FirstEnergy appoints Deandra Williams-Lewis as Chief Privacy Officer
AKRON, Ohio, May 17, 2024 -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) has announced the appointment of Deandra Williams-Lewis to the role of Chief Privacy Officer, effective May 19. This new role is in addition to her current position as Director, Ethics & Compliance.
Ohio at low risk for summer electricity reliability issues: NERC report
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has recently released its summer assessment of electric reliability, indicating that Ohio is at low risk for demand exceeding supply. This is a shift from NERC's winter assessment of Ohio, which falls within the 13-state PJM grid. The Midwest was at risk of power loss this past winter, but due to mild weather conditions, outages were successfully avoided.
OEC's CEO testifies against USEPA's new power plant rule in Ohio Senate
On May 7, 2024, Pat O’Loughlin, President and CEO of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives (OEC), testified before the Ohio Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee. He voiced his support for S.R. No. 296, a resolution urging the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to withdraw its recently finalized power plant rules regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
Public Utilities
AEP Ohio proposes new rate structure for data centers and cryptocurrency operations
On May 13, 2024, AEP Ohio, a subsidiary of American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP), submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio under docket 24-508-EL-ATA. The plan aims to establish a new rate category for data center customers and cryptocurrency mining/mobile data center operations. According to the proposed rate structure, new data centers with loads exceeding 25 megawatts (MW) and cryptocurrency mining operations/mobile data centers with loads surpassing 1 MW would need to agree to certain conditions before facilities are built to accommodate them.
AEP Ohio President & COO Names New Leadership Team
AEP Ohio, a subsidiary of American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP), has recently introduced a new leadership team under the guidance of President and Chief Operating Officer Marc Reitter. The appointments were made to drive the company's commitment to enhancing customer service and adapting to the evolving utilities landscape.Ryan Forbes has been appointed as the new vice president of Distribution Operations, taking over from Tom Kratt. Forbes will oversee the construction, engineering, and maintenance of AEP Ohio's electric distribution system, catering to 1.5 million...
AEP Ohio Shares Tips for Planting Trees This Spring In Celebration of Arbor Day
Gahanna, Ohio (April 23, 2024) — Spring is here, and with Arbor Day approaching, AEP Ohio is encouraging customers to plan before planting trees to prevent future power outages. Dale Hopkins, forestry manager at AEP Ohio, highlighted the importance of proper tree placement, stating, "Trees are a top cause of power outages," while emphasizing the efforts of the forestry team to maintain a safe distance between trees and power lines.To help customers make informed decisions, AEP Ohio's forestry team provided tips for planting trees in suitable locations. Hopkins advised...
AEP Ohio Plan to Make Electric Grid Improvements, Offer New Customer Savings Programs Approved
GAHANNA, Ohio (April 03, 2024) — AEP Ohio, a subsidiary of American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP), has received approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) for its Electric Security Plan (ESP). The plan outlines AEP Ohio's commitment to improving the electric grid, supporting economic development, and introducing new programs to help customers manage energy usage and save money.Marc Reitter, President, and COO of AEP Ohio, expressed the company's dedication to enhancing customer reliability while minimizing rate impacts: "Our Electric Security Plan lays...
Severe Storm Update: AEP Ohio Crews Working to Restore Power After Severe Weather
GAHANNA, Ohio, April 2, 2024 - AEP Ohio crews and field personnel are actively restoring power to about 13,000 customers after storms and heavy rain took down power lines, with Northeast Columbus, Chillicothe, and Lawrence County among the hardest hit. More than 1,700 AEP Ohio crew members from over 40 service centers across the state are preparing for severe weather that will continue this evening. "Thank you for your patience."400 additional lineworkers are on their way from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Tennessee to assist with...
Business
AKRON, Ohio, May 17, 2024 -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) has announced the appointment of Deandra Williams-Lewis to the role of Chief Privacy Officer, effective May 19. This new role is in addition to her current position as Director, Ethics & Compliance.
Ohio at low risk for summer electricity reliability issues: NERC report
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has recently released its summer assessment of electric reliability, indicating that Ohio is at low risk for demand exceeding supply. This is a shift from NERC's winter assessment of Ohio, which falls within the 13-state PJM grid. The Midwest was at risk of power loss this past winter, but due to mild weather conditions, outages were successfully avoided.
OEC's CEO testifies against USEPA's new power plant rule in Ohio Senate
On May 7, 2024, Pat O’Loughlin, President and CEO of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives (OEC), testified before the Ohio Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee. He voiced his support for S.R. No. 296, a resolution urging the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to withdraw its recently finalized power plant rules regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
Politics
Jon Williams, who serves as the managing director of customer experience and distribution technology for AEP Ohio, recently testified against the community solar bill at a hearing of the Ohio House of Representatives' Public Utilities Committee. The proposed legislation, known as HB 197, aims to establish a system of subsidies to bolster the growth of uneconomic small-scale solar facilities within the state.
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) is urging the Biden Administration to escalate tariffs on solar imports from China. This appeal stems from his apprehension about the potential effects of Chinese solar imports on solar manufacturing jobs in Ohio.
In a recent hearing before the Ohio House Public Utilities committee, Maureen Willis, a member of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, expressed concerns about HB 197, otherwise known as the community solar bill. According to Willis, who also serves as the agency director for the counsel, the potential benefits of this bill are overshadowed by its negative impacts on utility consumers.