Smith Introduces Utility Reform Legislation

Today, state Senator Kent Smith (D-Euclid) held a press conference to announce the introduction of three bills pertaining to utility regulation in Ohio. Senator Smith was joined by state Senator Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus), University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's, the Ohio Environmental Council, Ohio Citizen Action and the Black Environmental Leaders Action Fund.

"The reality that we must face, is the Ohio Legislature has done nothing to prevent a scandal similar to House Bill 6 from unfolding in the future," said Smith. "As an elected official, my duty is to represent the people, not powerful utility companies. Our state thrives when we prioritize the well-being of our constituents. Senate Bills 149, 150 and 151 will reign in the excessive political influence of these utility monopolies, provide much-needed relief to ratepayers and protect our most vulnerable populations from the harsh consequences of utility shutoffs. Let’s put the public back into public utilities."

SENATE BILL 149

Senate Bill 149 ensures that ratepayers are not burdened with the cost of their public utility provider's lobbying expenses by enacting substantial penalties should a utility violate the law and requiring robust disclosure of political spending.

“The Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund joins Senators Smith in calling for tighter restrictions on utility spending to curry public support and political favor,” said Karin Nordstrom of the Ohio Environmental Council, an organization that advocates for a healthier, more sustainable Ohio. “If the utilities want a good reputation, they should earn it through reliable service and good customer relations, not through ratepayer-funded campaigns and contributions to trade associations which act in their favor. Utility bills are high enough without Ohioans’ hard-earned dollars going to subsidize public relations campaigns and political influence.”

SENATE BILL 150

Senate Bill 150 increases the number of Ohioans eligible for utility shutoff protections. It expands protections to include households that have a child under age five or over age 65; an individual with a disability, illness or pregnancy; and individuals with an income below 200% of the federal poverty level.

"Ohio’s infant and maternal mortality rate remains one of the highest in the country and utility disconnections during pregnancy may be contributing to poor birth outcomes,” said Tani Malhotra, MD, FACOG, Maternal Fetal Medicine, at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. “Electricity is required for a freezer to store breastmilk, insulin and other medications. A cold house may result in co-sleeping which contributes to SIDS. For these and countless other examples of the detrimental health impacts of utility disconnections, we applaud Senator Smith’s efforts. We remain hopeful and optimistic that this impactful legislation can swiftly pass so we can continue to help this population and move towards better maternal and child outcomes in our state.”

University Hospital’s collection of research served as the inspiration for Senate Bill 150.
“Our fight today is not just about preventing utility disconnections; it's about upholding the basic human right to safety and security,” said Mark Gavin Sr. of the Black Environmental Leaders Action Fund, a non-partisan policy initiative. “It's about ensuring that every infant can have a warm bottle, every family can have a lit and heated home, and no one should have to choose between feeding their family or keeping them warm.”

SENATE BILL 151

Senate Bill 151 repeals the bailout of two Ohio Valley Electric Corporation coal plants included in House Bill 6. The legislation would provide millions of dollars of relief to Ohio ratepayers.

“Ohioans are still being charged to cover the losses of uneconomic and environmentally expensive coal plants," said Senator Craig, the joint sponsor of Senate Bill 151. "Ohio ratepayers should not be bailing out the poor business decisions of investor-owned utilities, particularly for power plants that are not even in Ohio. We must finally repeal the last vestiges of House Bill 6."

"Corruption made HB 6 possible, and we have continuously called on members of the 
General Assembly to repeal the OVEC subsidies as an important step in restoring faith in our government by standing up for real, everyday Ohio consumers," said Kyle Marcum of Ohio Citizen Action, an organization that advocates for public interests. “We are hopeful that this legislation will help us take that step.”
 
All three senate bills await committee hearings.

Watch the full press conference here.