The Ohio Manufacturers' Association (OMA) Urges Senate to Press PJM's Haque for Answers on Forecasts Driving Ohio Power Costs

Complete Story

04/22/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers' Association (OMA) Urges Senate to Press PJM's Haque for Answers on Forecasts Driving Ohio Power Costs

Source: Ohio Manufacturers' Association, March 24, 2026

As PJM Interconnection Executive Vice President Asim Haque, a former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, appears before the Ohio Senate Energy Committee today, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) is urging lawmakers to demand real answers about inflated load forecasts, speculative data center demand and the risk of forcing Ohio customers to pay for power infrastructure based on demand that may never show up.

That risk is not hypothetical. On American Electric Power’s (AEP) second-quarter 2025 earnings call, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Trevor Mihalik told investors that, under AEP’s commercial-load protections, “it doesn’t really matter to us financially whether that load is actually coming on or not.”

“That should stop every lawmaker in Ohio in their tracks,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the OMA. “If it does not really matter to the utility financially whether the load shows up or not, lawmakers should ask a basic question: who is carrying the risk? Ohio manufacturers and families know the answer. Customers do.”

Ohio has seen what happens when utility narratives go unchallenged. House Bill 6 was sold under the banner of urgency and public need. What followed was corruption, deception and years of fallout for Ohio customers. OMA said lawmakers should remember that history before letting another utility-driven panic campaign shape billion-dollar energy decisions.

Read full article

Printer-Friendly Version

Developing the Next Generation of Leaders Starts Now

Registration is now open for the Emerging Leaders Academy! This new, industry-focused leadership development program is designed to help print and graphic communications companies build confident, capable leaders through practice and real-world training. Built from direct input from our members, this program addresses the challenges you’re facing today—from workforce development to performance and leadership readiness.

Megatrends Poised to Reshape North American Packaging

Looking to the future, what lies in store for the packaging industry? The quickly changing landscape of geopolitics and trade, along with the continued growth of e-commerce and ongoing sustainability expectations, indicate that two materials will come out as clear winners—paper and flexible plastics.

USPS Preps Phased Approach for New Package Dimension Reporting Rules

The U.S. Postal Service is moving forward with its plan to expand its dimensional reporting requirements on July 12, but noncompliance fees for newly eligible shipments won’t apply until later.