Grid Disparity Analysis Report for Ohio

This IREC report, commissioned by the Ohio Environmental Council and the first of its kind for the state, sought to assess disparities in how historically disadvantaged communities are serviced by the electric grid.

Our analysis found measurable differences in the quality of disadvantaged communities' electric grid infrastructure compared to other communities in the utility service area we studied. These findings-specifically that disadvantaged communities have older and lower-capacity grid infrastructure-suggest systemic underinvestment in these communities. Such grid disparities cause disadvantaged communities to experience more frequent outages and have fewer opportunities for connecting clean energy sources to the grid.

These results, and the fact that data sufficient to conduct this assessment were only available from one Ohio utility, underscore the urgent need for greater grid data transparency and the incorporation of equity considerations in Ohio's grid planning and investment process to ensure that underserved communities have an equal opportunity to electrify and adopt clean energy.