To amend sections 4903.083, 4905.302, 4909.05, 4909.06, 4909.07, 4909.08, 4909.15, 4909.156, 4909.17, 4909.18, 4909.19, 4928.18, 4929.05, 4929.051, 4929.11, and 4935.04 and to enact sections 4909.191 and 4929.111 of the Revised Code to permit certain rate-calculation adjustments for natural gas companies, alter public notice requirements for rate cases, and, for natural gas companies, to make other regulatory changes concerning audits, alternative rate plans, and forecast reports, and allowing applications for natural gas company capital expenditure programs.

SECTION 1.  That sections 4903.083, 4905.302, 4909.05, 4909.06, 4909.07, 4909.08, 4909.15, 4909.156, 4909.17, 4909.18, 4909.19, 4928.18, 4929.05, 4929.051, 4929.11, and 4935.04 be amended and sections 4909.191 and 4929.111 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 4903.083.  (A) For all cases involving applications for an increase in rates pursuant to section 4909.18 of the Revised Code the public utilities commission shall hold public hearings in each municipal corporation in the affected service area having a population in excess of one hundred thousand persons, provided that, at least one public hearing shall be held in each affected service area. At least one such hearing shall be held after 5:00 p.m. Notice of such hearing shall be published by the public utilities commission once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the service area. Said notice shall state prominently the total amount of the revenue increase requested in the application for the increase and shall list a brief summary of the then known major issues in contention as set forth in the respective parties' and intervenor's objections to the staff report filed pursuant to section 4909.19 of the Revised Code. The public utilities. The first publication of the notice shall be made in its entirety and may be made in a preprinted insert in the newspaper. The second publication may be abbreviated if all of the following apply:

(1) The abbreviated notice is at least half the size of the notice in the first publication.

(2) At the same time the abbreviated notice is published, the notice in the first publication is posted in its entirety on the newspaper's web site, if the newspaper has a web site, and the commission's web site.

(3) The abbreviated notice contains a statement of the web site posting or postings, as applicable, and instructions for accessing the posting or postings.

(B) The commission shall determine a uniform format for the content of all notices required under this section, and shall consider costs and technological efficiencies in making that determination. Defects in the content publication of said notice shall not affect the legality or sufficiency of notices published under this section provided that the public utilities commission meets the substantial compliance provision of has substantially complied with this section, as described in section 4905.09 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4905.302.  (A)(1) For the purpose of this section, the term "purchased gas adjustment clause" means:

(a) A provision in a schedule of a gas company or natural gas company that requires or allows the company to, without adherence to section 4909.18 or 4909.19 of the Revised Code, adjust the rates that it charges to its customers in accordance with any fluctuation in the cost to the company of obtaining the gas that it sells, that has occurred since the time any order has been issued by the public utilities commission establishing rates for the company pertaining to those customers;

(b) A provision in an ordinance adopted pursuant to section 743.26 or 4909.34 of the Revised Code or Section 4 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution, with respect to which a gas company or natural gas company is required or allowed to adjust the rates it charges under such an ordinance in accordance with any fluctuation in the cost to the company of obtaining the gas that it sells, that has occurred since the time of the adoption of the ordinance.

(2) For the purpose of this section, the term "special purchase" means any purchase of interstate natural gas, any purchase of liquified liquefied natural gas, and any purchase of synthetic natural gas from any source developed after the effective date of this section, April 27, 1976, provided that this purchase be of less than one hundred twenty days duration and the price for this purchase is not regulated by the federal power commission. For the purpose of this division, the expansion or enlargement of a synthetic natural gas plant existing at such date shall be considered a source so developed.

(3) For the purpose of this section, the term "residential customer" means urban, suburban, and rural patrons of gas companies and natural gas companies insofar as their needs for gas are limited to their residence. Such term includes those patrons whose rates have been set under an ordinance adopted pursuant to sections 743.26 and 4909.34 of the Revised Code or Section 4 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution.

(B) A purchased gas adjustment clause may not allow, and no such clause may be interpreted to allow, a gas company or natural gas company that has obtained an order from the public utilities commission permitting the company to curtail the service of any customer or class of customers other than residential customers, such order being based on the company's inability to secure a sufficient quantity of natural gas, to distribute the cost of any special purchase made subsequent to the effective date of such order, to the extent that such purchase decreases the level of curtailment of any such customer or class of customers, to any class of customers of the company that was not curtailed, to any class of residential customers of the company, or to any class of customers of the company whose level of curtailment was not decreased and whose consumption increased as a result of, or in connection with, the special purchase.

(C)(1) The commission shall promulgate a purchased gas adjustment rule, consistent with this section, that establishes a uniform purchased gas adjustment clause to be included in the schedule of gas companies and natural gas companies subject to the jurisdiction of the public utilities commission and that establishes investigative procedures and proceedings including, but not limited to, periodic reports, audits, and hearings.

(2) The commission shall not require that a management or performance audit pertaining to the purchased gas adjustment clause of a gas or natural gas company, or a hearing related to such an audit, be conducted more frequently than once every three years. Any such management or performance audit and any such hearing shall be strictly limited to the gas or natural gas company's gas or natural gas production and purchasing policies. No such management or performance audit and no such hearing shall extend in scope beyond matters that are necessary to determine the following:

(a) That the gas or natural gas company's purchasing policies are designed to meet the company's service requirements;

(b) That the gas or natural gas company's procurement planning is sufficient to reasonably ensure reliable service at optimal prices and consistent with the company's long-term strategic supply plan;

(c) That the gas or natural gas company has reviewed existing and potential supply sources;

(3) Unless otherwise ordered by the commission for good cause shown and except as provided in division (D) of this section:

(a) The commission's staff shall conduct any audit or other investigation of a natural gas company having fifteen thousand or fewer customers in this state that may be required under the purchased gas adjustment rule.

(b) Except as provided in section 4905.10 of the Revised Code, the commission shall not impose upon such company any fee, expense, or cost of such audit or other investigation or any related hearing under this section.

(3)(4) Unless otherwise ordered by the commission for good cause shown either by an interested party or by the commission on its own motion, no natural gas company having fifteen thousand or fewer customers in this state shall be subject under the purchased gas adjustment rule to any audit or other investigation or any related hearing, other than a financial audit or, as necessary, any hearing related to a financial audit.

