Data center surge driving up electric costs across Ohio, consumer advocate warns
Ohio Consumers’ Counsel director Maureen Willis warned Mansfield City Council that rapid data center growth is contributing to higher wholesale electricity and capacity costs across Ohio. She urged the council and residents to oppose FirstEnergy subsidiary Ohio Edison’s proposed three-year rate increase, which could add up to $12.78 per month to customers’ bills by 2029.
Maureen Willis, legal director of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, told the Mansfield City Council that Ohio Edison’s proposed three-year rate case could raise customer bills by an average of $4.26 per month beginning in 2027 and $12.78 per month by 2029. She said the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio should scrutinize whether requested infrastructure investments are needed for residential reliability or primarily support commercial data center development.
Willis identified the rapid expansion of data centers, particularly in central Ohio’s Franklin County, as a major factor behind regional grid strain and rising wholesale electricity prices. She asked Mansfield officials to pass a resolution opposing the rate increase and encouraged residents to submit comments or participate in upcoming PUCO hearings, while council members highlighted the burden higher bills could place on lower-income households.