Did Sufficient Evidence Support PUCO Adoption of 'Levelized' Natural Gas Transmission Rate Model?

In the Matter of the Application of Duke Energy Ohio, Inc. In the Matter of the Application of The East Ohio Gas Company d.b.a. Dominion East Ohio, Case nos. 2008-1837 and 2009-0314

Public Utilities Commission of Ohio

ISSUE: In 2008, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) issued separate orders authorizing a change in the rate structures used by Duke Energy of Ohio and by East Ohio Gas Company, d.b.a. Dominion East Ohio, to calculate the portion of their customers' monthly natural gas bills that covers transmission service. The city of Cleveland and several consumer groups, including the state Office of Consumers' Counsel, Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy and the Natural Resources Defense Counsel, have appealed the commission's orders to the Supreme Court. The appellants ask the Court to rule that the PUCO acted unreasonably and unlawfully in adopting the new transmission rate structures, and to order the commission to rescind those rates and develop new ones.
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