This week, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) ordered an independent audit of American Electric Power (AEP) of Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio, and AES Ohio’s (formerly DP&L) revenues and customer charge-offs for the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation (OVEC). As reported by Hannah News Service, the PUCO audit was spurred by a request from the Office of Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC) to ensure more transparency in the OVEC subsidies authorized by House Bill 6. A final audit report is due by Friday, Dec. 17. Meanwhile, the OMA continues to press for approval of Senate Bill 117, offered by Sens. Mark Romanchuk (R-Mansfield) and Hercel Craig (D-Columbus) to permanently repeal HB 6’s OVEC subsidies and refund all charges collected since the bill became law. 5/6/2021