As more information comes to light and public outcry steadily grows against FirstEnergy, Duke and American Electric Power's respective bailout riders, 12 companies with a large presence in Ohio now also have come out against the utilities.

As more information comes to light and public outcry steadily grows against FirstEnergy, Duke and American Electric Power�s respective bailout riders, 12 companies with a large presence in Ohio now also have come out against the utilities.

Costco, Lowe�s, Staples and nine other companies have submitted a public comment to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio condemning AEP�s rider to bail out its inefficient and underperforming coal plants.

These companies, which represent more than 79,000 Ohio employees, support the advancement of a free market for electricity in the state because �well-designed competitive markets produce substantial savings.�

If the big utilities� riders force us to help pay for their generation costs, it would reduce competition as a whole.

If AEP can�t survive on its own in Ohio�s electrical free market, the problems � and more importantly, the financial losses � belong to them, not the consumers.

ARYEH ALEX

Columbus