Court Opinion

ID: 6768837
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-21 00:40:50.499299+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:02:42.950144
License: Public Domain

Fain, J.,
dissenting. The majority opinion is an admirably practical way of dealing with an admittedly difficult problem, but I cannot read R.C. 4913.04(A)(2) in the same way. That provision requires that a plan for complying with the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, in order to be approved by the Public Utilities Commission, must, among other requirements, constitute “a reasonable and least-cost strategy for compliance with the applicable acid rain control requirements that is consistent with providing reliable, efficient, and economical electric service.” Once a plan has been approved, a utility’s implementation of the plan is declared by statute to be a prudent management decision for rate-making purposes. R.C. 4909.157(A).
Although Ohio Power’s plan called for switching from high-sulfur coal at several locations when Phase I of the federal Act begins in 1995, and also for using scrubbers at the Gavin locations at that time, the plan for several other locations called for no changes until Phase II, in 2000. Ohio Power has never sought to modify its plan.
There may have been conflicting evidence as to whether the alternative strategy of switching to low-sulfur coal or natural gas at the other locations (Cardinal Unit I and Muskingum Units 1-4) in 1995 would cost less than waiting until 2000 to do so, but the fact is that the commission found that the earlier fuel switch at those locations would cost less, and there is evidence in the record to support that finding.
In view of the commission’s finding that a strategy of switching to low-sulfur fuels at the other locations in 1995, rather than waiting until 2000 to do so, would cost significantly less, I cannot conclude that the plan actually submitted by Ohio Power is a “reasonable and least-cost strategy” for compliance with applicable acid rain control requirements. It may lie within the universe of all “reasonable” strategies for compliance, but it is not “least-cost,” and the requirement is in the conjunctive.
*559I would reverse the commission’s approval of the plan submitted by Ohio Power, and remand this matter to the commission, which could, and should, encourage Ohio Power to modify its plan to provide for earlier fuel switches at Cardinal Unit I and Muskingum Units 1-4.