Court: Duke Energy Can Pass $55M Cleanup Costs To Ohio Customers

An Ohio court has ruled that Duke Energy can charge its Midwestern customers for pollution cleanup costs.

The Ohio Supreme Court says Duke Energy is allowed to pass on the $55 million cost of cleaning up two polluted sites to its customers.

The Charlotte, North Carolina-based energy company has been adding $1.67 to bills in Ohio for about three years to help pay for the cleanup of two long-closed facilities in Cincinnati. A spokeswoman says the charge will likely continue for two more years. Any additional costs will be paid for by Duke shareholders.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled last week that cleanup costs can be treated like other business expenses.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Duke Energy inherited the plants from another company. They were closed in 1928 and 1963, leaving behind pollutants such as coal tar, sulfur and ammonia. A Duke representative says cleanup has been a low priority because there is little public access to the sites.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.