As Pending in the Senate Public Utilities Committee

130th General Assembly
Regular Session
2013-2014
Sub. S. B. No. 58


Senator Seitz 



A BILL
To amend sections 717.25, 1710.061, 3706.25, 4905.31, 1
4928.01, 4928.143, 4928.20, 4928.61, 4928.65, 2
5501.311, and 5727.75; to amend section 4928.64 3
and to recodify it by subdividing it into sections 4
4928.641, 4928.642, 4928.643, 4928.644, 4928.645, 5
4928.646, 4928.647, 4928.648, and 4928.649; to 6
amend section 4928.66 and to recodify it by 7
subdividing it into sections 4928.661, 4928.662, 8
4928.665, 4928.666, 4928.667, 4928.668, 4928.6625, 9
4928.6626, 4928.6627, 4928.6650, 4928.6651, 10
4928.6655, 4928.6656, 4928.6657, and 4928.6658; to 11
enact new section 4928.66 and sections 4928.6410, 12
4928.6610, 4928.6611, 4928.6612, 4928.6613, 13
4928.6615, 4928.6616, 4928.6617, 4928.6618, 14
4928.6619, 4928.6620, 4928.6621, 4928.6622, 15
4928.6623, 4928.6630, 4928.6631, 4928.6632, 16
4928.6633, 4928.6634, 4928.6635, 4928.6636, 17
4928.6640, 4928.6641, 4928.6642, 4928.6645, 18
4928.6646, 4928.6647, 4928.6659, and 4928.6660 of 19
the Revised Code to modify the alternative energy 20
resource, energy efficiency, and peak demand 21
reduction law.22


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1. That sections 717.25, 1710.061, 3706.25, 4905.31, 23
4928.01, 4928.143, 4928.20, 4928.61, 4928.65, 5501.311, and 24
5727.75 be amended; section 4928.64 be amended and recodified by 25
subdividing it into sections 4928.641, 4928.642, 4928.643, 26
4928.644, 4928.645, 4928.646, 4928.647, 4928.648, and 4928.649; 27
section 4928.66 be amended and recodified by subdividing it into 28
sections 4928.661, 4928.662, 4928.665, 4928.666, 4928.667, 29
4928.668, 4928.6625, 4928.6626, 4928.6627, 4928.6650, 4928.6651, 30
4928.6655, 4928.6656, 4928.6657, and 4928.6658; that new section 31
4928.66 and sections 4928.6410, 4928.6610, 4928.6611, 4928.6612, 32
4928.6613, 4928.6615, 4928.6616, 4928.6617, 4928.6618, 4928.6619, 33
4928.6620, 4928.6621, 4928.6622, 4928.6623, 4928.6630, 4928.6631, 34
4928.6632, 4928.6633, 4928.6634, 4928.6635, 4928.6636, 4928.6640, 35
4928.6641, 4928.6642, 4928.6645, 4928.6646, 4928.6647, 4928.6659, 36
and 4928.6660 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:37

       Sec. 717.25. (A) As used in this section: 38

       (1) "Customer-generated energy project" means a wind, 39
biomass, or gasification facility for the generation of 40
electricity that meets either of the following requirements: 41

       (a) The facility is designed to have a generating capacity of 42
two hundred fifty kilowatts of electricity or less. 43

       (b) The facility is: 44

       (i) Designed to have a generating capacity of more than two 45
hundred fifty kilowatts of electricity; 46

       (ii) Operated in parallel with electric transmission and 47
distribution facilities serving the real property at the site of 48
the customer-generated energy project; 49

       (iii) Intended primarily to offset part or all of the 50
facility owner's requirements for electricity at the site of the 51
customer-generated energy project and is located on the facility 52
owner's real property; and 53

       (iv) Not producing energy for direct sale by the facility 54
owner to the public. 55

       (2) "Electric distribution utility" and "mercantile customer" 56
have the same meanings as in section 4928.01 of the Revised Code. 57

       (3) "Reduction in demand" has the same meaning as in section 58
1710.01 of the Revised Code. 59

       (B) The legislative authority of a municipal corporation may 60
establish a low-cost alternative energy revolving loan program to 61
assist owners of real property within the municipal corporation 62
with installing and implementing either of the following on their 63
real property: 64

       (1) Alternative energy technologies limited to solar 65
photovoltaic projects, solar thermal energy projects, geothermal 66
energy projects, and customer-generated energy projects; 67

       (2) Energy efficiency technologies, products, and activities 68
that reduce or support the reduction of energy consumption, allow 69
for the reduction in demand, or support the production of clean, 70
renewable energy. 71

       (C) If the legislative authority decides to establish such a 72
program, the legislative authority shall adopt an ordinance that 73
provides for the following: 74

       (1) Creation in the municipal treasury of an alternative 75
energy revolving loan fund; 76

