State Representative Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) today applauded the Ohio Legislature for including in the state budget bill a necessary consumer protections amendment, which would safeguard the rights and security of families in her district and Westerville in particular.

This amendment will protect the identities of consumers of municipally owned electric companies who participate in GridSmart programs, which digitally track electric usage. Gonzales worked on the amendment’s language with Senator Kevin Bacon (R-Minerva Park), American Municipal Power and the Ohio Newspaper Association to ensure that the names and addresses of municipal power users will be exempted from public records law, rectifying an issue that has the potential of misuse or criminal activity against consumers.

“I’m pleased that this amendment that I worked so hard to craft was included in the final version of the budget,” said Representative Gonzales. “This measure is about protecting our communities and homeowners from any threat of their electric usage being used against them that could result in theft or violence from abuse of public records.”

The Ohio House of Representatives yesterday concurred on the Sub. H.B. 153 conference report and sent the bill to the governor.