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Lawmakers: electric bills will be cheaper under H.B. 6; bill adds surcharge of 85 cents

After months of discussion in the Ohio legislature, the bill was signed by Gov. Mike DeWine Tuesday.

Gov. Mike DeWine signed Tuesday House Bill 6, which in general terms means the Davis Besse won't close as it provides Ohio's nuclear power plants $150 million a year. 

The legislation piece went back forth between the Ohio State House and Senate for months.

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The final version covered different issues but in the long run, lawmakers said taxpayers will have a lower electric bill. That's because government mandates, which address energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, will be removed.

However, the bill adds a new surcharge of about 85 cents a month for the average household. That money goes right toward nuclear plants like Davis Besse in Ottawa County. Additionally, some of that money will also go toward large-scale solar projects. 

The original Ohio House version of the bill would have cost cities like Bowling Green, with large scale green energy resources, up to $400,000 a year. But as provisions were made, that number decreased. State Sen.Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, said she has people on both sides of the table in her district and believes this version is fair. 

"Davis Besse is in my district. So there was a lot of concern before this bill passed that Davis Besse might shut down, which would have a significant impact to people in my district" said Senator Gavarone.

The subsidy payments for these nuclear power plants officially start in 2021.

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