       (2) A source of money, such as gifts, bond issues, real 77
property assessments, or federal subsidies, to seed the 78
alternative energy revolving loan fund; 79

       (3) Facilities for making loans from the alternative energy 80
revolving loan fund, including an explanation of how owners of 81
real property within the municipal corporation may qualify for 82
loans from the fund, a description of the alternative energy and 83
energy efficiency technologies and related equipment for which a 84
loan can be made from the fund, authorization of a municipal 85
agency to process applications for loans and otherwise to 86
administer the low-cost alternative energy revolving loan program, 87
a procedure whereby loans can be applied for, criteria for 88
reviewing and accepting or denying applications for loans, 89
criteria for determining the appropriate amount of a loan, the 90
interest rate to be charged, the repayment schedule, and other 91
terms and conditions of a loan, and procedures for collecting 92
loans that are not repaid according to the repayment schedule; 93

       (4) A specification that repayments of loans from the 94
alternative energy revolving loan fund may be made in installments 95
and, at the option of the real property owner repaying the loan, 96
the installments may be paid and collected as if they were special 97
assessments paid and collected in the manner specified in Chapter 98
727. of the Revised Code and as specified in the ordinance; 99

       (5) A specification that repayments of loans from the 100
alternative energy revolving loan fund are to be credited to the 101
fund, that the money in the fund is to be invested pending its 102
being lent out, and that investment earnings on the money in the 103
fund are to be credited to the fund; and 104

       (6) Other matters necessary and proper for efficient 105
operation of the low-cost alternative energy revolving loan 106
program as a means of encouraging use of alternative energy and 107
energy efficiency technologies. 108

       The interest rate charged on a loan from the alternative 109
energy revolving loan fund shall be below prevailing market rates. 110
The legislative authority may specify the interest rate in the 111
ordinance or may, after establishing a standard in the ordinance 112
whereby the interest rate can be specified, delegate authority to 113
specify the interest rate to the administrator of loans from the 114
alternative energy revolving loan fund. 115

       The alternative energy revolving loan fund shall be seeded 116
with sufficient money to enable loans to be made until the fund 117
accumulates sufficient reserves through investment and repayment 118
of loans for revolving operation. 119

       (D) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, an 120
electric distribution utility may count toward its compliance with 121
the energy efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements of 122
sectionsections 4928.66 to 4928.6660 of the Revised Code any 123
energy efficiency savings or any reduction in demand that is 124
produced by projects utilizing alternative energy technologies or 125
energy efficiency technologies, products, and activities that are 126
located in its certified territory and for which a loan has been 127
made under this section. 128

       (E) A mercantile customer that realizes energy efficiency 129
savings or reduction in demand produced by alternative energy 130
technologies or energy efficiency technologies, products, or 131
activities that it owns and for which a loan has been made under 132
this section may elect to commit the savings or reduction to the 133
electric distribution utility in exchange for an exemption from an 134
energy efficiency cost recovery mechanism permitted under section135
sections 4928.66 to 4928.6660 of the Revised Code, approved by the 136
public utilities commission. 137

       (F) The legislative authority shall submit a quarterly report 138
to the electric distribution utility that includes, but is not 139
limited to, both of the following: 140

       (1) The number and a description of each new and ongoing 141
project utilizing alternative energy technologies or energy 142
efficiency technologies, products, or activities located in the 143
utility's certified territory that produces energy efficiency 144
savings or reduction in demand and for which a loan has been made 145
under this section; 146

       (2) Any additional information that the electric distribution 147
utility needs in order to obtain credit under sectionsections148
4928.66 to 4928.6660 of the Revised Code for energy efficiency 149
savings or reduction in demand from such projects. 150

       Sec. 1710.061.  (A) Except as provided in division (B) of 151
this section, an electric distribution utility may count toward 152
its compliance with the energy efficiency and peak demand 153
reduction requirements of sectionsections 4928.66 to 4928.6660 of 154
the Revised Code any efficiency savings or reduction in demand 155
produced by a special energy improvement project located in its 156
certified territory. 157

       (B) A mercantile customer that realizes energy efficiency 158
savings or reduction in demand produced by a special energy 159
improvement project that it owns may elect to commit the savings 160
or reduction to the electric distribution utility in exchange for 161
an exemption from an energy efficiency cost recovery mechanism 162
permitted under sectionsections 4928.66 to 4928.6660 of the 163
Revised Code, approved by the public utilities commission. 164

       (C) The board of directors of a special improvement district 165
shall submit a quarterly report to the electric distribution 166
utility that includes, but is not limited to, both of the 167
following: 168

       (1) The total number and a description of each new and 169
ongoing special energy improvement project located within the 170
special improvement district that produces energy efficiency 171
savings or reduction in demand; 172

       (2) Any additional information that the electric distribution 173
utility needs in order to obtain credit under sectionsections174
4928.66 to 4928.6660 of the Revised Code for energy efficiency 175
savings or reduction in demand from such projects. 176

