Business groups, consumer advocates and aggregators oppose provisions in substitute HB 79, warning of utility control and higher costs

During the committee’s third hearing on substitute House Bill 79, a series of industry and consumer witnesses raised concerns that the bill would expand utility authority, create mechanisms that replicate lost distribution revenue (formerly associated with HB 6), and impose charges on customers.

John Cyriak (identified in testimony as an energy consultant working with the Ohio Manufacturers Association) said HB 79 could be counterproductive by giving utilities new powers over manufacturer-owned generation — including the potential to override and shut down customer generation — and by restoring a decoupling-like lost distribution revenue structure that benefits utilities at customers’ expense.

Maureen Willis, director of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, testified on behalf of residential utility consumers and described the $1.50 monthly cap for residential charges in the bill as illusory, saying other charges and incentives could increase consumer costs well beyond the cap and urging lawmakers not to pass legislation before obtaining credible cost estimates.

Tom Hayes (Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition) spoke for aggregations representing households and small businesses, calling the bill “dreadful” for customers, describing potential multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar impacts over five years, and criticizing the program’s opt‑out mechanics that could leave customers enrolled for years. Hannah Cubbins (Americans for Prosperity Ohio) echoed concerns that the program is not truly voluntary and is anti‑consumer.

The committee took testimony and asked questions; no final committee vote on the bill was recorded in this transcript.

Ending: The hearing record closes with written testimony on file for several interested parties and no final committee action recorded in the transcript excerpt.