Senate Energy Committee favorably reports substitute Senate Bill 2 after sixth hearing

The Senate Energy Committee on Thursday favorably reported substitute Senate Bill 2 to the Committee on Rules and Reference after its sixth hearing, advancing legislation that revises electric rate-making, limits certain utility ownership of behind-the-meter generation and directs school energy-efficiency funds to the facilities construction commission.

The measure cleared the committee on a voice and roll-call sequence after proponents and opponents testified for and against the bill. Vice Chair Landis moved to report the substitute bill to Rules and Reference; the clerk recorded multiple "Yes" votes and the chair announced the bill had sufficient votes to advance.

The bill as worked on in committee (substitute 0333-5 with amendment O2-63 adopted in committee) tightens language on future test years for rate cases, moves the school energy-efficiency money to the school energy program under the facilities construction commission, and clarifies that behind-the-meter generation projects owned by utilities may continue only if they are in operation before the bill's effective date, according to a committee explanation.

Frank Stregari, vice president of external affairs for AEP Ohio, testified in…