The House Finance Committee unveiled their version of the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 operating budget in substitute House Bill 96. The original proposed budget from Governor DeWine had contained language allowing electric distribution utilities (EDUs) to gain a foothold in the competitive generation market by constructing behind-the-meter renewable generation for mercantile customers. Under the Governor’s proposal, this would have been expanded to allow EDUs to construct a “green energy resource,” recently redefined to include natural gas and nuclear generation. While this would have been chilling to the competitive marketplace and driven up costs to customers, the House removed the language this week.

Another energy policy change made by the House Finance Committee to the budget this week is the addition of language to allow EDUs to own electric vehicle charging stations in areas of last resort and to construct “make ready” infrastructure, which could allow utilities to socialize a greater percentage of the electrical line extension work needed, resulting in increased costs on customers’ electric bills. The OMA testified to express concern with the newly added language. 4/2/2025