The operators of Warren Steel Holdings are saying one reason they have decided to close the Champion Township plant is the expectation that the plug will be pulled on electrical service.

The steelmaker notified the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services earlier this week that it will not resume operations this year as had been hoped, leaving 162 employees without jobs.

When the Mahoning Avenue plant shut down in November, union leaders blamed unfairly priced imports of foreign steel.

The letter submitted this week by the company to comply with the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification act says the shutdown will be permanent.

According to the letter, unforeseeable business circumstances are to blame, including rapidly deteriorating economic conditions, loss of significant customer demand, and loss of continued financing.

The letter also cites “the impending loss of electricity as evidenced by a recently received utility disconnection notice.”

FirstEnergy spokesman Mark Durbin Tells 21 News that the utility has reached out to Warren Steel Holdings to work with the company on delinquent electricity bills, but company officials have not responded.

In August 2014, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio granted a discounted rate for electricity used by Warren Steel Holdings, including the power needed to heat the plant's furnace to 2,800 degrees.

FirstEnergy did not object to the request, and the rate was reduced by by one-third.

The cheaper rate paved the way for Warren Steel Holdings to resume operations that had been idle for more than four months at the time.