Update: The second evidentiary hearing on the multiple settlements reached between FE, Staff, and others has commenced. At the start of the hearing, PUCO Commissioner Haque noted the importance of the issues presented by the case and expressed his intention to observe the remainder of the proceedings in person. Only one witness is testifying in support of the settlement, an FE regulatory employee. OMA Energy Group witnesses Dr. Ned Hill and John Seryak will soon be presenting live testimony in opposition to the overall settlement. Dr. Ned Hill will explain how the settlement imposes an oligopoly in the electric generating market, deters new entry by market participants, introduces price discrimination, imposes an opaque system of income transfers and cross-subsidies, and creates a redistributive coalition supporting the stipulation that is not in the public interest. John Seryak will address, among other things, the impact of the settlement provisions relating to energy efficiency and renewables, and FE’s outdated load forecast that has the effect of overestimating the projected credits that customers will receive under Rider RRS regarding the affiliate purchase power agreement. PJM Interconnection LLC (PJM) sought to intervene and file testimony in the case but unfortunately the PUCO refused to allow PJM to participate. The PUCO did, however, invite PJM to file an amicus brief in the case as a non-party. PJM’s interests in the case concerned the potential for the generating units to suppress prices in the wholesale markets.