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Looks forward to signing a final bill

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland Tuesday praised the Ohio House for passage of a bipartisan amended substitute Senate Bill 221.

“I believe that this is a good bill,” Strickland said. “The House today passed a bipartisan bill that meets the goal of protecting consumers against unwarranted and unjust rate increases. Put simply, it protects our ability to keep and create jobs in Ohio by maintaining stable, predictable and affordable electric rates.”

Had the governor and legislature failed to act, Ohio’s electric utility rate stabilization plans would have expired at the end of this year, leaving consumers subject to the excessive rate increases other states have experienced when deregulated. When Illinois’ version of rate stabilization ended recently, electric bills immediately jumped as much as 55 percent; in Maryland, electric bills skyrocketed by 72 percent.

“This legislation meets all of the principles I outlined nearly one year ago today,” Strickland said. “Among these principles are a commitment to accountability and transparency, ensuring consumers are on equal footing with utilities, and working to aggressively attract renewable and advanced energy investment in Ohio in order to create jobs and recognize the influence of global climate change. This legislation establishes an advanced energy portfolio standard that will position Ohio as a leader in the growing advanced energy industry.

“I appreciate the hard work the legislative leaders have given to this effort, and I look forward to signing a final bill agreed to by both the House and Senate.”