Client Story – Ashtabula County Community Action Agency Weatherization Program
To the Weatherization Program Team:
We just wanted to write a note of gratitude for everything your team did for us. We feel it will allow us to live in our family home for the remainder […]
Bipartisan Effort to Allow Carryover of Unspent AEP and DP&L Funds Fails
Chaos continued in the General Assembly at the end of the session. The leadership of the two chambers threw up their hands in the face of two high profile issues – Governor DeWine’s veto of […]
HEAP Funding Finalized; No Additional Funding in the Pandemic Package
The Omnibus Appropriations Bill included a modest $10 million increase to $3.75 billion in the final 2021 appropriations package. The bill retains a hold-harmless formula, which will not affect Ohio’s allocation.
Advocates had […]
HWAP Reauthorized by Congress; Appropriations Increase
Interesting things happen at the end of a Congressional session. OPAE started working on a reauthorization of the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) in earnest six years ago, having conversations with legislative staffers and other […]
I am blessed Bridges CAP came into my life
To whom it may concern:
The reason I am sending this email is to give all of you and your employees a very big Thank You. With the pandemic hitting us all this spring, many of […]
PUCO Issues Revised Credit and Disconnection
Provisions Affect Natural Gas PIPP+
The five-year rule review of the Credit and Disconnection Rules – 4901:1-17 and -18 – has been completed by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). These rules, as the name […]
Settlement This Week on PIPP+ Electric Riders
Ohio allows utilities to fund many discrete activities such as smart grid development or distribution pipe replacements through riders. A rider is an add-on to the distribution rates. It is generally not broken out. Riders […]
HB 6 Scandal Continues to Grow
It is no surprise that the $60 million scandal that resulted in the passage of HB 6, the nuclear bailout bill continues to grow. In this case, it is the Chairman of the Public […]
It’s Election Time for OPAE
I know how thrilled you all are of the prospect of another election, but this is one where you can be directly involved, and even run for election. It is time for OPAE to elect […]
Will HB 6 Be Repealed?
It remains unclear whether the Ohio General Assembly will enact any legislation modifying House Bill 6 – the controversial law at the core of the $61 million corruption scandal that has made state and national […]
OPAE Working with the General Assembly to Retain Low-Income Funding
The COVID-19 pandemic kept weatherization crews out of the field completely for three months, and it took a while to ramp back up. We were also dealing with a disrupted refrigerator and freezer supply chain […]
DP&L Smart Grid Settlement Filed at PUCO
OPAE has signed off on a settlement with Dayton Power & Light Company regarding their proposed Smart Grid deployment. The stipulation covers Phase 1 of the deployment with 95% of customers […]
HB 6 Skirmishes Continue at the Commission
The public uproar over FirstEnergy’s dark money payments to nonprofits controlled by ex-Speaker Householder, and a motion by the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC), prompted the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) […]
Legislators Punt on HB 6
The General Assembly left town after a couple of desultory hearings regarding the repeal or repeal-and-replacement of the much-vilified HB 6.
The bill included many more anti-consumer provisions than the $0.85 per month nuclear bailout […]
Federal Update – What Do the Candidates Propose for the Weatherization Assistance Program?
Comparing the positions of President Trump and Vice President Biden on low-income energy programs doesn’t really take very long. There is no need to peer at policy papers or review legislation. Here’s what we […]
Ohio Utility COVID-19 Transition Plans
Ohio’s utilities are restarting their energy efficiency and weatherization assistance programs in phases. The following provides program restart details:
State & Federal Updates: General Assembly and Congress
Ohio General Assembly
The big story in Columbus is HB 6, the nuclear bailout bill that passed last year. $61 million greased the skids for Rep. Larry Householder to become Speaker of […]
Energy Efficiency & Weatherization Days
October is a busy month when it comes to recognizing the importance of energy efficiency and weatherization. October 7 is Energy Efficiency Day and October 30 is Weatherization Day. And […]
OPAE Litigation Update
OPAE is involved in a diverse group of cases currently before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) which will have far-reaching impacts on customers.
Utility Transition Dockets – Each regulated Ohio utility has a so-called waiver […]
How Ashtabula County Community Action Agency’s Head Start Was a Beacon of Hope for One Family
Head Start has been an absolute Godsend to our family, and specifically our girls, for so many reasons. The biggest and most recent reason was how instruction, communication with families, and connection were created and […]
ODSA and Electric Utilities Announce PIPP Policies During the Pandemic
The Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) issued a notice to agencies on Monday announcing its decision to delay the enforcement of income reverification requirements for the Percentage Income Payment Plan until January 1, […]
Heard of HB 6, the Nuclear Bailout, or Do You Live in a Cave?
$63 million to pass legislation to force ratepayers to fork over $1.5 billion to hedge funds and merchant banks. Sounds like a scandal to me. You would imagine legislators would be rushing to repeal the […]
OPAE Legislative Agenda – Carryover Funds Unspent Because of COVID-19
COVID-19 forced us to take our weatherization staff and contractors out of the field for about 6 months, and agencies are still slowly recovering momentum. It was important not to risk clients and staff, though […]
PUCO Approves Winter Reconnect Order
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today issued its Winter Reconnect Order for the upcoming winter heating season. The Winter Reconnect Order helps Ohioans served by PUCO-regulated utilities reconnect or maintain electric and natural […]
PUCO, Vectren and PIPP
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) issued a Finding and Order yesterday that partly approved and partly modified Vectren’s proposed transition plan. Under these plans, utilities provide a roadmap for how they will restart […]