The great light bulb controversy has been officially postponed. FirstEnergy announced in a press release this evening that they will not be dispersing two energy efficient light bulbs and charging their customers $21 like it had previously planned in the coming weeks. The release states:

FirstEnergy Corp. today announced that it would postpone distribution of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to customers of its Ohio utilities -- Ohio Edison, The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison -- pending further discussions with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).

Ted Strickland has told the Public Utilities Commission to postpone the much talked about light bulb distribution by First Energy. First Energy wanted to charge its customers $21 for two energy saving light bulbs that was met with harsh criticism from outraged customers. Strickland wrote a letter today that stated:

Dear Commissioner Schriber,

I am proud of the work you and your fellow commissioners and staff have accomplished since the passage of S.B. 221, Ohio's comprehensive energy reform bill that ensures predictability of affordable energy prices and serves as a catalyst to enhance energy industries in Ohio. The energy efficiency mandate in this bill is set to reduce our energy consumption and to create jobs in the process.

However, since Tuesday, October 6, my office has received a very high volume of calls as a result of media reports regarding a conservation program to be implemented by First Energy. According to the articles, the PUCO approved a program wherein the First Energy operating companies are to supply customers with two compact florescent light bulbs at a cost of sixty cents per month over three years for a total of $21.60.