(4)(5) In issuing an order under division (C)(2)(3) or (3)(4) of this section, the commission shall file a written opinion setting forth the reasons showing good cause under such division and the specific matters to be audited, investigated, or subjected to hearing. Nothing in division (C)(2)(3) or (3)(4) of this section relieves such a natural gas company from the duty to file such information as the commission may require under the rule for the purpose of showing that a company has charged its customers accurately for the cost of gas obtained.

(D) A natural gas company that does not sell natural gas under a purchased gas adjustment clause shall not be subject to this section.

(E) Nothing in this section or any other provision of law shall be construed to mean that the commission, in the event of any cost distribution allowed under this section, may issue an order pursuant to which the prudent and reasonable cost of gas to a gas company or natural gas company of any special purchase may not be recovered by the company. For the purpose of this division, such cost of gas neither includes any applicable franchise taxes nor the ordinary losses of gas experienced by the company in the process of transmission and distribution.

(E)(F) The commission shall not at any time prevent or restrain such costs as are distributable under this section from being so distributed, unless the commission has reason to believe that an arithmetic or accounting inaccuracy exists with respect to such a distribution or that the company has not accurately represented the amount of the cost of a special purchase, or has followed imprudent or unreasonable procurement policies and practices, has made errors in the estimation of cubic feet sold, or has employed such other practices, policies, or factors as the commission considers inappropriate.

(F)(G) The cost of natural gas under this section shall not include any cost recovered by a natural gas company pursuant to section 4929.25 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4909.05.  As used in this section:

(A) A "lease purchase agreement" is an agreement pursuant to which a public utility leasing property is required to make rental payments for the term of the agreement and either the utility is granted the right to purchase the property upon the completion of the term of the agreement and upon the payment of an additional fixed sum of money or title to the property vests in the utility upon the making of the final rental payment.

(B) A "leaseback" is the sale or transfer of property by a public utility to another person contemporaneously followed by the leasing of the property to the public utility on a long-term basis.

(C) The public utilities commission shall prescribe the form and details of the valuation report of the property of each public utility or railroad in the state. Such report shall include all the kinds and classes of property, with the value of each, owned or, held, or, with respect to a natural gas company, projected to be owned or held as of the date certain, by each public utility or railroad used and useful, or, with respect to a natural gas company, projected to be used and useful as of the date certain, for the service and convenience of the public. Such report shall contain the following facts in detail:

(C)(1) The original cost of each parcel of land owned in fee and in use at the date certain, or, with respect to a natural gas company, projected to be owned in fee and in use as of the date certain, determined by the commission; and also a statement of the conditions of acquisition, whether by direct purchase, by donation, by exercise of the power of eminent domain, or otherwise;

(D)(2) The actual acquisition cost, not including periodic rental fees, of rights-of-way, trailways, or other land rights held, or, with respect to a natural gas company, projected to be held as of the date certain, by virtue of easements, leases, or other forms of grants of rights as to usage;

(E)(3) The original cost of all other kinds and classes of property used and useful, or, with respect to a natural gas company, projected to be used and useful as of the date certain, in the rendition of service to the public. Such original costs of property, other than land owned in fee, shall be the cost, as determined to be reasonable by the commission, to the person that first dedicated or dedicates the property to the public use and shall be set forth in property accounts and subaccounts as prescribed by the commission. To the extent that the costs of property comprising a coal research and development facility, as defined in section 1555.01 of the Revised Code, or a coal development project, as defined in section 1551.30 of the Revised Code, have been allowed for recovery as Ohio coal research and development costs under section 4905.304 of the Revised Code, none of those costs shall be included as a cost of property under this division.

(F)(4) The cost of property constituting all or part of a project leased to or used by the utility, or, with respect to a natural gas company, projected to be leased to or used by the utility as of the date certain, under Chapter 165., 3706., 6121., or 6123. of the Revised Code and not included under division (E)(C)(3) of this section exclusive of any interest directly or indirectly paid by the utility with respect thereto whether or not capitalized;

(G)(5) In the discretion of the commission, the cost to a utility, in an amount determined to be reasonable by the commission, of property constituting all or part of a project leased to the utility, or, with respect to a natural gas company, projected to be leased to the utility as of the date certain, under a lease purchase agreement or a leaseback and not included under division (E)(C)(3) of this section exclusive of any interest directly or indirectly paid by the utility with respect thereto whether or not capitalized;

(H)(6) The proper and adequate reserve for depreciation, as determined to be reasonable by the commission;

(I)(7) Any sums of money or property that the company may have received, or, with respect to a natural gas company, is projected to receive as of the date certain, as total or partial defrayal of the cost of its property;

(J)(8) The valuation of the property of the company, which shall be the sum of the amounts contained in the report pursuant to divisions (C), (D), (E), (F), and (G)(1) to (5) of this section, less the sum of the amounts contained in the report pursuant to divisions (H)(C)(6) and (I)(7) of this section.

The report shall show separately the property used and useful to such public utility or railroad in the furnishing of the service to the public, and the property held by such public utility or railroad for other purposes, and the property projected to be used and useful to or held by a natural gas company as of the date certain, and such other items as the commission considers proper. The commission may require an additional report showing the extent to which the property is used and useful, or, with respect to a natural gas company, projected to be used and useful as of the date certain. Such reports shall be filed in the office of the commission for the information of the governor and the general assembly.

Sec. 4909.06.  The investigation and report required by section 4909.05 of the Revised Code shall show, when the public utilities commission deems it necessary, the amounts, dates, and rates of interest of all bonds outstanding against each public utility or railroad, the property upon which such bonds are a lien, the amounts paid for them, and, the original capital stock and the moneys received by any such public utility or railroad by reason of any issue of stock, bonds, or other securities. Such report shall also show the net and gross receipts of such public utility or railroad and the method by which moneys were expended or paid out and the purpose of such payments. The commission may prescribe the procedure to be followed in making the investigation and valuation, the form in which the results of the ascertainment of the value of each public utility or railroad shall be submitted, and the classifications of the elements that constitute the ascertained value. Such investigation shall also show the value of the property of every public utility or railroad as a whole, and if such property is in more than one county, the value of its property in each of such counties.

