Consumer Groups Fighting Power Purchase Agreement

Consumer groups are appealing the Public Utility Commission of Ohio's decision to increase rates to guaranteed profits for Akron-based FirstEnergy's coal-fired and nuclear power plants. The Ohio Consumers' Counsel and the Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition says the rates undermine a competitive marketplace. The groups are also appealing a subsequent decision to rehear the case on a revised proposal after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission struck down the first. The revised proposal calls for a surcharge that would allow the utility to collect 131 million dollars annually for three years.