       Sec. 3706.25. As used in sections 3706.25 to 3706.30 of the 177
Revised Code:178

       (A) "Advanced energy project" means any technologies, 179
products, activities, or management practices or strategies that 180
facilitate the generation or use of electricity or any type of181
energy and that reduce or support the reduction of energy 182
consumption or support the production of clean, renewable energy 183
for industrial, distribution, commercial, institutional, 184
governmental, research, not-for-profit, or residential energy 185
users including, but not limited to, advanced energy resources and 186
renewable energy resources. "Advanced energy project" includes any 187
project described in division (A), (B), or (C) of section 4928.621 188
of the Revised Code.189

       (B) "Advanced energy resource" means any of the following:190

       (1) Any method or any modification or replacement of any 191
property, process, device, structure, or equipment that increases 192
the generation output of an electric generating facility to the 193
extent such efficiency is achieved without additional carbon 194
dioxide emissions by that facility;195

       (2) Any distributed generation system consisting of customer 196
cogeneration technology, primarily to meet the energy needs of the 197
customer's facilities;198

       (3) Advanced nuclear energy technology consisting of 199
generation III technology as defined by the nuclear regulatory 200
commission; other, later technology; or significant improvements 201
to existing facilities;202

       (4) Any fuel cell used in the generation of electricity, 203
including, but not limited to, a proton exchange membrane fuel 204
cell, phosphoric acid fuel cell, molten carbonate fuel cell, or 205
solid oxide fuel cell;206

       (5) Advanced solid waste or construction and demolition 207
debris conversion technology, including, but not limited to, 208
advanced stoker technology, and advanced fluidized bed 209
gasification technology, that results in measurable greenhouse gas 210
emissions reductions as calculated pursuant to the United States 211
environmental protection agency's waste reduction model (WARM).212

        (C) "Air contaminant source" has the same meaning as in 213
section 3704.01 of the Revised Code.214

        (D) "Cogeneration technology" means technology that produces 215
electricity and useful thermal output simultaneously.216

        (E) "Renewable energy resource" means solar photovoltaic or 217
solar thermal energy, regardless of whether electricity is 218
produced, wind energy, power produced by a hydroelectric facility, 219
geothermal energy, regardless of whether electricity is produced, 220
fuel derived from solid wastes, as defined in section 3734.01 of 221
the Revised Code, through fractionation, biological decomposition, 222
or other process that does not principally involve combustion, 223
biomass energy, energy produced by cogeneration technology that is 224
placed into service on or before December 31, 2015, and for which 225
more than ninety per cent of the total annual energy input is from 226
combustion of a waste or byproduct gas from an air contaminant 227
source in this state, which source has been in operation since on 228
or before January 1, 1985, provided that the cogeneration 229
technology is a part of a facility located in a county having a 230
population of more than three hundred sixty-five thousand but less 231
than three hundred seventy thousand according to the most recent 232
federal decennial census, biologically derived methane gas, or 233
energy derived from nontreated by-products of the pulping process 234
or wood manufacturing process, including bark, wood chips, 235
sawdust, and lignin in spent pulping liquors. "Renewable energy 236
resource" includes, but is not limited to, any energy derived from 237
a fuel cell used in the generation of electricity, including, but 238
not limited to, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, phosphoric 239
acid fuel cell, molten carbonate fuel cell, or solid oxide fuel 240
cell; wind turbine located in the state's territorial waters of 241
Lake Erie; methane gas emitted from an abandoned coal mine; 242
storage facility that will promote the better utilization of a 243
renewable energy resource that primarily generates off peak; or 244
distributed generation system used by a customer to generate 245
electricity from any such energy. As used in this division, 246
"hydroelectric facility" means a hydroelectric generating facility 247
that is located at a dam on a river, or on any water discharged to 248
a river or lake, that is within or bordering this state or, within 249
or bordering an adjoining state, or within the Canadian provinces 250
of Ontario or Quebec, and meets all of the following standards:251

       (1) The facility provides for river flows that are not 252
detrimental for fish, wildlife, and water quality, including 253
seasonal flow fluctuations as defined by the applicable licensing 254
agency for the facility.255

       (2) The facility demonstrates that it complies with the water 256
quality standards of this state, which compliance may consist of 257
certification under Section 401 of the "Clean Water Act of 1977," 258
91 Stat. 1598, 1599, 33 U.S.C. 1341, and demonstrates that it has 259
not contributed to a finding by this state that the river has 260
impaired water quality under Section 303(d) of the "Clean Water 261
Act of 1977," 114 Stat. 870, 33 U.S.C. 1313.262

       (3) The facility complies with mandatory prescriptions 263
regarding fish passage as required by the federal energy 264
regulatory commission license issued for the project, regarding 265
fish protection for riverine, anadromous, and catadromous fish.266