"Valuation" and "value," as used in this section, may include, with respect to a natural gas company, projected valuation and value as of the date certain, if applicable because of a future date certain under section 4909.15 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4909.07.  The public utilities commission, during the making of the valuation provided for in sections 4909.04 to 4909.13, inclusive, of the Revised Code, and after its completion, shall in like manner keep itself informed through its engineers, experts, and other assistants of all extensions, improvements, or other changes in the condition and value of the property of all public utilities or railroads and shall ascertain the value of such extensions, improvements, and changes. The commission shall, as is required for the proper regulation of such public utilities or railroads, revise and correct its valuations of property, showing such revisions and corrections as a whole and as to each county. Such revisions and corrections shall be filed in the same manner as original reports.

"Valuation" and "value," as used in this section, may include, with respect to a natural gas company, projected valuation and value as of the date certain, if applicable because of a future date certain under section 4909.15 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4909.08.  When the public utilities commission has completed the valuation of the property of any public utility or railroad and before such valuation becomes final, it shall give notice by registered letter to such public utility or railroad, and if a substantial portion of said public utility or railroad is situated in a municipal corporation, then to the mayor of such municipal corporation, stating the valuations placed upon the several kinds and classes of property of such public utility or railroad and upon the property as a whole and give such further notice by publication or otherwise as it shall deem necessary to appraise apprise the public of such valuation. If, within thirty days after such notification, no protest has been filed with the commission, such valuation becomes final. If notice of protest has been filed by any public utility or railroad, the commission shall fix a time for hearing such protest and shall consider at such hearing any matter material thereto presented by such public utility, railroad, or municipal corporation, in support of its protest or by any representative of the public against such protest. If, after the hearing of any protest of any valuation so fixed, the commission is of the opinion that its inventory is incomplete or inaccurate or that its valuation is incorrect, it shall make such changes as are necessary and shall issue an order making such corrected valuations final. A final valuation by the commission and all classifications made for the ascertainment of such valuations shall be public and are prima-facie evidence relative to the value of the property.

"Valuation" and "value," as used in this section, may include, with respect to a natural gas company, projected valuation and value as of the date certain, if applicable because of a future date certain under section 4909.15 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4909.15.  (A) The public utilities commission, when fixing and determining just and reasonable rates, fares, tolls, rentals, and charges, shall determine:

(1) The valuation as of the date certain of the property of the public utility used and useful or, with respect to a natural gas company, projected to be used and useful as of the date certain, in rendering the public utility service for which rates are to be fixed and determined. The valuation so determined shall be the total value as set forth in division (J)(C)(8) of section 4909.05 of the Revised Code, and a reasonable allowance for materials and supplies and cash working capital, as determined by the commission.

The commission, in its discretion, may include in the valuation a reasonable allowance for construction work in progress but, in no event, may such an allowance be made by the commission until it has determined that the particular construction project is at least seventy-five per cent complete.

In determining the percentage completion of a particular construction project, the commission shall consider, among other relevant criteria, the per cent of time elapsed in construction; the per cent of construction funds, excluding allowance for funds used during construction, expended, or obligated to such construction funds budgeted where all such funds are adjusted to reflect current purchasing power; and any physical inspection performed by or on behalf of any party, including the commission's staff.

A reasonable allowance for construction work in progress shall not exceed ten per cent of the total valuation as stated in this division, not including such allowance for construction work in progress.

Where the commission permits an allowance for construction work in progress, the dollar value of the project or portion thereof included in the valuation as construction work in progress shall not be included in the valuation as plant in service until such time as the total revenue effect of the construction work in progress allowance is offset by the total revenue effect of the plant in service exclusion. Carrying charges calculated in a manner similar to allowance for funds used during construction shall accrue on that portion of the project in service but not reflected in rates as plant in service, and such accrued carrying charges shall be included in the valuation of the property at the conclusion of the offset period for purposes of division (J)(C)(8) of section 4909.05 of the Revised Code.

From and after April 10, 1985, no allowance for construction work in progress as it relates to a particular construction project shall be reflected in rates for a period exceeding forty-eight consecutive months commencing on the date the initial rates reflecting such allowance become effective, except as otherwise provided in this division.

The applicable maximum period in rates for an allowance for construction work in progress as it relates to a particular construction project shall be tolled if, and to the extent, a delay in the in-service date of the project is caused by the action or inaction of any federal, state, county, or municipal agency having jurisdiction, where such action or inaction relates to a change in a rule, standard, or approval of such agency, and where such action or inaction is not the result of the failure of the utility to reasonably endeavor to comply with any rule, standard, or approval prior to such change.

In the event that such period expires before the project goes into service, the commission shall exclude, from the date of expiration, the allowance for the project as construction work in progress from rates, except that the commission may extend the expiration date up to twelve months for good cause shown.

In the event that a utility has permanently canceled, abandoned, or terminated construction of a project for which it was previously permitted a construction work in progress allowance, the commission immediately shall exclude the allowance for the project from the valuation.

In the event that a construction work in progress project previously included in the valuation is removed from the valuation pursuant to this division, any revenues collected by the utility from its customers after April 10, 1985, that resulted from such prior inclusion shall be offset against future revenues over the same period of time as the project was included in the valuation as construction work in progress. The total revenue effect of such offset shall not exceed the total revenues previously collected.

In no event shall the total revenue effect of any offset or offsets provided under division (A)(1) of this section exceed the total revenue effect of any construction work in progress allowance.

(2) A fair and reasonable rate of return to the utility on the valuation as determined in division (A)(1) of this section;

(3) The dollar annual return to which the utility is entitled by applying the fair and reasonable rate of return as determined under division (A)(2) of this section to the valuation of the utility determined under division (A)(1) of this section;

(4) The cost to the utility of rendering the public utility service for the test period used for the determination under division (C)(1) of this section, less the total of any interest on cash or credit refunds paid, pursuant to section 4909.42 of the Revised Code, by the utility during the test period.

