AFP-OH Urges Legislators to Vote ‘No’ Vote on Bill that Harms Consumers, Increases Energy Costs
Key Vote Alert Issued on House
Columbus, OH – Yesterday, Americans for Prosperity-Ohio (AFP-OH) issued a key vote alert urging legislators to oppose House Bill 79, which creates a new utility program that will increase energy costs and harm consumers.
In the alert, sent to all House members, AFP-OH said that House Bill 79 “furthers the Ohio legislature’s poor track record on cronyist energy policy” because it gives Ohio consumers fewer choices and traps them in a new program that could ultimately increase their utility costs.
“Americans for Prosperity believes in the free market and allowing consumers to shop for the most cost-effective and efficient supply of energy, and House Bill 79 limits these options,” said AFP-OH State Director Donovan O’Neil. “The legislature has packaged this bill as an energy efficiency program, when in reality it will create a new and burdensome mandate for consumers. Having a choice in how Ohioans obtain their energy is crucial in a time where families are experiencing large increases in their utility bills, ongoing inflation, property tax increases, and burdensome energy mandates from the Biden Administration.”
In the alert, AFP-OH outlines several concerns with the bill, noting that it is not a voluntary program because consumers must opt out of the program, rather than opting in. AFP-OH also points out that the bill does not include a clear cost cap and limits consumer control over “smart meters” in their homes and businesses.
Last year, AFP-OH issued a similar vote alert when legislators were expected to vote on House Bill 79, noting in the alert that “the last thing Ohioans need is another mandatory program being foisted upon them.” The bill stalled at the time, and AFP-OH has continued to closely monitor the legislation on behalf of Ohioans.
AFP-OH also continues to draw attention to state and national policies that weaken the free market system. Last year, AFP-OH led the effort to oppose House Bill 205, which mandated hiring practices for construction workers and subcontractors at Ohio’s petroleum refineries and would have led to higher energy costs and jeopardized worker safety.
As part of a national Prosperity is Possible campaign, AFP-OH has also held events throughout the state highlighting the skyrocketing costs of gas and other consumer goods resulting from disastrous economic and energy policies coming from Washington, D.C.
