HB 15 - Including Rep. Brennan's Provision to End Costly OVEC Subsidies - Takes Effect Today

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) today announced that House (HB) Bill 15, which includes his provision to eliminate the controversial Ohio Valley Electric Corporation (OVEC) coal plant subsidy, takes effect today.

“This is a big win for Ohio consumers,” said Rep. Brennan. “For years, Ohioans have been forced to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to subsidize two outdated coal plants — one of which isn’t even in Ohio. I’m proud that my provision in HB 15 finally ends this unnecessary, corruption-tainted subsidy.”

The OVEC subsidies were created in 2019 as part of the scandal-ridden House Bill 6, which federal prosecutors have called the largest public corruption case in Ohio’s history. Under the law, Ohio utility customers were required to pay monthly surcharges to subsidize the plants, regardless of whether they received electricity from OVEC.

Since the policy took effect, Ohioans have paid hundreds of millions of dollars with no clear public benefit.

“With this provision, we’re putting an end to a bad deal for ratepayers and sending a message that Ohio’s energy policy should serve the public, not special interests,” said Rep. Brennan. “This is about protecting working families, lowering utility costs, and restoring integrity to state government.”

Rep. Brennan, who has repeatedly introduced and supported legislation to repeal the subsidies, said today's effective date marks a major step forward but also underscores the need to continue rooting out wasteful spending tied to HB 6.

“This fight was never about partisan politics — it was about doing the right thing,” concluded Rep. Brennan. “Ohio families deserve an energy policy that’s affordable, transparent, and focused on the future.”