(a) Federal, state, and local taxes imposed on or measured by net income may, in the discretion of the commission, be computed by the normalization method of accounting, provided the utility maintains accounting reserves that reflect differences between taxes actually payable and taxes on a normalized basis, provided that no determination as to the treatment in the rate-making process of such taxes shall be made that will result in loss of any tax depreciation or other tax benefit to which the utility would otherwise be entitled, and further provided that such tax benefit as redounds to the utility as a result of such a computation may not be retained by the company, used to fund any dividend or distribution, or utilized for any purpose other than the defrayal of the operating expenses of the utility and the defrayal of the expenses of the utility in connection with construction work.

(b) The amount of any tax credits granted to an electric light company under section 5727.391 of the Revised Code for Ohio coal burned prior to January 1, 2000, shall not be retained by the company, used to fund any dividend or distribution, or utilized for any purposes other than the defrayal of the allowable operating expenses of the company and the defrayal of the allowable expenses of the company in connection with the installation, acquisition, construction, or use of a compliance facility. The amount of the tax credits granted to an electric light company under that section for Ohio coal burned prior to January 1, 2000, shall be returned to its customers within three years after initially claiming the credit through an offset to the company's rates or fuel component, as determined by the commission, as set forth in schedules filed by the company under section 4905.30 of the Revised Code. As used in division (A)(4)(c)(b) of this section, "compliance facility" has the same meaning as in section 5727.391 of the Revised Code.

(B) The commission shall compute the gross annual revenues to which the utility is entitled by adding the dollar amount of return under division (A)(3) of this section to the cost, for the test period used for the determination under division (C)(1) of this section, of rendering the public utility service for the test period under division (A)(4) of this section.

(C)(1) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, the revenues and expenses of the utility shall be determined during a test period. The utility may propose a test period, unless otherwise ordered by the commission, shall be the for this determination that is any twelve-month period beginning not more than six months prior to the date the application is filed and ending six months subsequent to that date. In no event shall the test period end not more than nine months subsequent to the that date the application is filed. The test period for determining revenues and expenses of the utility shall be determined during the test period proposed by the utility, unless otherwise ordered by the commission. The

(2) The date certain shall be not later than the date of filing, except that it shall be, for a natural gas company, not later than the end of the test period.

(D) A natural gas company may propose adjustments to the revenues and expenses to be determined under division (C)(1) of this section for any changes that are, during the test period or the twelve-month period immediately following the test period, reasonably expected to occur. The natural gas company shall identify and quantify, individually, any proposed adjustments. The commission shall incorporate the proposed adjustments into the determination if the adjustments are just and reasonable.

(E) When the commission is of the opinion, after hearing and after making the determinations under divisions (A) and (B) of this section, that any rate, fare, charge, toll, rental, schedule, classification, or service, or any joint rate, fare, charge, toll, rental, schedule, classification, or service rendered, charged, demanded, exacted, or proposed to be rendered, charged, demanded, or exacted, is, or will be, unjust, unreasonable, unjustly discriminatory, unjustly preferential, or in violation of law, that the service is, or will be, inadequate, or that the maximum rates, charges, tolls, or rentals chargeable by any such public utility are insufficient to yield reasonable compensation for the service rendered, and are unjust and unreasonable, the commission shall:

(1) With due regard among other things to the value of all property of the public utility actually used and useful for the convenience of the public as determined under division (A)(1) of this section, excluding from such value the value of any franchise or right to own, operate, or enjoy the same in excess of the amount, exclusive of any tax or annual charge, actually paid to any political subdivision of the state or county, as the consideration for the grant of such franchise or right, and excluding any value added to such property by reason of a monopoly or merger, with due regard in determining the dollar annual return under division (A)(3) of this section to the necessity of making reservation out of the income for surplus, depreciation, and contingencies, and;

(2) With due regard to all such other matters as are proper, according to the facts in each case,

(a) Including a fair and reasonable rate of return determined by the commission with reference to a cost of debt equal to the actual embedded cost of debt of such public utility,

(b) But not including the portion of any periodic rental or use payments representing that cost of property that is included in the valuation report under divisions (F)(C)(4) and (G)(5) of section 4909.05 of the Revised Code, fix and determine the just and reasonable rate, fare, charge, toll, rental, or service to be rendered, charged, demanded, exacted, or collected for the performance or rendition of the service that will provide the public utility the allowable gross annual revenues under division (B) of this section, and order such just and reasonable rate, fare, charge, toll, rental, or service to be substituted for the existing one. After such determination and order no change in the rate, fare, toll, charge, rental, schedule, classification, or service shall be made, rendered, charged, demanded, exacted, or changed by such public utility without the order of the commission, and any other rate, fare, toll, charge, rental, classification, or service is prohibited.

(E)(F) Upon application of any person or any public utility, and after notice to the parties in interest and opportunity to be heard as provided in Chapters 4901., 4903., 4905., 4907., 4909., 4921., and 4923. of the Revised Code for other hearings, has been given, the commission may rescind, alter, or amend an order fixing any rate, fare, toll, charge, rental, classification, or service, or any other order made by the commission. Certified copies of such orders shall be served and take effect as provided for original orders.

Sec. 4909.156.  In fixing the just, reasonable, and compensatory rates, joint rates, tolls, classifications, charges, or rentals to be observed and charged for service by any public utility, the public utilities commission shall, in action upon an application filed pursuant to section 4909.18 of the Revised Code, require a public utility to file a report showing the proportionate amounts of the valuation of the property of the utility, as determined under section 4909.05 or the Revised Code, and the proportionate amounts of the revenues and expenses of the utility that are proposed to be considered as attributable to the service area involved in the application.

"Valuation," as used in this section, may include, with respect to a natural gas company, projected valuation as of the date certain, if applicable because of a future date certain under section 4909.15 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4909.17.  No rate, joint rate, toll, classification, charge, or rental, no change in any rate, joint rate, toll, classification, charge, or rental, and no regulation or practice affecting any rate, joint rate, toll, classification, charge, or rental of a public utility shall become effective until the public utilities commission, by order, determines it to be just and reasonable, except as provided in this section and sections 4909.18 and, 4909.19, and 4909.191 of the Revised Code. Such sections do not apply to any rate, joint rate, toll, classification, charge, or rental, or any regulation or practice affecting the same, of railroads, street and electric railways, motor transportation companies, and pipe line companies.

