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WARREN -- Local residents voiced their opinions regarding a proposed 30% rate increase Dominion Energy is requesting of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
Maureen Willis, Ohio Consumers' Counsel, spoke to residents at Warren City Council's Public Utilities Committee meeting Thursday regarding what they can do to oppose the potential increase.
"Our mission is to get out into the communities to talk to the consumers to make them understand their voice can be heard and they can give their opinion," Willis said.
According to a document distributed by the Ohio Consumers' Counsel office, if the rate hike is approved, it will cost the average residential consumer more than $100 per year. Additionally, the utility is asking to inflict on its consumers additional monthly charges of $8.78 per month this year, and as much as $29.69 per month by 2032.
According to Willis, Dominion Energy Ohio, which was acquired by Enbridge, an energy company headquartered in Calgary, Canada, earlier this year, is seeking the rate increase due to infrastructure replacements.
"Certainly it's distribution investment," Willis said. "Replacing distribution pipes -- the pipes that bring the gas in and get them to your house -- and also new business, to extend pipelines to new businesses."
When asked if Enbridge's acquisition of Dominion Energy Ohio could be associated with the proposed rate increase, Willis said the timing "does appear to be linked."
Willis said the Ohio Consumers' Counsel is seeking to "throw down the gauntlet" and combat the proposed rate increase.
"What we're looking at is if the amount of money they want to collect from customers is really needed to do what they need to do, or, could they get by with less," she said.
Community response
Willis encouraged citizens to voice their opinions by communicating with PUCO.
She said those for or against the rate increase can send a letter to PUCO, submit comments on the commission's website or show up and speak at local public hearings.
"When PUCO receives letters and comments, they then become part of the public record in the case," she said. "That means when PUCO decides the case and determines how much Dominion can charge consumers, it must consider (citizen) input."
Residents from several Trumbull County communities, including Warren, Niles and Hubbard Township, voiced their concerns at the meeting Wednesday.
"You've got to take into consideration the senior citizens," Bob Weitzel, a resident of Warren, said. "Every day, our money goes down. We never go up. ... Our money doesn't go as far as it did when I retired 25 years ago. We need people to think about that before they start raising stuff 30%."
Another Warren resident, Paul Yannucci, encouraged fellow residents to come together to voice concerns regarding the rate increase.
"This is a good example for all of us, we have to be together and fight together for what is right, and this ain't right," Yannucci said.
Abigail Bickerstaff, of Niles, said that she grew up in Trumbull County and continues to live in the county due to its affordability. But, she said a 30% rate increase by Dominion Energy would prove to be a challenge for younger adults like herself.
"As things are progressing, even having steady incomes, a dual-income household, we can't afford a 30% hike for a bill that does nothing for us," Bickerstaff said.
Local officials
Several Warren officials attending the meeting spoke against the Dominion Energy proposal.
Fourth Ward Councilman James Shaffer went as far as to call the proposed rate increase "sinful."
Michael J. O'Brien, D-at Large, said that Warren council will draft a resolution opposing the potential Dominion rate increase in the coming weeks.
"This affects consumers, this affects corporations, this affects businesses, everyone that turns their furnace on," O'Brien said. "Rest assured, we'll have a group of applicants sending letters from Trumbull County."
Willis said using information gathered, including comments from various Ohio communities, the consumers' counsel will present a case for a "justified" rate increase of less than 30%.
After hearing cases from all parties involved, the commission will issue a "staff report," recommending how much of a rate increase is justified.
"Then PUCO will look at all of the evidence," Willis said. "After the hearing is over, after the testimony is presented, after public testimony is submitted, after comments are submitted, they will look at all that evidence and then decide as to how much of a rate increase is justified that they can support."
Willis believes that PUCO will provide a decision on the case by the end of the year.
Greg Greathouse, D-3rd Ward and chairman of the public utilities committee, said it was important for residents to attend the meeting to "raise awareness in the community, to let them know there is a mechanism for their voices to be heard. There's a process where the potential is there to affect the decision that is made by PUCO and to let them know that there's more to come, don't despair. We're going to keep talking about this."