The Ohio House today passed legislation intended to reform Ohio’s energy mandates by a wide 65-29 vote margin. As expected, the bill moved extremely quickly out of the chamber having just cleared the House Public Utilities Committee the day before.

House Bill 114 (HB 114) would:

• expand what energy savings measures count toward complying with the law;
• reduce the ultimate reduction in electricity sales required from 22 percent to 17 percent under the benchmark; and
• expand the ability of mercantile customers to opt-out of costly energy efficiency programs.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce testified as an interested party on the bill.

HB 114 now moves onto a more uncertain fate in the Senate with last year’s veto of another reform bill looming large over the debate. Senate President Larry Obhof has publically committed to quick hearings on HB 114, however, and the Ohio Chamber will continue to push for reforms to Ohio’s expensive and heavy handed energy efficiency requirements.