       (4) The facility complies with the recommendations of the 267
Ohio environmental protection agency and with the terms of its 268
federal energy regulatory commission license regarding watershed 269
protection, mitigation, or enhancement, to the extent of each 270
agency's respective jurisdiction over the facility.271

       (5) The facility complies with provisions of the "Endangered 272
Species Act of 1973," 87 Stat. 884, 16 U.S.C. 1531 to 1544, as 273
amended.274

       (6) The facility does not harm cultural resources of the 275
area. This can be shown through compliance with the terms of its 276
federal energy regulatory commission license or, if the facility 277
is not regulated by that commission, through development of a plan 278
approved by the Ohio historic preservation office, to the extent 279
it has jurisdiction over the facility.280

       (7) The facility complies with the terms of its federal 281
energy regulatory commission license or exemption that are related 282
to recreational access, accommodation, and facilities or, if the 283
facility is not regulated by that commission, the facility 284
complies with similar requirements as are recommended by resource 285
agencies, to the extent they have jurisdiction over the facility; 286
and the facility provides access to water to the public without 287
fee or charge.288

       (8) The facility is not recommended for removal by any 289
federal agency or agency of any state, to the extent the 290
particular agency has jurisdiction over the facility.291

       Sec. 4905.31.  Chapters 4901., 4903., 4905., 4907., 4909., 292
4921., 4923., 4927., 4928., and 4929. of the Revised Code do not 293
prohibit a public utility from filing a schedule or establishing 294
or entering into any reasonable arrangement with another public 295
utility or with one or more of its customers, consumers, or 296
employees, and do not prohibit a mercantile customer of an 297
electric distribution utility as those terms are defined in 298
section 4928.01 of the Revised Code or a group of those customers 299
from establishing a reasonable arrangement with that utility or 300
another public utility electric light company, providing for any 301
of the following:302

       (A) The division or distribution of its surplus profits;303

       (B) A sliding scale of charges, including variations in rates 304
based upon stipulated variations in cost as provided in the 305
schedule or arrangement.306

       (C) A minimum charge for service to be rendered unless such 307
minimum charge is made or prohibited by the terms of the 308
franchise, grant, or ordinance under which such public utility is 309
operated;310

       (D) A classification of service based upon the quantity used, 311
the time when used, the purpose for which used, the duration of 312
use, and any other reasonable consideration;313

       (E) Any other financial device that may be practicable or 314
advantageous to the parties interested. In the case of a schedule 315
or arrangement concerning a public utility electric light company, 316
such other financial device may include a device to recover costs 317
incurred in conjunction with any economic development and job 318
retention program of the utility within its certified territory, 319
including recovery of revenue foregone as a result of any such 320
program; any development and implementation of peak demand 321
reduction and energy efficiency programs under sectionsections322
4928.66 to 4928.6660 of the Revised Code; any acquisition and 323
deployment of advanced metering, including the costs of any meters 324
prematurely retired as a result of the advanced metering 325
implementation; and compliance with any government mandate.326

       No such schedule or arrangement is lawful unless it is filed 327
with and approved by the commission pursuant to an application 328
that is submitted by the public utility or the mercantile customer 329
or group of mercantile customers of an electric distribution 330
utility and is posted on the commission's docketing information 331
system and is accessible through the internet.332

       Every such public utility is required to conform its 333
schedules of rates, tolls, and charges to such arrangement, 334
sliding scale, classification, or other device, and where variable 335
rates are provided for in any such schedule or arrangement, the 336
cost data or factors upon which such rates are based and fixed 337
shall be filed with the commission in such form and at such times 338
as the commission directs.339

       Every such schedule or reasonable arrangement shall be under 340
the supervision and regulation of the commission, and is subject 341
to change, alteration, or modification by the commission.342

       Sec. 4928.01.  (A) As used in this chapter:343

       (1) "Ancillary service" means any function necessary to the 344
provision of electric transmission or distribution service to a 345
retail customer and includes, but is not limited to, scheduling, 346
system control, and dispatch services; reactive supply from 347
generation resources and voltage control service; reactive supply 348
from transmission resources service; regulation service; frequency 349
response service; energy imbalance service; operating 350
reserve-spinning reserve service; operating reserve-supplemental 351
reserve service; load following; back-up supply service; 352
real-power loss replacement service; dynamic scheduling; system 353
black start capability; and network stability service.354

       (2) "Billing and collection agent" means a fully independent 355
agent, not affiliated with or otherwise controlled by an electric 356
utility, electric services company, electric cooperative, or 357
governmental aggregator subject to certification under section 358
4928.08 of the Revised Code, to the extent that the agent is under 359
contract with such utility, company, cooperative, or aggregator 360
solely to provide billing and collection for retail electric 361
service on behalf of the utility company, cooperative, or 362
aggregator.363

