We told you last week about Howland Township looking to leave Trumbull County's natural gas aggregation program, but a judge has placed that plan on hold.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Administrative Law Judge Patricia Schabo on Wednesday ordered the automatic approval of Howland Township's application on hold to join Buckeye Energy's aggregate program at a lower rate than the one currently offered by Trumbull County's provider, Palmer Energy. 

The judge's order states the Ohio Revised Code reads, "...no governmental aggregator shall provide competitive retail natural gas service to a consumer in this state without first being certified by the commission."

Based on this, the judge's ruling reads, "... to allow forfurther review of this matter by Commission and staff, good cause exists to suspend the 30-day automatic approval process with respect to the application."

The application is suspended until the filing can be reviewed.

Palmer Energy, the supplier of the county's gas, has filed with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to try to stop the township from opting out. The filing states that "broker made false representations in the Township's Application" and that it "questionable whether the Township even has the authority to form a governmental aggregation program under Ohio law."

The township first applied to leave the county's program and join its own aggregator plan on January 6. 

Howland Township Administrator James Pantalone told 21 News that Howland is currently in discussions with the PUCO to obtain clarification, and that they will continue working for residents and businesses in Howland Township to secure the best possible rates.

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