This week, Tim Ling, corporate environmental director for Plaskolite, LLC, testified on behalf of the OMA to the Senate Energy Committee on their priority energy legislation, Senate Bill 2. Ling expressed support for many of the bill’s provisions, including the elimination of above-market charges paid through Electric Security Plans on customers’ bills. He pointed out that utilities often use misleading names for the riders that can be billed for almost anything, joking that a utility could name a “For the Children” rider while never intending to deliver any money to children at all.

Ling also noted that while the bill has many positive provisions, some improvements should be made. OVEC and unused solar subsidies should be refunded back to customers, and the language around mini rate cases should be more clearly defined and include transmission programs that provide economic development tools to manufacturers. 2/18/2025