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Energy Provider Offers Counterproposal To Utilities' Coal Plant Plans

Dynegy
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AEPandFirstEnergywant state regulators to approve plans that allow them to hike their customers’ bills to ensure energy production and guarantee income for their struggling coal plants. But a new energy player wants to crash the party.

Dynegyjust bought several coal and natural gas plants from Duke Energy. Now the independent energy producer says it can counter plans fromAEPandFirstEnergyby offering the same amount of energy for $5 billion less.

Their proposal relies on cost-efficient coal plants, existing natural gas plants and -- possibly -- newly built natural gas plants.

Exelon, another energy provider, has also offered a cheaper plan. Dynegy Vice President Dean Ellis says these companies are sending a clear message to regulators that other options are out there.

“These offers are far superior in so many different ways beginning with the cost-savings that they would deliver to consumers over the long term,” said Ellis.

But AEP says Dynegy’s relying on “inflated assumptions” and that there’s no basis for their claims of cost savings.

Copyright 2021 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.

Andy Chow is a general assignment state government reporter who focuses on environmental, energy, agriculture, and education-related issues. He started his journalism career as an associate producer with ABC 6/FOX 28 in Columbus before becoming a producer with WBNS 10TV.