Sec. 4909.18.  Any public utility desiring to establish any rate, joint rate, toll, classification, charge, or rental, or to modify, amend, change, increase, or reduce any existing rate, joint rate, toll, classification, charge, or rental, or any regulation or practice affecting the same, shall file a written application with the public utilities commission. Except for actions under section 4909.16 of the Revised Code, no public utility may issue the notice of intent to file an application pursuant to division (B) of section 4909.43 of the Revised Code to increase any existing rate, joint rate, toll, classification, charge, or rental, until a final order under this section has been issued by the commission on any pending prior application to increase the same rate, joint rate, toll, classification, charge, or rental or until two hundred seventy-five days after filing such application, whichever is sooner. Such application shall be verified by the president or a vice-president and the secretary or treasurer of the applicant. Such application shall contain a schedule of the existing rate, joint rate, toll, classification, charge, or rental, or regulation or practice affecting the same, a schedule of the modification amendment, change, increase, or reduction sought to be established, and a statement of the facts and grounds upon which such application is based. If such application proposes a new service or the use of new equipment, or proposes the establishment or amendment of a regulation, the application shall fully describe the new service or equipment, or the regulation proposed to be established or amended, and shall explain how the proposed service or equipment differs from services or equipment presently offered or in use, or how the regulation proposed to be established or amended differs from regulations presently in effect. The application shall provide such additional information as the commission may require in its discretion. If the commission determines that such application is not for an increase in any rate, joint rate, toll, classification, charge, or rental, the commission may permit the filing of the schedule proposed in the application and fix the time when such schedule shall take effect. If it appears to the commission that the proposals in the application may be unjust or unreasonable, the commission shall set the matter for hearing and shall give notice of such hearing by sending written notice of the date set for the hearing to the public utility and publishing notice of the hearing one time in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in the service area affected by the application. At such hearing, the burden of proof to show that the proposals in the application are just and reasonable shall be upon the public utility. After such hearing, the commission shall, where practicable, issue an appropriate order within six months from the date the application was filed.

If the commission determines that said application is for an increase in any rate, joint rate, toll, classification, charge, or rental there shall also, unless otherwise ordered by the commission, be filed with the application in duplicate the following exhibits:

(A) A report of its property used and useful, or, with respect to a natural gas company, projected to be used and useful as of the date certain, in rendering the service referred to in such application, as provided in section 4909.05 of the Revised Code;

(B) A complete operating statement of its last fiscal year, showing in detail all its receipts, revenues, and incomes from all sources, all of its operating costs and other expenditures, and any analysis such public utility deems applicable to the matter referred to in said application;

(C) A statement of the income and expense anticipated under the application filed;

(D) A statement of financial condition summarizing assets, liabilities, and net worth;

(E) A proposed notice for newspaper publication fully disclosing the substance of the application. The notice shall prominently state that any person, firm, corporation, or association may file, pursuant to section 4909.19 of the Revised Code, an objection to such increase which may allege that such application contains proposals that are unjust and discriminatory or unreasonable. The notice shall further include the average percentage increase in rate that a representative industrial, commercial, and residential customer will bear should the increase be granted in full;

(F) Such other information as the commission may require in its discretion.

Sec. 4909.19.  (A) Upon the filing of any application for increase provided for by section 4909.18 of the Revised Code the public utility shall forthwith publish the substance and prayer notice of such application, in a form approved by the public utilities commission, once a week for three two consecutive weeks in a newspaper published and in general circulation throughout the territory in which such public utility operates and directly affected by the matters referred to in said application, and. The notice shall include instructions for direct electronic access to the application or other documents on file with the public utilities commission. The first publication of the notice shall be made in its entirety and may be made in a preprinted insert in the newspaper. The second publication may be abbreviated if all of the following apply:

(1) The abbreviated notice is at least one-fourth of the size of the notice in the first publication.

(2) At the same time the abbreviated notice is published, the notice in the first publication is posted in its entirety on the newspaper's web site, if the newspaper has a web site, and the commission's web site.

(3) The abbreviated notice contains a statement of the web site posting or postings, as applicable, and instructions for accessing the posting or postings.

(B) The commission shall determine a format for the content of all notices required under this section, and shall consider costs and technological efficiencies in making that determination. Defects in the publication of said notice shall not affect the legality or sufficiency of notices published under this section provided that the commission has substantially complied with this section, as described in section 4905.09 of the Revised Code.

(C) The commission shall at once cause an investigation to be made of the facts set forth in said application and the exhibits attached thereto, and of the matters connected therewith. Within a reasonable time as determined by the commission after the filing of such application, a written report shall be made and filed with the commission, a copy of which shall be sent by certified mail to the applicant, the mayor of any municipal corporation affected by the application, and to such other persons as the commission deems interested. If no objection to such report is made by any party interested within thirty days after such filing and the mailing of copies thereof, the commission shall fix a date within ten days for the final hearing upon said application, giving notice thereof to all parties interested. At such hearing the commission shall consider the matters set forth in said application and make such order respecting the prayer thereof as to it seems just and reasonable.

If objections are filed with the commission, the commission shall cause a pre-hearing conference to be held between all parties, intervenors, and the commission staff in all cases involving more than one hundred thousand customers.

If objections are filed with the commission within thirty days after the filing of such report, the application shall be promptly set down for hearing of testimony before the commission or be forthwith referred to an attorney examiner designated by the commission to take all the testimony with respect to the application and objections which may be offered by any interested party. The commission shall also fix the time and place to take testimony giving ten days' written notice of such time and place to all parties. The taking of testimony shall commence on the date fixed in said notice and shall continue from day to day until completed. The attorney examiner may, upon good cause shown, grant continuances for not more than three days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The commission may grant continuances for a longer period than three days upon its order for good cause shown. At any hearing involving rates or charges sought to be increased, the burden of proof to show that the increased rates or charges are just and reasonable shall be on the public utility.