       (3) "Certified territory" means the certified territory 364
established for an electric supplier under sections 4933.81 to 365
4933.90 of the Revised Code.366

       (4) "Competitive retail electric service" means a component 367
of retail electric service that is competitive as provided under 368
division (B) of this section.369

       (5) "Electric cooperative" means a not-for-profit electric 370
light company that both is or has been financed in whole or in 371
part under the "Rural Electrification Act of 1936," 49 Stat. 1363, 372
7 U.S.C. 901, and owns or operates facilities in this state to 373
generate, transmit, or distribute electricity, or a not-for-profit 374
successor of such company.375

       (6) "Electric distribution utility" means an electric utility 376
that supplies at least retail electric distribution service.377

       (7) "Electric light company" has the same meaning as in 378
section 4905.03 of the Revised Code and includes an electric 379
services company, but excludes any self-generator to the extent 380
that it consumes electricity it so produces, sells that 381
electricity for resale, or obtains electricity from a generating 382
facility it hosts on its premises.383

       (8) "Electric load center" has the same meaning as in section 384
4933.81 of the Revised Code.385

       (9) "Electric services company" means an electric light 386
company that is engaged on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis in 387
the business of supplying or arranging for the supply of only a 388
competitive retail electric service in this state. "Electric 389
services company" includes a power marketer, power broker, 390
aggregator, or independent power producer but excludes an electric 391
cooperative, municipal electric utility, governmental aggregator, 392
or billing and collection agent.393

       (10) "Electric supplier" has the same meaning as in section 394
4933.81 of the Revised Code.395

       (11) "Electric utility" means an electric light company that 396
has a certified territory and is engaged on a for-profit basis 397
either in the business of supplying a noncompetitive retail 398
electric service in this state or in the businesses of supplying 399
both a noncompetitive and a competitive retail electric service in 400
this state. "Electric utility" excludes a municipal electric 401
utility or a billing and collection agent.402

       (12) "Firm electric service" means electric service other 403
than nonfirm electric service.404

       (13) "Governmental aggregator" means a legislative authority 405
of a municipal corporation, a board of township trustees, or a 406
board of county commissioners acting as an aggregator for the 407
provision of a competitive retail electric service under authority 408
conferred under section 4928.20 of the Revised Code.409

       (14) A person acts "knowingly," regardless of the person's 410
purpose, when the person is aware that the person's conduct will 411
probably cause a certain result or will probably be of a certain 412
nature. A person has knowledge of circumstances when the person is 413
aware that such circumstances probably exist.414

       (15) "Level of funding for low-income customer energy 415
efficiency programs provided through electric utility rates" means 416
the level of funds specifically included in an electric utility's 417
rates on October 5, 1999, pursuant to an order of the public 418
utilities commission issued under Chapter 4905. or 4909. of the 419
Revised Code and in effect on October 4, 1999, for the purpose of 420
improving the energy efficiency of housing for the utility's 421
low-income customers. The term excludes the level of any such 422
funds committed to a specific nonprofit organization or 423
organizations pursuant to a stipulation or contract.424

       (16) "Low-income customer assistance programs" means the 425
percentage of income payment plan program, the home energy 426
assistance program, the home weatherization assistance program, 427
and the targeted energy efficiency and weatherization program.428

       (17) "Market development period" for an electric utility 429
means the period of time beginning on the starting date of 430
competitive retail electric service and ending on the applicable 431
date for that utility as specified in section 4928.40 of the 432
Revised Code, irrespective of whether the utility applies to 433
receive transition revenues under this chapter.434

       (18) "Market power" means the ability to impose on customers 435
a sustained price for a product or service above the price that 436
would prevail in a competitive market.437

       (19) "Mercantile customer" means a commercial or industrial 438
customer if the electricity consumed is for nonresidential use and 439
the customer consumes more than seven hundred thousand kilowatt 440
hours per year or is part of a national account involving multiple 441
facilities in one or more states.442

       (20) "Municipal electric utility" means a municipal 443
corporation that owns or operates facilities to generate, 444
transmit, or distribute electricity.445

       (21) "Noncompetitive retail electric service" means a 446
component of retail electric service that is noncompetitive as 447
provided under division (B) of this section.448

       (22) "Nonfirm electric service" means electric service 449
provided pursuant to a schedule filed under section 4905.30 of the 450
Revised Code or pursuant to an arrangement under section 4905.31 451
of the Revised Code, which schedule or arrangement includes 452
conditions that may require the customer to curtail or interrupt 453
electric usage during nonemergency circumstances upon notification 454
by an electric utility.455

       (23) "Percentage of income payment plan arrears" means funds 456
eligible for collection through the percentage of income payment 457
plan rider, but uncollected as of July 1, 2000.458

       (24) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the 459
Revised Code.460

