Utility panel: closings could impact Ohio rates

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Utility regulators say the closings of six coal-burning power plants could end up bringing higher electricity rates to much of northern Ohio.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio says the closings may have a significant impact on FirstEnergy Corp.’s electric prices several years down the road.

The commission this week took a first step at intervening by telling federal energy regulators that it’s keeping an eye on the issue.

FirstEnergy’s decision to shut down several of its coal plants in Ohio and surrounding states means there will be fewer plants to meet the demands for power. That has the potential to increase the electric rates for FirstEnergy customers across most of northern Ohio and in the central part of the state, including Toledo, Cleveland and Youngstown.