Electric deregulation battle centers on stranded costs.

Stranded costs. For those following Ohio electric deregulation legislation, those words are at the center of what has become a scorching debate.

When a Statehouse working document, touted as the foundation for electric deregulation, surfaced this month, consumer groups sounded off with claims that bailing out utilities for uneconomical investments would punish customers.

Stranded costs are expenses electric users pay for utility investments, often in nuclear power plants, that don't turn a profit. In a deregulated environment, utilities would have a tougher time recovering these costs.

"This is keyed up to be the issue to fight about," said Dave Rinebolt, spokesman for Ohio Partners …