Duke Energy Ohio reaches agreement on security plan

OHIO - Duke Energy Ohio announced that a settlement agreement has been reached with most intervening parties, the Staff of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and the Ohio Consumers' Counsel on its electric security plan under Ohio's new energy law.

The agreement, which establishes generation rates for 2009 through 2011, must be approved by the PUCO.

Under the terms of the settlement, the base cost for generation service will increase by approximately 2 percent of the total bill annually in 2009 and in 2010 for residential customers, and each year from 2009 through 2011 for non-residential customers. The company's original application requested an increase of 6 percent in 2009, 2 percent in 2010 and a decrease of 2 percent in 2011.

The bill for generation service will continue to include cost-based trackers for fuel and purchased power, capacity purchases, and environmental compliance expenditures.

"This agreement establishes reasonable prices for dedicated sources of energy supply while providing additional funding to assist low income customers in this challenging economy," said Sandra Meyer, president of Duke Energy Ohio. "It will also provide Duke Energy with the resources to develop energy efficiency programs that will help all customers reduce overall usage and energy bills."

Under the terms of the settlement, the typical monthly cost for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours will be $123.40 in January 2009, compared with the current monthly bill of $120.98. This comparison does not include the impact of Duke Energy Ohio's recent delivery rate filing of approximately 5 percent for a typical residential customer that is expected to be effective in second quarter 2009.

Over the three-year term of the agreement Duke Energy will contribute $2.1 million to assist low-income customers pay their electricity bills. Area community action agencies will administer the funds for distribution to eligible Duke Energy customers. In addition, low-income weatherization and energy efficiency funding will increase to $1 million per year.

The agreement includes funding for a new infrastructure modernization program that will begin the installation of Smart Grid technology. The new technology is an interactive digital system that can communicate with customers about their energy usage, monitor power quality, identify power outages, turn service on/off remotely, read meters continuously, and support energy efficiency. As a benefit of this program, tighter distribution system reliability targets are established in the settlement.

The agreement also replaces the existing energy efficiency tracker with a new Save-a-Watt model that will compensate Duke Energy based on the success of its energy efficiency programs.

The new energy efficiency programs, to include interruptible tariffs for business customers, will help customers lower their overall bills and will help Duke Energy achieve the significant energy efficiency targets established by Ohio's new energy law.

The settlement includes plans to develop an Electronic Bulletin Board that will help consumers compare competitor pricing for electric generation supply. Also, an economic development rate mechanism is established under the settlement to fund any individual arrangements or programs approved by the PUCO.

The agreement provides for an economic development grant to the city of Cincinnati. If approved by the PUCO, half of the grant to the city of Cincinnati will be recoverable in rates, while half will be borne by Duke Energy Ohio.

Related News

coal plant

First US coal plant in years opens where no options exist

WASHINGTON - One way to boost coal in the US: Find a spot near a mine with no access to oil or natural gas pipelines, where it’s not particularly windy and it’s dark much of the year.

That’s how the first coal-fired plant to open in the U.S. since 2015 bucked the trend in an industry that’s seen scores of facilities close in recent years. A 17-megawatt generator, built for $245 million, is set to open in April at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, just 100 miles from the state’s only coal mine.

“Geography really drove what options are available to us,”…

READ MORE
canada microgrid

Why Canada should invest in "macrogrids" for greener, more reliable electricity

READ MORE

floatgen construction

France’s first offshore wind turbine produces electricity

READ MORE

ermineskin electricity

Ermineskin First Nation soon to become major electricity generator

READ MORE

dreamline

LOC Renewables Delivers First MWS Services To China's Offshore Wind Market

READ MORE