       (25) "Advanced energy project" means any technologies, 461
products, activities, or management practices or strategies that 462
facilitate the generation or use of electricity or any type of463
energy and that reduce or support the reduction of energy 464
consumption or support the production of clean, renewable energy 465
for industrial, distribution, commercial, institutional, 466
governmental, research, not-for-profit, or residential energy 467
users, including, but not limited to, advanced energy resources 468
and renewable energy resources. "Advanced energy project" also 469
includes any project described in division (A), (B), or (C) of 470
section 4928.621 of the Revised Code.471

       (26) "Regulatory assets" means the unamortized net regulatory 472
assets that are capitalized or deferred on the regulatory books of 473
the electric utility, pursuant to an order or practice of the 474
public utilities commission or pursuant to generally accepted 475
accounting principles as a result of a prior commission 476
rate-making decision, and that would otherwise have been charged 477
to expense as incurred or would not have been capitalized or 478
otherwise deferred for future regulatory consideration absent 479
commission action. "Regulatory assets" includes, but is not 480
limited to, all deferred demand-side management costs; all 481
deferred percentage of income payment plan arrears; 482
post-in-service capitalized charges and assets recognized in 483
connection with statement of financial accounting standards no. 484
109 (receivables from customers for income taxes); future nuclear 485
decommissioning costs and fuel disposal costs as those costs have 486
been determined by the commission in the electric utility's most 487
recent rate or accounting application proceeding addressing such 488
costs; the undepreciated costs of safety and radiation control 489
equipment on nuclear generating plants owned or leased by an 490
electric utility; and fuel costs currently deferred pursuant to 491
the terms of one or more settlement agreements approved by the 492
commission.493

       (27) "Retail electric service" means any service involved in 494
supplying or arranging for the supply of electricity to ultimate 495
consumers in this state, from the point of generation to the point 496
of consumption. For the purposes of this chapter, retail electric 497
service includes one or more of the following "service 498
components": generation service, aggregation service, power 499
marketing service, power brokerage service, transmission service, 500
distribution service, ancillary service, metering service, and 501
billing and collection service.502

       (28) "Starting date of competitive retail electric service" 503
means January 1, 2001.504

       (29) "Customer-generator" means a user of a net metering 505
system.506

       (30) "Net metering" means measuring the difference in an 507
applicable billing period between the electricity supplied by an 508
electric service provider and the electricity generated by a 509
customer-generator that is fed back to the electric service 510
provider.511

       (31) "Net metering system" means a facility for the 512
production of electrical energy that does all of the following:513

       (a) Uses as its fuel either solar, wind, biomass, landfill 514
gas, or hydropower, or uses a microturbine or a fuel cell;515

       (b) Is located on a customer-generator's premises;516

       (c) Operates in parallel with the electric utility's 517
transmission and distribution facilities;518

       (d) Is intended primarily to offset part or all of the 519
customer-generator's requirements for electricity.520

       (32) "Self-generator" means an entity in this state that owns 521
or hosts on its premises an electric generation facility that 522
produces electricity primarily for the owner's consumption and 523
that may provide any such excess electricity to another entity, 524
whether the facility is installed or operated by the owner or by 525
an agent under a contract.526

       (33) "Rate plan" means the standard service offer in effect 527
on the effective date of the amendment of this section by S.B. 221 528
of the 127th general assembly, July 31, 2008.529

       (34) "Advanced energy resource" means any of the following:530

       (a) Any method or any modification or replacement of any 531
property, process, device, structure, or equipment that increases 532
theone of the following:533

       (i) The generation output of an electric generating facility 534
to the extent such efficiency is achieved without additional 535
carbon dioxide emissions by that facility;536

       (ii) The rated capacity of a transmission or distribution 537
line;538

       (b) Any distributed generation system consisting of customer 539
cogeneration technology;540

       (c) Clean coal technology that includes a carbon-based 541
product that is chemically altered before combustion to 542
demonstrate a reduction, as expressed as ash, in emissions of 543
nitrous oxide, mercury, arsenic, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, or 544
sulfur trioxide in accordance with the American society of testing 545
and materials standard D1757A or a reduction of metal oxide 546
emissions in accordance with standard D5142 of that society, or 547
clean coal technology that includes the design capability to 548
control or prevent the emission of carbon dioxide, which design 549
capability the commission shall adopt by rule and shall be based 550
on economically feasible best available technology or, in the 551
absence of a determined best available technology, shall be of the 552
highest level of economically feasible design capability for which 553
there exists generally accepted scientific opinion;554

       (d) Advanced nuclear energy technology consisting of 555
generation III technology as defined by the nuclear regulatory 556
commission; other, later technology; or significant improvements 557
to existing facilities;558

       (e) Any fuel cell used in the generation of electricity, 559
including, but not limited to, a proton exchange membrane fuel 560
cell, phosphoric acid fuel cell, molten carbonate fuel cell, or 561
solid oxide fuel cell;562

