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On April 1, 2026 the Ohio Public Utility Commission issued a Finding and Order granting the amended application of Ohio Power Company to revise its consolidated bill format.

As reported previously, on October 10, 2025, AEP Ohio filed an application for approval of new consolidated bill formats. In its application AEP Ohio stated that the purpose of the new bill formats is to enhance transparency and help its customers better understand their electric bills, particularly in regard to generation supply and charges from the Company itself.

Later on February 3, 2026, AEP Ohio filed an amended application for approval of a change in bill formats.  In its amended application, AEP Ohio states the Company engaged in discussions with interested stakeholders and made significant additional revisions to the proposed new bill formats to address stakeholder concerns. The Company asserts that it worked closely with OCC and Staff and incorporated many of the changes recommended by both entities, including prominently itemizing each of the riders and charges on the bill. Further, AEP Ohio notes that it also circulated drafts of the revised bill formats to both RESA and IGS.

From the Commission Conclusion:

{¶ 26} “While parties have recommended varying, additional modifications be incorporated into AEP Ohio’s proposed consolidated bill formats, it appears that a consensus of the parties support AEP Ohio’s Amended Application. The Commission notes AEP Ohio’s willingness to work with Staff and interested parties to develop bill formats that enhance transparency and help AEP Ohio’s customers better understand their electric bills. In particular, the Commission notes the recommendations by Staff, RESA/IGS, and OCC that AEP Ohio has either already incorporated or has committed to incorporating. First, the Commission notes that the Company asserts it has made updates following Staff’s recommendation of adding a definition of “customer charge” to the commercial bills. Second, the Commission recognizes that the Company has adopted changes to conform with Staff’s recommendation of using bold font for the words “Price to Compare” in the “Learn About Your Electric Generation” section. We further recognize AEP Ohio’s plans to incorporate RESA/IGS’s recommendations of utilizing the placeholder message boxes on page two of the bill before utilizing the message box on page three, as well as adding the supplier’s phone number in the “Questions and Concerns?” section and adopting several of their minor technical corrections. Along these same lines, AEP Ohio has committed to revise its online consumer account “Pay Your Bill” page to allow online bill payers to make a one time or recurring monthly contribution to the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program directly from that page. Further, we observe that the Company has also pledged to determine the feasibility of adding a contribution link to the “Pay Your Bill” page, or alternatively, incorporate this suggestion into the development of its new web page. Finally, the Company has also incorporated OCC’s recommendation to revise the proposed bill formats to reflect OCC’s current website address. We find all of these modifications will garner additional transparency and understanding for AEP Ohio’s consumers.”

{¶ 27} “The Commission rejects OCC’s recommendation that charges for transmission and distribution be separately itemized on the first page of the residential bill format, as we are persuaded by the Company’s reply comment asserting that the proposed bill format is consistent with how residential customers currently interact with their bills and note that this information is already featured prominently on the residential bill. While the Commission appreciates OCC’s concern for residential customers to understand this breakdown and, specifically, how much of their charges are attributable to transmission, we ultimately decline to accept OCC’s proposal.”

{¶ 28} “Various stakeholders advocated for commercial bill format revisions to include a detailed breakdown of all riders and charges. The Commission appreciates that similar information may be available for residential customers; however, we agree with the Company that commercial customers tend to be more sophisticated and receive direct support by having designated customer service representatives, making it unnecessary to include this information. Moreover, the Commission recognizes the Company’s assertion that its vendor has estimated it will take between 30 to 40 percent longer to implement the new formats if rider detail is included on commercial bills due to having far more variations than residential accounts. Taking these arguments into account, the Commission declines to require AEP Ohio to revise its proposed commercial bill format to include the requested additional information.”

{¶ 29} “The Commission also agrees with the Company that it is not necessary for AEP Ohio to provide competitive suppliers with space on the bill near the competitive supplier’s rate for the competitive suppliers to list the expiration dates for fixed-rate contracts. The Commission appreciates Staff’s and RESA/IGS’ comments that making this change would allow customers to understand when their fixed rate will expire and foster customer choice. However, we agree with the Company that no update is necessary to the proposed bill formats to address this recommendation, as the proposed bill formats have a box for supplier messages. As there appears to be the existing functionality for suppliers to list the expiration dates of fixed rate contracts already, it would be the Commission’s expectation that suppliers take full advantage of this opportunity to provide customers with the expiration date of fixed contracts in order to foster customer choice and align with Ohio’s state energy policies. See, R.C. 4928.02(B).

{¶ 30} “Furthermore, the Commission adopts Staff’s recommendation of approving AEP Ohio’s requested waivers of Ohio Adm.Code 4901:1-10-22(B)(4), 4901:1-10-22(B)(5), and 4901:1-10-33(C)(15). Although it appears the revised bill formats comply with the administrative rules’ intent and the waiver requests are uncontested, we would still advise Staff to monitor the number of consumer complaint calls it receives from consumers in AEP Ohio’s service territory to determine if adjustments to the bill formats should be made in the future.”

{¶ 31} “Finally, to the extent that a specific recommendation has not been addressed, it has, nonetheless, been considered by the Commission and is hereby rejected. Accordingly, the Commission finds that the Amended Application is reasonable and should be approved, as clarified in this Finding and Order, and a hearing on the application is not necessary.”