When the taking of testimony is completed, a full and complete record of such testimony noting all objections made and exceptions taken by any party or counsel, shall be made, signed by the attorney examiner, and filed with the commission. Prior to the formal consideration of the application by the commission and the rendition of any order respecting the prayer of the application, a quorum of the commission shall consider the recommended opinion and order of the attorney examiner, in an open, formal, public proceeding in which an overview and explanation is presented orally. Thereafter, the commission shall make such order respecting the prayer of such application as seems just and reasonable to it.

In all proceedings before the commission in which the taking of testimony is required, except when heard by the commission, attorney examiners shall be assigned by the commission to take such testimony and fix the time and place therefor, and such testimony shall be taken in the manner prescribed in this section. All testimony shall be under oath or affirmation and taken down and transcribed by a reporter and made a part of the record in the case. The commission may hear the testimony or any part thereof in any case without having the same referred to an attorney examiner and may take additional testimony. Testimony shall be taken and a record made in accordance with such general rules as the commission prescribes and subject to such special instructions in any proceedings as it, by order, directs.

Sec. 4909.191. (A) If the public utilities commission, under division (D) of section 4909.15 of the Revised Code, incorporated proposed adjustments to revenues and expenses into the commission's determination under that section, the natural gas company shall, not later than ninety days after actual data for all of the incorporated adjustments becomes known, submit to the commission proposed rate or charge adjustments that provide for the recalculation of rates or charges, reflective of customer-class responsibility, corresponding to the differences, if any, between the incorporated adjustments to revenues and expenses and the actual revenues and expenses associated with the incorporated adjustments.

(B) If the commission incorporated projected value or valuation of property into the commission's determination under division (A)(1) of section 4909.15 of the Revised Code, the natural gas company shall, not later than ninety days after data for the actual value or valuation as of the date certain becomes known, submit to the commission proposed rate or charge adjustments that provide for the recalculation of rates or charges, reflective of customer-class responsibility, corresponding to the differences, if any, between the projected value or valuation incorporated into the commission's determination and the actual value or valuation as of the date certain.

(C) The commission shall review the proposed rate or charge adjustments submitted under divisions (A) and (B) of this section. The review shall not include a hearing unless the commission finds that the proposed rate or charge adjustments may be unreasonable, in which case the commission may, in its discretion, schedule the matter for a hearing.

(D) The commission shall issue, not later than one hundred fifty days after the date that any proposed rate or charge adjustments are submitted under division (A) or (B) of this section, a final order on the proposed rate or charge adjustments. Any rate or charge adjustments authorized under this division shall be limited to amounts that are not greater than those consistent with the proposed adjustments to revenues and expenses that were incorporated into the commission's determination under division (D) of section 4909.15 of the Revised Code, and not greater than those consistent with the incorporated projected value or valuation. In no event shall rate or charge adjustments authorized under this division be upward.

After the commission has issued such a final order, the natural gas company, if applicable, shall submit to the commission proposed reconciliation adjustments that refund to customers the difference between the actual revenues collected by the natural gas company, under the rates and charges determined by the commission under section 4909.15 of the Revised Code, and the rates or charges recalculated under the adjustments authorized under this division. The reconciliation adjustments shall be effective for a twelve-month period.

(E) The reconciliation adjustments ordered under division (D) of this section may be subject to a final reconciliation by the commission. Any such final reconciliation shall occur after the twelve-month period described in division (D) of this section.

Sec. 4928.18.  (A) Notwithstanding division (D)(E)(2)(a) of section 4909.15 of the Revised Code, nothing in this chapter prevents the public utilities commission from exercising its authority under Title XLIX of the Revised Code to protect customers of retail electric service supplied by an electric utility from any adverse effect of the utility's provision of a product or service other than retail electric service.

(B) The commission has jurisdiction under section 4905.26 of the Revised Code, upon complaint of any person or upon complaint or initiative of the commission on or after the starting date of competitive retail electric service, to determine whether an electric utility or its affiliate has violated any provision of section 4928.17 of the Revised Code or an order issued or rule adopted under that section. For this purpose, the commission may examine such books, accounts, or other records kept by an electric utility or its affiliate as may relate to the businesses for which corporate separation is required under section 4928.17 of the Revised Code, and may investigate such utility or affiliate operations as may relate to those businesses and investigate the interrelationship of those operations. Any such examination or investigation by the commission shall be governed by Chapter 4903. of the Revised Code.

(C) In addition to any remedies otherwise provided by law, the commission, regarding a determination of a violation pursuant to division (B) of this section, may do any of the following:

(1) Issue an order directing the utility or affiliate to comply;

(2) Modify an order as the commission finds reasonable and appropriate and order the utility or affiliate to comply with the modified order;

(3) Suspend or abrogate an order, in whole or in part;

(4) Issue an order that the utility or affiliate pay restitution to any person injured by the violation or failure to comply;

(D) In addition to any remedies otherwise provided by law, the commission, regarding a determination of a violation pursuant to division (B) of this section and commensurate with the severity of the violation, the source of the violation, any pattern of violations, or any monetary damages caused by the violation, may do either of the following:

(1) Impose a forfeiture on the utility or affiliate of up to twenty-five thousand dollars per day per violation. The recovery and deposit of any such forfeiture shall be subject to sections 4905.57 and 4905.59 of the Revised Code.

(2) Regarding a violation by an electric utility relating to a corporate separation plan involving competitive retail electric service, suspend or abrogate all or part of an order, to the extent it is in effect, authorizing an opportunity for the utility to receive transition revenues under a transition plan approved by the commission under section 4928.33 of the Revised Code.

Corporate separation under this section does not prohibit the common use of employee benefit plans, facilities, equipment, or employees, subject to proper accounting and the code of conduct ordered by the commission as provided in division (A)(1) of this section.

(E) Section 4905.61 of the Revised Code applies in the case of any violation of section 4928.17 of the Revised Code or of any rule adopted or order issued under that section.

