Former Ohio Regulator Todd Snitchler Says H. B. 6 Bribery Scandal Highlights Need for Fair Power Market Competition, Calls for Repeal
Contact: Christina Nyquist | cnyquist@epsa.org
Washington, D.C. – Following Tuesday’s release of the U.S. Attorney’s complaint involving Ohio’s Speaker of the House and alleged bribery and misconduct to secure power plant bailouts, former Ohio Public Utilities Commission Chair Todd Snitchler, now president and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association, issued the following statement:
“Today we see the lengths Ohio utility interests went to in order to secure a multibillion-dollar bailout at the expense of taxpayers, families and all Ohio consumers to support uncompetitive nuclear- and coal- fired plants.
Rather than let the market provide the best outcomes for energy customers, and against the warnings and complaints from almost all corners, money and political influence won the day and helped secure passage of Ohio House Bill 6.
Today, cleaner and more affordable power generation resources like natural gas, wind, solar and storage are able to secure America’s energy future. At the same time, power prices in competitive markets are at record lows and emissions are declining. If a fair, competitive playing field for power providers is in place, customers, the grid and our environment will reap the benefits.
When politically powerful interests can pay to have their favored policies passed into law or ensure that specific resources are pre-selected to profit, we undermine energy and environmental progress. These kinds of situations have played out in multiple states just this week and we urge voters, legislators and regulators to keep a close watch and protect transparency and competition. When policymakers do the bidding of special interests, consumers lose.
It is time for the state to repeal H. B. 6 and do right by the citizens of Ohio. If HB 6 is allowed to remain in effect, it will legitimize what is alleged to be a corrupt legislative process. Ohio citizens deserve better.”
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The Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) is the national trade association representing America’s competitive power suppliers. EPSA members provide more than 150,000 MW of reliable and competitively priced electricity from environmentally responsible facilities using a diverse mix of fuels and technologies including natural gas, wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, storage, biomass, and coal. EPSA seeks to bring the benefits of competition to all power customers.Learn more at www.epsa.org and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter @EPSAnews.
