ASHTABULA — With the same regularity as the arrival of high electric bills at her all-electric home, Sue Steigerwald has kept up regular pressure on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to make FirstEnergy keep its agreement with consumers like herself.

The Kirtland resident tasted fruit from those efforts Friday afternoon when Gov. Ted Strickland requested that PUCO restore the “all-electric” rate temporarily, pending further investigation. The distribution rates, which affect all FirstEnergy customers and have jumped by more than 100 percent, also will be rolled back to the pre-June 2009 level, Steigerwald said.

“With the governor’s urging, we began working on this issue weeks ago, and today I have responded to his request to restore the full discounts to FirstEnergy’s all-electric rate customers,” stated PUCO Chairman Alan R. Schriber in a press release issued late Friday afternoon.

The chairman further stated that the discounts will come under PUCO’s consideration at its next commission meeting Wednesday.

“Further, I have directed our staff to begin examining all possible alternatives for my colleagues and I to consider, that would provide a long-term solution that complies with the statutory rate formula and the agreement of the parties, including the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, in FirstEnergy’s distribution rate case and electric security plan,” Schriber stated.

Steigerwald, who earlier this week formally requested that the Ohio Inspector General investigate Schriber for “flagrant dereliction of duty,” said the restoration of rates “is a classic example of democracy in action.”

“Consumers demanded their voices be heard and lashed out against corporate greed in America. Immediate relief was absolutely necessary to stop the financial hardship on so many seniors, single-income families (and) the unemployed affected by the rate shock,” she said.

Two weeks ago, she signed on to a lawsuit filed against FirstEnergy in Geauga County Common Pleas Court. The complaint declares that FirstEnergy broke its contract with homeowners and builders, and orders the utility to restore the discounts immediately, as well as repay the overpayments that affected customers scraped together this winter. Next, she took on PUCO through the Inspector General’s Office.

“The PUCO has made a huge mistake and let us down,” Steigerwald said.

Steigerwald speaks from frustration and experience. Her February bill is $520 for 5,131 kilowatt-hours. A year ago, when she was still enjoying the “all-electric” discount rate, she paid $329 for 5,482 kilowatt-hours.

Steigerwald has testified at town-hall meetings in the area and in Columbus. By networking at those meetings, she gathered more than 700 e-mail addresses of other all-electric rate customers and has mobilized them to further action.

“We believe that’s going to be the driving force: keeping our voices before (PUCO),” she said.

Steigerwald did not attend the Feb. 18 hearing in Ashtabula County, and she would like to bring those customers into her circle of contacts. Her e-mail is sue2811@ roadrunner.com.

While she’s pleased with the temporary relief announced Friday, Steigerwald is not about to let down her guard.

“I still have little confidence in the PUCO and feel they are incompetent to perform the job they are assigned to do,” she says. “I hope the Inspector General’s Office will follow through on our request for a full investigation … and make the appropriate leadership changes so that the PUCO can never be allowed to cause a crisis again.”

Steigerwald acknowledged the work state senators and representatives, including Deborah Newcomb, D-Conneaut, put into bringing the issue to the attention of the governor. Newcomb could not be reached for comment Friday evening.