NW Ohio Times

State Representative Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland) has introduced House Bill 427, which aims to update Ohio’s energy regulations. The proposed legislation is intended to help homeowners and small businesses reduce their energy costs and enhance the reliability of the state’s electric grid.

“This legislation is a crucial step in our state's comprehensive plan to ensure all Ohioans have access to reliable, affordable, and readily available energy,” said Representative Klopfenstein. “Demand response programs have proven to be a vital tool for our large commercial users, and it's important that similar programs are made available to residential and small commercial users. These programs will ease the strain on our energy grid and save money for all Ohioans.”

The bill proposes voluntary demand response programs that would let customers permit utilities to make temporary adjustments to their energy usage during peak demand periods. Examples include raising thermostat settings or cycling water heaters off and on. Customers would retain the right to override these changes at any time. Utilities could offer participants either an annual payment or compensation per event.

Oversight of these programs would fall under the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), which would review them for cost-effectiveness for customers.

House Bill 427 is awaiting assignment to a committee for further consideration.