# Debunking Silly Arguments for Utility Protectionism

*Published:* 2016-02-05
*Author:* Dick Munson

![2008_Weak_&_Strong_Arguments_BRYANS.jpeg](https://blogs.edf.org/energyexchange/wp-content/blogs.dir/38/files/2016/02/2008_Weak__Strong_Arguments_BRYANS.jpeg-300x201.jpeg)Ohio utilities FirstEnergy and AEP, as readers of this blog know too well, want the Buckeye State to bail out their uneconomic power plants. Combined, their proposals before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) would run Ohioans nearly $6 billion in increased costs. We understand where the companies’ greedy desire for subsidies comes from, but the arguments for them have become downright silly.

Let’s review why FirstEnergy and AEP’s bailout justifications don’t hold up:

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- **The power giants** [**say**](https://blogs.edf.org/energyexchange/wp-content/blogs.dir/38/files/2016/02/PJM-Looking-at-AEP-FirstEnergy-PPAs-Critics-Join-Forces-_-RTO-Insider.pdf) **their subsidies will be good for customers by providing certainty about future electricity rates.** The only certainty is those same customers will need to [pay](http://e67ti2w9ws71al8xmnhsozd3.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2016/01/OCC-Statement-FE-12-30-15.pdf) an extra $130 per year so the companies can enjoy bonuses and dividends.
- **They also argue the bailouts will be good for Ohio’s businesses.** Yet industrialists, which are major electricity consumers, [say](http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/ohio-energy-inc/2016/01/cooper-tire-ceo-power-proposals-a-political-gift.html) the utilities’ income-guarantee plans “will make it more difficult for \[…\] Ohio manufacturers to remain competitive in the global markets.”
- **They claim the bailouts will save Ohioans money in the long run.** According to a state agency, they will actually [cost](https://blogs.edf.org/energyexchange/wp-content/blogs.dir/38/files/2016/02/PJM-Looking-at-AEP-FirstEnergy-PPAs-Critics-Join-Forces-_-RTO-Insider.pdf) Ohio almost $6 billion.
- **FirstEnergy and AEP also say the lights will go out if they have to close their power plants.** Reliability, no doubt, is an important issue. That’s why the responsibility is in the hands of the regional grid operator, which can manage electricity across a wide area, not the regulators of an individual state. The regional regulator, in fact, [says](http://www.pjm.com/~/media/879A2FA2A1794C7887A98686A70336D2.ashx) Ohio has lots of excess capacity and reliability is not an issue. Even the Public Utilities Commission chairman [warned](http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/ohio-energy-inc/2015/08/stop-trying-to-scare-ohioans-puco-chief-tells.html) the utilities to stop scaring Ohioans. Viewing reliability from another perspective, the regional power market ensures power plants that are needed are paid for their electric capacity. In other words, unnecessary units don’t make the cut. The only reason FirstEnergy and AEP are seeking subsidies is their generators are expensive and not needed.
- **FirstEnergy and AEP** [**say**](http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2016/01/30/1-critics-call-firstenergy-profit-guarantee-a-corporate-rescue-mission.html) **regulators need to protect their financial health.** Last time we checked, the regulators’ job is to protect the public interest – and to care more about fair customer bills than utility credit ratings.
- **FirstEnergy** [**complains**](https://blogs.edf.org/energyexchange/wp-content/blogs.dir/38/files/2016/02/Dynegy-PJM-pile-on-in-case-against-Ohio-‘bailout’-proposals-_-Midwest-Energy-News.pdf) **Ohioans should not rely upon out-of-state power**, forgetting electrons don’t really care about state boundaries. Once they’re on the regional grid, there’s no telling where they’ll end up. Plus, there are other Ohio-based generators willing to meet energy demand (like Dynegy, which has [offered](http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/01/new_power_plants_using_ohio_ga.html) alternative plans).

AEP does say it’s willing to support a few hundred megawatts of solar and wind power, but its requested subsidies would [ensure](https://blogs.edf.org/energyexchange/wp-content/blogs.dir/38/files/2016/02/AEP-Stipulation.pdf) dirty power plants continue operating and spewing more than a few *thousand* megawatts worth of pollution.

Their strongest – although unspoken – argument seems to be political influence. The powerful utilities [have made](https://blogs.edf.org/energyexchange/wp-content/blogs.dir/38/files/2016/02/Lobbyist-tilted-playing-field-favors-FirstEnergy-and-AEP-in-Columbus_-Thomas-Suddes-_-cleveland.pdf) generous campaign contributions and hired trusted advisors to key elected officials, but the proposed “deals” are bad for business, reliability, customers, and the environment.

The PUCO should see right through these silly arguments and reject FirstEnergy and AEP’s requests for subsidies.

*Photo source: [Wikimedia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2008_Weak_%26_Strong_Arguments_BRYANS.jpeg)/Joan Bryans*