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In a notice the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) directs all interested persons or entities wishing to file comments or reply comments with the Commission regarding the proposed rules pertaining to the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) riders of Ohio electric distribution utilities.

Comments in this rulemaking are due no later than January 5, 2026, and January 20, 2026, respectively. Note that attached to this entry are both the proposed rules that will comprise to Ohio Adm.Code Chapter 4901:1-44 (Attachment A) and the BIA (Attachment B).

As background, on June 30, 2025, Governor DeWine signed Amended Substitute House Bill Number 96 (Am. Sub. HB 96).  Among other items, Am. Sub. HB 96 adopted amendments to sections of the Ohio Revised Code that prescribed requirements for the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) program. Pursuant to Am. Sub. HB 96, beginning January 1, 2026, the Universal Service Fund (USF) rider will be replaced with the PIPP rider on retail electric distribution rates as determined by the Commission. R.C. 4928.52. As contemplated by the legislation, the PIPP rider will recover (1) the prudently incurred costs of providing the PIPP program for each electric distribution utility (EDU), (2) the EDUs’ allocated shares for funding the low-income customer assistance programs administered by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (JFS), according to each EDU’s annual distribution service revenues, and (3) any amount necessary to fund administrative costs of the low-income customer assistance programs.

25-0823-EL-ORD
(In the Matter of the Consideration of Rules Pertaining to the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Riders of Ohio Electric Distribution Utilities)