Reps. Rader, Brennan, Call on Governor to Protect Consumer Protections & Veto HB 173 Sub-metering Regulations

COLUMBUS - Reps. Tristan Rader (D - Cleveland) and Sean Brennan (D - Parma) sent a letter urging Governor DeWine to veto Substitute House Bill 173. This letter cites concerns regarding the conflicting regulatory frameworks between HB 173 and the one laid out in the recent Ohio Supreme Court Ruling In re Complaint of Ohio Power Co. v. Nationwide Energy Partners, L.L.C.

"This is a step backwards in terms of consumer protections in this State," said Rep. Rader. "The recent unanimous Court ruling said what many of us have been saying about these submetering companies for a long time: they need to be regulated as public utilities. Without oversight from the PUCO, these companies have been able to exploit Ohioans in multi-family units with hidden fees and non-transparent rates, with no options for any kind of respite."

In April, the Court ruled that submetering companies, or companies that buy gas, electric and other services from a public utility and resell them to the consumer, should be subjected to the same regulations under the PUCO as public utilities that supply directly to consumers. This means that now these companies will be held to the same standards of fair and open rate-making procedures, disconnection protections, and fee disclosures - a major step forward in consumer protections.

"As a legislator, I have consistently fought for greater accountability, transparency, and affordability in Ohio's utility sector. The Ohio Supreme Court's decision was a victory for consumers because it affirmed that submetering companies should not be exempt from the same standards and protections that apply to traditional utilities. House Bill 173 threatens to reverse that important progress. Ohioans living in apartments, condominiums, and other multi-family housing deserve fair rates, clear billing practices, and meaningful consumer protections regardless of who sends them the utility bill," said Rep. Brennan.

Reps. Rader and Brennan join the Ohio Consumer Counsel and the Ohio Environmental Council who have sent separate letters to the Governor urging a veto. Substitute HB 173 passed on June 10th with a third of both chambers voting no. Opponents of this bill argued that should HB 173 become law, consumers will lose the protections they were afforded by the Court ruling.

The letter was sent to Governor DeWine on Friday, June 12, 2026. The full letter is attached.