PUCO schedules oral arguments on FirstEnergy compact fluorescent light bulb program

COLUMBUS, OHIO (Oct. 15, 2009) – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today scheduled oral arguments on FirstEnergy’s compact fluorescent light bulb program.

The oral arguments are scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. at the PUCO Offices, Hearing Room 11-E, 180 E. Broad Street, Columbus. The oral arguments will also be Webcast live on the PUCO Web site at http://www.puco.ohio.gov/apps/Webcast/index.cfm.

The oral arguments will provide the Commission with a better understanding of the issues and provide an opportunity to ask questions. The following parties will each have eight minutes to present to the Commission: FirstEnergy, the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC), Industrial Energy Users-Ohio, the National Resources Defense Council and Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy.

FirstEnergy filed its application for approval of its compact fluorescent light bulb program on July 9, 2009. On Sept. 16, 2009, FirstEnergy filed a letter with the PUCO representing that it had reached consensus with all interested parties regarding modifications to the program. On Sept. 23, 2009, the Commission approved the application, as modified.

On Oct. 7, 2009, PUCO Chairman Alan R. Schriber asked FirstEnergy to postpone deployment of its program so that the Commission could address several questions raised by the governor, members of the Ohio General Assembly and FirstEnergy customers related to program details and costs. On Oct. 8, 2009, OCC filed an application for rehearing.

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