The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from Ohio utilities companies in what consumer advocates are calling a cemented win for Ohio electricity customers.

The decision upholds a January 2025 ruling in favor of the Ohio Consumers Counsel (OCC), who argued Ohioans were paying unnecessary fees to utility companies like American Electric Power Ohio, Duke Energy and others. The ruling saves Ohio electricity consumers, the OCC estimates, roughly $400 million through 2031.

At the center of the legal battle was what's known as an "RTO adder," first raised by OCC to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2022. It's a 50-point basis charge meant to encourage utility companies to participate in a regional transmission organization (RTO), an entity that manages electric power gri

See Full Page