COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that a wrongful death lawsuit against Dominion Energy Ohio over the death of a customer whose gas service was shut off must first be heard by the state’s utility regulator, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).
The case stems from the death of Virginia Vigrass, who was found frozen to death in her Lakewood home in January 2022, after her gas service was disconnected by Dominion. The company had sought access to her home to inspect the gas meter, but Vigrass, who was immunocompromised, refused entry due to COVID-19 concerns.
Vigrass’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Dominion in November 2022, but the Supreme Court ruled that the case must first be heard by the PUCO, which has exclusive jurisdiction over complaints regarding utility rates and services.
The Court noted that state law allows utilities to shut off service under certain circumstances, including if access to metering equipment is denied. However, the Court said it is up to the PUCO to determine whether Dominion’s actions in this case were lawful.
The Court’s decision vacates all previous orders by the lower court in the case. The Vigrass family’s lawsuit will now be transferred to the PUCO, where it will be investigated to determine if Dominion violated any regulations.
