7/29/2019 Hamilton County Commissioners' Letter to PUCO

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Chris MonaelPhone (5131 946-M09Fiix (513) 946-4407Greg HartsnannViee PrtsidcmPhojie (513i 946-4405F M (^13} 946-4404T odd f'oruinfPhone {SJ3) 946-4401Fai (513) 946-4446

amilton CountpBoard of Co u nty Comm issionefs

RfKjra 603Caunty Adnjinistrarton Buikiiog

] 38 East CciuK StreerCincuifjatJ. Ohio 45202

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Phone {513) 946-4420Fax '3X3) 946-4444Jacqueline Panioro

Clerk sfth f BesrdPhone (5 ! 3) 946-4414

Fax (513) 946.4444

February 28,2013 1 2 - 1 6 8 2 - E L - A I R1 2 - 1 6 8 5 - G A - A I Rhe Public Utilities Com mission of Ohio180 East Broad StreetColumbus, OH 43215

Re: Proposed Duke Energy Rate IncreaseDear PUCO Coirmiissioners:1 am addressing the Pub lic Utilities Commission today to add my voice of opp osition to the C eEnergy rate increase currently being considered. This letter is an expression of my views, as ^Hamilton Cou nty Comm issioner concerned for my fellow Du ke Energy rate p ayers. "X3 ^In these difficult economic times, county residents and local bu sinesses are endu ring raF - Jstruggles that accomp any long p eriods of stagnant income grow th and rising exp ense!; The cQgtof living and doing business remain a primary concem and energy is an essential a n d S ^ i f i c ^expense. C3

ORecently, I had the privilege of delivering Hamilton Co u nty's "state of the cou nty" address to theRotary Clu b of Cincinnati during their annual gathering in Dow ntown Cincinnati. In thataddress, I detailed to abou t 200 local business men and women the C ou nty's strategic plan foraddressing the tou gh econom ic times faced by local governm ents.In preparing for my p resentation to the Rotar>', my staff and I talked with a num ber of HamiltonCounty bu siness owners (large and sm all), representatives of bu siness-oriented group s as well ascitizens simply trying to balance their daily hou sehold bu dgets.A ifrequent message dominated the conversations; things seem to be getting better, bu t please doeverydiing you can to help u s keep ou r costs down u ntil the economy turns the com er.Our citizens have little flexibility to reduce energy consu mp tion and mu st rely on their energyprovider and the PUCO to m aintain manageable rates. Higher energy costs require cu ts to otherareas of family and bu siness budg ets that have no room to absorb additional redu ctions.

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7/29/2019 Hamilton County Commissioners' Letter to PUCO

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I acknowledge that Du ke Energy is clearly striving to be a good corporate citizen and theCincimiati office is an imp ortant emp loyer in Southwest Ohio. Yet die bottom line for ou rbusinesses and residents is efficient ser\4ce and competitive energy rates. This is not the time tostall afi-agileeconomic recovery or to add the burden of additional costs associated w ith pu blicworks p rojects. Any costs associated with diese pu bhc w orks p rojects should b e maintained. within the project and the mu nicipality. Ratepayers and taxp ayers deserve to know- the true costof a public wo rks project. Embedding costs in Ohio energy bills obscures the actual costsassociated with a specific project.Please help Hamilton County navigate the delicate path to prosp erity by rejecting the rateincrease requested by the Duke En ergy Comp any.

Sincerely,

Chris Monzel / IHamilton County'Board of County Commissioners