       (f) Advanced solid waste or construction and demolition 563
debris conversion technology, including, but not limited to, 564
advanced stoker technology, and advanced fluidized bed 565
gasification technology, that results in measurable greenhouse gas 566
emissions reductions as calculated pursuant to the United States 567
environmental protection agency's waste reduction model (WARM);568

       (g) Demand-side management and any energy efficiency 569
improvement;570

       (h) Any new, retrofitted, refueled, or repowered generating 571
facility located in Ohio, including a simple or combined-cycle 572
natural gas generating facility or a generating facility that uses 573
biomass, coal, modular nuclear, or any other fuel as its input;574

       (i) Any uprated capacity of an existing electric generating 575
facility if the uprated capacity results from the deployment of 576
advanced technology.;577

       "Advanced energy resource" does not include a waste energy 578
recovery system that is, or has been, included in an energy 579
efficiency program of an electric distribution utility pursuant to 580
requirements under section 4928.66 of the Revised Code(j) Any 581
mercantile customer or supplier method or any modification or 582
replacement of any property, process, device, structure, or 583
equipment that reduces the energy intensity of any water supply 584
function or water treatment function.585

        (35) "Air contaminant source" has the same meaning as in 586
section 3704.01 of the Revised Code.587

        (36) "Cogeneration technology" means technology that produces 588
electricity and useful thermal output simultaneously.589

        (37)(a) "Renewable energy resource" means any of the 590
following:591

       (i) Solar photovoltaic or solar thermal energy, regardless of 592
whether electricity is produced;593

       (ii) Wind energy;594

       (iii) Power produced by a hydroelectric facility;595

       (iv) Geothermal energy, regardless of whether electricity is 596
produced;597

       (v) Fuel derived from solid wastes, as defined in section 598
3734.01 of the Revised Code, through fractionation, biological 599
decomposition, or other process that does not principally involve 600
combustion;601

       (vi) Biomass energy;602

       (vii) Energy produced by cogeneration technology that is 603
placed into service on or before December 31, 2015, and for which 604
more than ninety per cent of the total annual energy input is from 605
combustion of a waste or byproduct gas from an air contaminant 606
source in this state, which source has been in operation since on 607
or before January 1, 1985, provided that the cogeneration 608
technology is a part of a facility located in a county having a 609
population of more than three hundred sixty-five thousand but less 610
than three hundred seventy thousand according to the most recent 611
federal decennial census;612

       (viii) Biologically derived methane gas;613

       (ix) Energy derived from nontreated by-products of the 614
pulping process or wood manufacturing process, including bark, 615
wood chips, sawdust, and lignin in spent pulping liquors. 616

        "Renewable energy resource" includes, but is not limited to, 617
any energy derived from a fuel cell used in the generation of 618
electricity, including, but not limited to, a proton exchange 619
membrane fuel cell, phosphoric acid fuel cell, molten carbonate 620
fuel cell, or solid oxide fuel cell; wind turbine located in the 621
state's territorial waters of Lake Erie; methane gas emitted from 622
an abandoned coal mine; waste energy recovery system placed into 623
service or retrofitted on or after the effective date of the 624
amendment of this section by S.B. 315 of the 129th general 625
assembly, September 10, 2012, except that a waste energy recovery 626
system described in division (A)(38)(b) of this section may be 627
included only if it was placed into service between January 1, 628
2002, and December 31, 2004; storage facility that will promote 629
the better utilization of a renewable energy resource; or 630
distributed generation system used by a customer to generate 631
electricity from any such energy. 632

       "Renewable energy resource" does not include a waste energy 633
recovery system that is, or was, on or after January 1, 2012, 634
included in an energy efficiency program of an electric 635
distribution utility pursuant to requirements under section636
sections 4928.66 to 4928.6660 of the Revised Code.637

       (b) As used in division (A)(37) of this section, 638
"hydroelectric facility" means a hydroelectric generating facility 639
that is located at a dam on a river, or on any water discharged to 640
a river or lake, that is within or bordering this state or, within 641
or bordering an adjoining state, or within the Canadian provinces 642
of Ontario or Quebec, and meets all of the following standards:643

       (i) The facility provides for river flows that are not 644
detrimental for fish, wildlife, and water quality, including 645
seasonal flow fluctuations as defined by the applicable licensing 646
agency for the facility.647

       (ii) The facility demonstrates that it complies with the 648
water quality standards of this state, which compliance may 649
consist of certification under Section 401 of the "Clean Water Act 650
of 1977," 91 Stat. 1598, 1599, 33 U.S.C. 1341, and demonstrates 651
that it has not contributed to a finding by this state that the 652
river has impaired water quality under Section 303(d) of the 653
"Clean Water Act of 1977," 114 Stat. 870, 33 U.S.C. 1313.654

