CereTax Communications Commentary: Ohio PUC Update

This month we tackle the Ohio PUC update (https://knowledgebase.ceretax.com/content-release-notes/2025-10) from our 10-2025 content update that could mean less to pay for some carriers.

Who is the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel?

The OCC advocates for Ohio’s residential utility consumers through representation and education in a variety of forums.

It  is funded through an assessment of utilities and other regulated entities in Ohio. Each entity contributes a share of the OCC’s budget based on its intrastate gross revenues. OCC assessed about 800 entities in Ohio from a NARUC update.

What do they do?

Advocate for residential consumers served by investor-owned utilities including:

– Electric

– Natural gas

– Telephone

– Water

What changed?

Pursuant to Ohio HB96, Ohio Rev. Code § 4911.18 now excludes wireless service providers from the Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) Assessment (https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/solarapi/v1/general_assembly_132/bills/hb657/IN/00?format=html).

When?

October 1, 2025

Who is impacted?

Commercial Radio Service (Wireless) Providers

How are they impacted?

Previously, wireless carriers were included in the OCC assessment and could choose to either absorb or pass this fee through to customers as part of their invoice line items.

With the exemption now in effect:

• The OCC assessment no longer applies to wireless providers.
• The typical 13-line-item impositions on a $10.00 wireless transaction with a situs in Cleveland, Ohio, could decrease to 12 line items (if the OCC fee was previously passed through).
• Carriers that had been absorbing the fee internally could see a direct cost reduction.

The overall result may be a slight decrease in end-user charges or improved margin retention for carriers, depending on how the fee was previously handled.

For guidance on how this update may affect your tax calculations or billing, contact  Michael Yokay, Direct: 301-514-4119, michael.yokay@ceretax.com