Sec. 4929.05.  (A) As part of an application filed pursuant to section 4909.18 of the Revised Code, a A natural gas company may request approval of an alternative rate plan by filing an application under section 4909.18 of the Revised Code, regardless of whether the application is for an increase in rates. After notice, investigation, and which may include a hearing, and after determining just and reasonable rates and charges for the natural gas company pursuant to section 4909.15 of the Revised Code, at the discretion of the public utilities commission, the commission shall authorize the applicant to implement an alternative rate plan if the natural gas company has made a showing and the commission finds that both all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The natural gas company is in compliance with section 4905.35 of the Revised Code and is in substantial compliance with the policy of this state specified in section 4929.02 of the Revised Code;.

(2) The natural gas company is expected to continue to be in substantial compliance with the policy of this state specified in section 4929.02 of the Revised Code after implementation of the alternative rate plan.

(3) The alternative rate plan is just and reasonable.

(B) The applicant shall have the burden of proof under this section.

(C) No request may be made under this section prior to one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this section.

Sec. 4929.051. (A) An alternative rate plan filed by a natural gas company under section 4929.05 of the Revised Code and proposing to initiate or continue a revenue decoupling mechanism may shall be considered an application not for an increase in rates if the rates, joint rates, tolls, classifications, charges, or rentals are based upon the billing determinants and revenue requirement authorized by the public utilities commission in the company's most recent rate case proceeding and the plan also establishes, continues, or expands an energy efficiency or energy conservation program.

(B) An alternative rate plan filed by a natural gas company under section 4929.05 of the Revised Code and seeking authorization to continue a previously approved alternative rate plan shall be considered an application not for an increase in rates.

Sec. 4929.11.  Nothing in the Revised Code prohibits (A) Upon an application filed under this section, and the public utilities commission may allow, any automatic adjustment mechanism or device in a natural gas company's rate schedules that allows a natural gas company's rates or charges for a regulated service or goods to fluctuate automatically in accordance with changes in a specified cost or costs.

(B) Upon an application filed under section 4909.18 or 4929.05 of the Revised Code, the commission may allow any automatic adjustment mechanism or device as described in division (A) of this section.

Sec. 4929.111. (A) A natural gas company may file an application with the public utilities commission under section 4909.18, 4929.05, or 4929.11 of the Revised Code to implement a capital expenditure program for any of the following:

(1) Any infrastructure expansion, infrastructure improvement, or infrastructure replacement program;

(2) Any program to install, upgrade, or replace information technology systems;

(3) Any program reasonably necessary to comply with any rules, regulations, or orders of the commission or other governmental entity having jurisdiction.

(B) An application submitted under division (A) of this section shall specify the total cost of the capital expenditure program.

(C) If the commission finds that the capital expenditure program is consistent with the natural gas company's obligation under section 4905.22 of the Revised Code to furnish necessary and adequate services and facilities, which services and facilities the commission finds to be just and reasonable, the commission shall approve the application. Any deferral or recovery authorized under division (D) of this section shall be limited to amounts that are no greater than those consistent with the total cost of the capital expenditure program as set forth in the application, unless the commission in its discretion authorizes additional recovery under this section.

(D) In approving an application under division (C) of this section, the commission shall authorize the natural gas company to defer or recover in an application that the natural gas company may file under section 4909.18, 4929.05, or 4929.11 of the Revised Code, both of the following:

(1) A regulatory asset for the post-in-service carrying costs on that portion of the assets of the capital expenditure program that are placed in service but not reflected in rates as plant in service;

(2) A regulatory asset for the incremental depreciation directly attributable to the capital expenditure program and the property tax expense directly attributable to the capital expenditure program.

(E) A natural gas company shall not request recovery of the costs described in division (D) of this section under section 4929.05 or 4929.11 of the Revised Code more than one time each calendar year.

(F) The natural gas company may make any accounting accruals, necessary to establish the regulatory assets authorized under division (D) of this section, in addition to any allowance for funds used during construction.

(G)(1) Any accrual for deferral or recovery under division (D) of this section shall be calculated in accordance with the system of accounts established by the commission under section 4905.13 of the Revised Code.

(2) The natural gas company shall calculate the post-in-service carrying costs, described in division (D)(1) of this section, for every investment in an asset of the capital expenditure program. This calculation shall be based on the cost of long-term debt of the natural gas company.

(H) Any accruals for deferral or recovery under division (D) of this section shall commence when the assets of the capital expenditure program are placed in service and shall cease when rates reflecting the cost of those assets are effective.

Sec. 4935.04.  (A) As used in this chapter:

(1) "Major utility facility" means:

(a) An electric transmission line and associated facilities of a design capacity of one hundred twenty-five kilovolts or more;

(b) A gas or natural gas transmission line and associated facilities designed for, or capable of, transporting gas or natural gas at pressures in excess of one hundred twenty-five pounds per square inch.

"Major utility facility" does not include electric, gas, or natural gas distributing lines and gas or natural gas gathering lines and associated facilities as defined by the public utilities commission; facilities owned or operated by industrial firms, persons, or institutions that produce or transmit gas or natural gas, or electricity primarily for their own use or as a byproduct of their operations; gas or natural gas transmission lines and associated facilities over which an agency of the United States has certificate jurisdiction; facilities owned or operated by a person furnishing gas or natural gas directly to fifteen thousand or fewer customers within this state.

(2) "Person" has the meaning set forth in section 4906.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) Each person owning or operating a gas or natural gas transmission line and associated facilities within this state over which an agency of the United States has certificate jurisdiction shall furnish to the commission a copy of the energy information filed by the person with that agency of the United States.

(C) Each person owning or operating a major utility facility within this state, or furnishing gas, natural gas, or electricity directly to more than fifteen thousand customers within this state annually shall furnish a report to the commission for its review. The report shall be furnished annually, except that for a gas or natural gas company the report shall be furnished every three years. The report shall be termed the long-term forecast report and shall contain:

(1) A year-by-year, ten-year forecast of annual energy demand, peak load, reserves, and a general description of the resource plan to meet demand;

(2) A range of projected loads during the period;

(3) A description of major utility facilities planned to be added or taken out of service in the next ten years, including, to the extent the information is available, prospective sites for transmission line locations;

(4) For gas and natural gas, a projection of anticipated supply, supply prices, and sources of supply over the forecast period;

(5) A description of proposed changes in the transmission system planned for the next five years;

(6) A month-by-month forecast of both energy demand and peak load for electric utilities, and gas sendout for gas and natural gas utilities, for the next two years. The report shall describe the major utility facilities that, in the judgment of such person, will be required to supply system demands during the forecast period. The report from a gas or natural gas utility shall cover the ten- and five-year periods next succeeding the date of the report, and the report from an electric utility shall cover the twenty-, ten-, and five-year periods next succeeding the date of the report. Each report shall be made available to the public and furnished upon request to municipal corporations and governmental agencies charged with the duty of protecting the environment or of planning land use. The report shall be in such form and shall contain such information as may be prescribed by the commission.

