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PUCO orders new rates for Youngstown Thermal

YOUNGSTOWN — The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio on Wednesday agreed to put into place monthly interim customer rates for heating and cooling services provided by Youngstown Thermal.

The new rates that are effective immediately replace usage-based charges with a fixed monthly customer charge and usage based rates. The company provides heating and cooling services to parts of downtown Youngstown.

The rates let Youngstown Thermal “recover a monthly budget amount and be less dependent on seasonal usage,” a press release from PUCO states.

For cooling services, there is a new $50 per month customer charge and 49 cent per ton hour consumption charge.

For heating services, the monthly fee ranges from $25 a month to customers who consume up to $2,000 to $1,000 for customers whose bills are greater than $80,001, according to documents filed with PUCO. Large heating customers that have a projected annual usage of 9,000 pounds or greater at one location can arrange a monthly budget for heating services.

Youngstown Thermal is required to notify its customers of the new rates within 30 days.

PUCO issued a finding in June 2017 that concluded the company could not ensure adequate service to its customers and was in near danger of insolvency. The order sought the company be placed in receivership to ensure services continued to be delivered.

In August 2017, PUCO ordered an emergency surcharge to make sure the company would maintain service, but eliminated the surcharge at the request of the receiver in December. On April 11, the receiver recommended the usage rates and fixed charge.

rselak@tribtoday.com

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