The cost for steam heat for most of downtown Youngstown will greatly increase — 93% for a majority of them almost right away and then by 162% more by November — with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio’s approval of an emergency rate hike for SOBE Thermal Energy Systems LLC’s customers. The PUCO board voted 3-0 Wednesday in favor of the rate increase, recommended by its staff. Voting in favor of the increase were John D. Williams, Daniel R. Conway and Lawrence K. Friedeman without any comment. Chairwoman Jenifer French and Dennis P. Deters were absent from Wednesday’s ...