Taking Action for Utility Justice in the Freezing Cold!

Last week, GWA leaders capped off our fifth national meeting by joining community allies in Columbus, Ohio to rally for lower utility rates and more renewable energy. Members braved freezing temperatures to send a message to the state’s public utility commission that we would not accept a proposed rate hike from utility giant AEP.

Ohio Solar worker and GWA member Isaac Kerr said,

”My wife and I are very involved in the community. We are a 4H family. We are country folk. We have seven children. I feel like if they lower their rates, that would accommodate more working folks like ourselves. With renewable energy, like solar, it provides cheaper prices and it provides more jobs. The utility companies like AEP would rather build big gas plants and nuclear and they make millions in profits. We need to stop AEP from doing so. We need more solar and more jobs for Ohioans.”

Leaders from Columbus Stand Up, Communities United for Action, and Common Cause Ohio gave powerful remarks at the rally, which was covered by local television and radio. The rally concluded with the delivery of more than 2,500 signatures against a rate hike.

Utility issues took center stage at the national meeting, as leaders heard from Morgan Harper of Columbus Stand Up about their “Lights Out on AEP” campaign and from Vicki Kaplan of the People’s Action Institute, who led an interactive training on the corporate power of the utility industry. Members also delved into issues facing the renewable energy industry, practiced telling their story and recruiting new members to GWA, and volunteered for opportunities to get more involved in the organization. Despite the challenges of holding a meeting in the middle of Winter Storm Fern (like travel delays, finding the one open restaurant, and trudging through the snow), members were fired up by the experience and had a great time together.

In 2026 and beyond, utility campaigns with allies will be a key part of GWA’s work. With no hope of federal support for renewable energy in the near future, pushing utility companies to use more renewable energy is vital to save jobs in this industry. And with the public irate over high utility bills, now is the time to take action for the lowest-cost source of electricity–renewable energy.

We’re particularly excited to start this campaign in Ohio. We are building a base of leaders in the state who are fighting for approvals of solar projects, speaking with the press, and joining allies in the fight for utility justice. Members were excited to take the message of utility justice back to their hometowns. From Ohio, we will spread this campaign across the region, taking on utility companies whose service areas span multiple states.

These are big goals, but I know GWA is up to the task. If Winter Storm Fern can’t stop us, nothing can!