COSE Update - September 2008 - (Page P1)

September 2008 pluggedin a publication on the coSe energy program INSIDE: plan now for an electric price hike he Rate Stabilization Plan (RSP), which has fixed electric rates since January 2006, will expire January 1, affecting areas serviced by The Illuminating Company, Ohio Edison and Toledo Edison. In anticipation of RSP expiring, legislators have spent a great deal of time this year working to determine the best structure for Ohio’s electric rates. In fact, they worked to pass SB 221 amending the original electric market bill, SB 3. SB 221 is intended to lessen energy demand and bring more alternative energy to Ohio. To help you fully understand the changes, we’ve outlined the bill’s highlights and what COSE has done (and continues to do) to make the bill more small business friendly. t find out why, what it means, and what you need to do. What the bill says: ElEctric rAtES • FirstEnergy and other Ohio electric utilities must file an Electric Security Plan (ESP) that will provide a new generation rate to be effective January 1, 2009. • FirstEnergy and other Ohio electric utilities, at their discretion, may also file a Market Rate Option (MRO). The MRO would provide the opportunity for alternative suppliers to serve customers through a competitive bidding process for generation service. • If an MRO is not filed, customer rates will be set by the ESP. • If an MRO is filed, the proposed ESP will be compared to the results under the MRO. If the ESP is judged by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to be more favorable overall than the MRO, the ESP can then be approved. • On July 31, 2008, FirstEnergy filed both an ESP and MRO. What COSE says: gas gasps! > 03 Find out what’s really behind the roller coaster cost of natural gas. tips > 04 Money-saving and green tips for your home and office. did you know? > 04 Save money on ink refills and learn how to recycle old electronics. savings heat up > 04 Lock in a low natural gas rate with COSE. cose.org/energy SB 221 is intended to lessen energy demand and bring more alternative energy to Ohio. We’re concerned. We feel the process and uncertainty surrounding whether an ESP or MRO will define rates will lead to confusion and budgeting difficulty for small businesses. But we continue to closely monitor the ESP and MRO filings and provide comments to PUCO in an effort to ensure the proposed rules will continued on page 2 plugged in • COSE Update • 1 http://cose.org/energy

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of COSE Update - September 2008

COSE Update - September 2008 Contents Memo Upfront Vision Tech Business Interrupted The “Bigness” of Small Business What’s the Plan? People Telecom Advocacy Communications Health Pipeline Connect Arts My Cause Plugged In

COSE Update - September 2008

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