Ohio consumers try to block rate increase

The Ohio Consumers Counsel, an advocacy group, argued this week before the Ohio Supreme Court that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio acted illegally when it allowed local exchange carriers to raise retail rates. In several instances, rates increased by at least 60%, the OCC said. The counsel alleged that the increases were requested by incumbents and granted by the PUCO under Ohio's alternative regulation law, which gives ILECs pricing freedoms once sufficient competitive alternatives exist. The OCC said the PUCO adopted its rules at a time when most residential customers had no competitive choices.