API: FirstEnergy should stop misleading the public on grid reliability

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Mar 29, 2018, 04:17 ET

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- API called on FirstEnergy to stop misleading the public surrounding the future of its power plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

"FirstEnergy needs to stop misleading the public and government officials about the status of its power plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania," said API Market Development Group Director Todd Snitchler. "FirstEnergy's latest attempt to spread a false narrative surrounding the reliability of the electric grid is nothing more than a ruse that will force Main Street consumers to pay higher prices.

"As FirstEnergy has said repeatedly, it plans to exit the merchant generation business and retire or deactivate some of its power plants. In fact, these announced retirements are not slated to occur for another 2-3 years. Further, its Davis-Besse nuclear plant in Ohio was just refueled.

"FirstEnergy's claim that the electric grid would be in immediate danger with these power plant retirements is simply untrue. According to PJM, we have more than enough electricity in the grid to handle these retirements thanks to additional natural gas plants in the region.

"For FirstEnergy to cry wolf on the issue of grid reliability is irresponsible and is the company's latest attempt to force consumers to pay for a bailout. PJM is responsible for the reliability of the grid and if there is an emergency, PJM already has the tools to respond."

API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 10.3 million U.S. jobs and nearly 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API's more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation's energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 40 million Americans.

SOURCE American Petroleum Institute