Bill > SB245

This bill prohibits public utilities (electric, gas, and natural gas companies) from recovering political expenditure costs from their customers through rates, fees, or other charges. Political expenditures are broadly defined to include contributions to political candidates, parties, committees, trade associations, lobbying efforts, and activities aimed at influencing public opinion about policy issues or the utility's reputation. If a utility is found to have charged customers for such political expenses, they will be required to provide full refunds plus interest, and the Public Utilities Commission will impose a fine equal to twenty times the amount of the improper charges. The fines collected will be deposited into a new political activity fine fund, which will be administered by the Department of Development and used to help customers pay past-due utility bills through an existing percentage of income payment plan. Additionally, utilities will be required to submit annual reports detailing their political expenditures to the Public Utilities Commission, which will then compile and publish these reports. The bill aims to prevent utilities from using customer money to fund political activities and increase transparency around such spending.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb245