American Electric Power customers can expect bigger electricity bills this year. The Public Utilities Commission approved rate hikes, but the Ohio Consumers Council takes issue with part of the increases.
The Council is concerned that the PUCO is allowing AEP to charge extra for electricity already used, says spokesperson Anthony Rodriguez, "They are allowing AEP's new approved rates to be charged to customers for January and February, which we believe is unlawful."
Rates for AEP Ohio's customers will go up by about 8 percent. The utility regulator is allowing A-E-P to collect the higher rate retroactive to January.
AEP argues that the PUCO was supposed to have approved the increases at the end of last year. "And so we asked, as a courtesy, that they allow us to recover the revenues that we would have had otherwise if they would have given us the order on time," says spokesperson Jeff Rennie.
Anthony Rodriguez of the Consumers Council says that they may request a re-hearing before PUCO.
Sadie Taylor, WOSU News