the next 16 years under the guise of clean energy credits.

In recent years, utility requests for surcharges and tracking mechanisms to recover many different types of costs as well as revenue losses, have significantly increased. Ohioans have been asked to pay nearly $14.7 billion in utility surcharges, and a new bill proposes additional fees to bailout First Energy nuclear plants.

"Deregulation of the market in Ohio is working. Ohioans have the ability to buy power from whoever they want, forcing competitive pricing. This legislation unfairly props up businesses, such as First Energy, who have failed to remain competitive by passing the costs of doing business on to consumers. We are firmly opposed to this for all Ohioans, but especially for those age 50-plus who are living on fixed incomes," said Sykes.

"FirstEnergy should sell its power to other buyers at a premium price instead of seeking a ratepayer subsidy. In Illinois, Exelon recently announced it would sell power from its Byron nuclear plant to Michigan and other states, rather than seek a bail out. Several other states voluntarily let their aging, uneconomic power nukes close without debating a bail out. Court filings across the country- including Illinois-are challenging similar zero emission credit scams because they interfere with the wholesale energy market and distort favorable pricing that results from healthy competition in the supply and demand."

"Ohio consumers have been asked to pay subsidies and surcharges on top of their monthly bills to the tune of $14.7 billion dollars and First Energy has asked for more utility surcharges than any other Ohio utility provider," added AARP Ohio Associate Director of Advocacy, Trey Addison. "AARP will fight for our members and non-members to insure Senate Bill 128 does not pass."

About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.

SOURCE AARP Ohio