NW Ohio Times

State Representative Roy Klopfenstein has introduced House Bill 15, a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing power generation in Ohio. The bill seeks to improve affordability for ratepayers and boost the reliability of the state's electrical grid.

The proposed legislation supports market dynamics within the energy sector, aims to remove obstacles to new electricity generation development in Ohio, and protects ratepayers from unnecessary expenses. "Ohio has experienced significant economic growth in recent years, thanks to projects like Intel and, more recently, Anduril Industries coming to our state," said Representative Klopfenstein. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan that sustains growth opportunities while improving affordability for all residents.

Representative Adam Holmes, Chair of the House Energy Committee, highlighted the importance of reliable and affordable energy as an economic driver for Ohio. He noted that President Trump's recent Executive Order declaring a National Energy Emergency underscores the significance of this issue. "Energy is essential to the ability of our workforce to thrive and produce in today’s economy," he stated.

House Bill 15 includes measures such as facilitating competitive intrastate transmission and repealing subsidies included in previous legislation. It also proposes prohibiting Electric Distribution Company (EDC) ownership of generation and transferring property tax from electric generating facilities to transmission systems.

The bill addresses affordability by repealing the electric security plan statute and requiring all Standard Services Offers (SSO) to be market offers. It also increases bonding requirements for Competitive Retail Electric Suppliers (CRES) and mandates customer notifications of contract changes.

This initiative comes amid high demand for electricity as Ohio emerges as a tech hub in the Midwest, attracting companies like Intel, Honda, and Anduril. The legislation will undergo review through the committee process.