HB970 • 2026

Prevent PUCO from approving utility rate increases for 12 months

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Desiree Tims
Last action
Official status: As Introduced
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Prevent PUCO from approving utility rate increases for 12 months

To enact section 4909.183 of the Revised Code to prevent the public utilities commission from approving public utility rate increases for twelve months and to declare an emergency.

What This Bill Does

To enact section 4909.183 of the Revised Code to prevent the public utilities commission from approving public utility rate increases for twelve months and to declare an emergency.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

Ohio Legislature
As Introduced

Official Summary Text

To enact section 4909.183 of the Revised Code to prevent the public utilities commission from approving public utility rate increases for twelve months and to declare an emergency.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

hb970_00_IN

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
H. B. No. 970

2025-2026

Representative Tims

To
enact section 4909.183 of the Revised Code
to
prevent the public utilities commission from approving public utility
rate increases for twelve months and to declare an emergency.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
That
section 4909.183 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec.
4909.183.
(A)
As used in this section, "public utility" means an entity
defined in section 4905.03 of the Revised Code that is a public
utility under section 4905.02 of the Revised Code.

(B)
For a period of twelve months beginning on the effective date of this
section, the public utilities commission shall not approve any
application, rate, or rider filed by any public utility that would
result in the increase in rates or rider collections. This moratorium
applies only to filings for requests that have not received final
approval by the public utilities commission prior to the effective
date of this section. Approved rates and riders in effect on or
before the effective date of this section shall remain in effect and
may be charged and collected.

(C)
The moratorium imposed under this section does not apply to any rate
or rider imposed or collected as required by federal law.

Section
2.
This
act is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety. The
reason for such necessity is to immediately shelter Ohio consumers
from additional rate increases. Ratepayers need both temporary and
long-term relief as Ohio faces an ongoing affordability crisis.
Therefore, this act shall go into immediate effect.