Each person not owning or operating a major utility facility within this state and serving fifteen thousand or fewer gas or natural gas, or electric customers within this state shall furnish such information as the commission requires.

(D) The commission shall:

(1) Review and comment on the reports filed under division (C) of this section, and make the information contained in the reports readily available to the public and other interested government agencies;

(2) Compile and publish each year the general locations of proposed and existing transmission line routes within its jurisdiction as identified in the reports filed under division (C) of this section, identifying the general location of such sites and routes and the approximate year when construction is expected to commence, and to make such information readily available to the public, to each newspaper of daily or weekly circulation within the area affected by the proposed site and route, and to interested federal, state, and local agencies;

(3) Hold a public hearing:

(a) On the first long-term forecast report filed after January 11, 1983;

(b) At least once in every five years, on the latest report furnished by any person subject to this section;

(c) On the latest report furnished by any person subject to this section if the report contains a substantial change from the preceding report furnished by that person. "Substantial change" includes, but is not limited to:

(i) A change in forecasted peak loads or energy consumption over the forecast period of greater than an average of one-half of one per cent per year;

(ii) Demonstration upon the showing of good cause to the commission by an interested party.

The If a hearing is held, the commission shall fix a time for the hearing, which shall be not later than ninety days after the report is filed, and publish notice of the date, time of day, and location of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the person furnishing the report has or intends to locate a major utility facility and will provide service during the period covered by the report. The notice shall be published not less than fifteen nor more than thirty days before the hearing and shall state the matters to be considered.

Absent a showing of good cause, the commission shall not hold hearings under division (D)(3) of this section with respect to persons who, as the primary purpose of their business, furnish gas or natural gas, or electricity directly to fifteen thousand or fewer customers within this state solely for direct consumption by those customers.

(4) Require such information from persons subject to its jurisdiction as necessary to assist in the conduct of hearings and any investigation or studies it may undertake;

(5) Conduct any studies or investigations that are necessary or appropriate to carry out its responsibilities under this section.

(E)(1) The scope of the hearing held under division (D)(3) of this section shall be limited to issues relating to forecasting. The power siting board, the office of consumers' counsel, and all other persons having an interest in the proceedings shall be afforded the opportunity to be heard and to be represented by counsel. The commission may adjourn the hearing from time to time.

(2) The hearing shall include, but not be limited to, a review of:

(a) The projected loads and energy requirements for each year of the period;

(b) The estimated installed capacity and supplies to meet the projected load requirements.

(F) Based upon the report furnished pursuant to division (C) of this section and the hearing record, the commission, within ninety days from the close of the record in the hearing, shall determine if:

(1) All information relating to current activities, facilities agreements, and published energy policies of the state has been completely and accurately represented;

(2) The load requirements are based on substantially accurate historical information and adequate methodology;

(3) The forecasting methods consider the relationships between price and energy consumption;

(4) The report identifies and projects reductions in energy demands due to energy conservation measures in the industrial, commercial, residential, transportation, and energy production sectors in the service area;

(5) Utility company forecasts of loads and resources are reasonable in relation to population growth estimates made by state and federal agencies, transportation, and economic development plans and forecasts, and make recommendations where possible for necessary and reasonable alternatives to meet forecasted electric power demand;

(6) The report considers plans for expansion of the regional power grid and the planned facilities of other utilities in the state;

(7) All assumptions made in the forecast are reasonable and adequately documented.

(G) The commission shall adopt rules under section 111.15 of the Revised Code to establish criteria for evaluating the long-term forecasts of needs for gas and electric transmission service, to conduct hearings held under this section, to establish reasonable fees to defray the direct cost of the hearings and the review process, and such other rules as are necessary and convenient to implement this section.

(H) The hearing record produced under this section and the determinations of the commission shall be introduced into evidence and shall be considered in determining the basis of need for power siting board deliberations under division (A)(1) of section 4906.10 of the Revised Code. The hearing record produced under this section shall be introduced into evidence and shall be considered by the public utilities commission in its initiation of programs, examinations, and findings under section 4905.70 of the Revised Code, and shall be considered in the commission's determinations with respect to the establishment of just and reasonable rates under section 4909.15 of the Revised Code and financing utility facilities and authorizing issuance of all securities under sections 4905.40, 4905.401, 4905.41, and 4905.42 of the Revised Code. The forecast findings also shall serve as the basis for all other energy planning and development activities of the state government where electric and gas data are required.

(I)(1) No court other than the supreme court shall have power to review, suspend, or delay any determination made by the commission under this section, or enjoin, restrain, or interfere with the commission in the performance of official duties. A writ of mandamus shall not be issued against the commission by any court other than the supreme court.

(2) A final determination made by the commission shall be reversed, vacated, or modified by the supreme court on appeal, if, upon consideration of the record, such court is of the opinion that such determination was unreasonable or unlawful.

The proceeding to obtain such reversal, vacation, or modification shall be by notice of appeal, filed with the commission by any party to the proceeding before it, against the commission, setting forth the determination appealed from and errors complained of. The notice of appeal shall be served, unless waived, upon the commission by leaving a copy at the office of the chairperson of the commission at Columbus. The court may permit an interested party to intervene by cross-appeal.

(3) No proceeding to reverse, vacate, or modify a determination of the commission is commenced unless the notice of appeal is filed within sixty days after the date of the determination.

SECTION 2.  That existing sections 4903.083, 4905.302, 4909.05, 4909.06, 4909.07, 4909.08, 4909.15, 4909.156, 4909.17, 4909.18, 4909.19, 4928.18, 4929.05, 4929.051, 4929.11, and 4935.04 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.