Among others opposing the deal are the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Consumers' Counsel spokesman J.P. Blackwood noted Saturday that "not a single residential advocate was convinced to support the FirstEnergy settlement. "The PUCO recently announced it expects utilities to share with Ohioans 'every dime' of the utilities' reduced federal taxes," he said. "Ohio consumers may have to pay FirstEnergy $500 million in nickels to receive $800 million in tax reduction dimes." "In the bigger picture, Ohioans need their legislature to reform the PUCO's settlement process that is too favorable to utilities and their rate increases." The story has been edited by the author to correct errors in the company's initial news release explaining the proposed settlement.