       (iii) The facility complies with mandatory prescriptions 655
regarding fish passage as required by the federal energy 656
regulatory commission license issued for the project, regarding 657
fish protection for riverine, anadromous, and catadromous fish.658

       (iv) The facility complies with the recommendations of the 659
Ohio environmental protection agency and with the terms of its 660
federal energy regulatory commission license regarding watershed 661
protection, mitigation, or enhancement, to the extent of each 662
agency's respective jurisdiction over the facility.663

       (v) The facility complies with provisions of the "Endangered 664
Species Act of 1973," 87 Stat. 884, 16 U.S.C. 1531 to 1544, as 665
amended.666

       (vi) The facility does not harm cultural resources of the 667
area. This can be shown through compliance with the terms of its 668
federal energy regulatory commission license or, if the facility 669
is not regulated by that commission, through development of a plan 670
approved by the Ohio historic preservation office, to the extent 671
it has jurisdiction over the facility.672

       (vii) The facility complies with the terms of its federal 673
energy regulatory commission license or exemption that are related 674
to recreational access, accommodation, and facilities or, if the 675
facility is not regulated by that commission, the facility 676
complies with similar requirements as are recommended by resource 677
agencies, to the extent they have jurisdiction over the facility; 678
and the facility provides access to water to the public without 679
fee or charge.680

       (viii) The facility is not recommended for removal by any 681
federal agency or agency of any state, to the extent the 682
particular agency has jurisdiction over the facility.683

       (38) "Waste energy recovery system" means either of the 684
following:685

       (a) A facility that generates electricity through the 686
conversion of energy from either of the following:687

       (i) Exhaust heat from engines or manufacturing, industrial, 688
commercial, or institutional sites, except for exhaust heat from a 689
facility whose primary purpose is the generation of electricity;690

       (ii) Reduction of pressure in gas pipelines before gas is 691
distributed through the pipeline, provided that the conversion of 692
energy to electricity is achieved without using additional fossil 693
fuels.694

       (b) A facility at a state institution of higher education as 695
defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code that recovers 696
waste heat from electricity-producing engines or combustion 697
turbines and that simultaneously uses the recovered heat to 698
produce steam, provided that the facility was placed into service 699
between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2004.700

       (39) "Smart grid" means capital improvements to an electric 701
distribution utility's distribution infrastructure that improve 702
reliability, efficiency, resiliency, or reduce energy demand or 703
use, including, but not limited to, advanced metering and 704
automation of system functions.705

       (40) "Combined heat and power system" means the coproduction 706
of electricity and useful thermal energy from the same fuel source 707
designed to achieve thermal-efficiency levels of at least sixty 708
per cent, with at least twenty per cent of the system's total 709
useful energy in the form of thermal energy.710

       (41) "Water supply function" means the functions associated 711
with the following:712

       (a) Raw water collection, purification, treatment, and 713
storage;714

       (b) Establishing or maintaining pressure to balance water 715
supply and demand;716

        (c) Water delivery and transfer.717

        (42) "Water treatment function" means any of the preliminary, 718
secondary, tertiary, and advanced activities, whether physical, 719
biological, or chemical, associated with the removal of 720
contaminants from, or conditioning of, wastewater prior to its 721
return to the environment or recycled use;722

       (43) "Energy intensity" means the amount of energy used to 723
produce a certain level of output or activity, measured by the 724
quantity of energy needed to perform a particular activity, 725
expressed as energy per unit of output, energy per unit of gross 726
total floor space, or an activity measure of service.727

       (B) For the purposes of this chapter, a retail electric 728
service component shall be deemed a competitive retail electric 729
service if the service component is competitive pursuant to a 730
declaration by a provision of the Revised Code or pursuant to an 731
order of the public utilities commission authorized under division 732
(A) of section 4928.04 of the Revised Code. Otherwise, the service 733
component shall be deemed a noncompetitive retail electric 734
service.735

       Sec. 4928.143. (A) For the purpose of complying with section 736
4928.141 of the Revised Code, an electric distribution utility may 737
file an application for public utilities commission approval of an 738
electric security plan as prescribed under division (B) of this 739
section. The utility may file that application prior to the 740
effective date of any rules the commission may adopt for the 741
purpose of this section, and, as the commission determines 742
necessary, the utility immediately shall conform its filing to 743
those rules upon their taking effect.744

       (B) Notwithstanding any other provision of Title XLIX of the 745
Revised Code to the contrary except division (D) of this section, 746
divisions (I), (J), and (K) of section 4928.20, division (E) of747
section 4928.644928.649, and section 4928.69 of the Revised Code:748

       (1) An electric security plan shall include provisions 749
relating to the supply and pricing of electric generation service. 750
In addition, if the proposed electric security plan has a term 751
longer than three years, it may include provisions in the plan to 752
permit the commission to test the plan pursuant to division (E) of 753
this section and any transitional conditions that should be 754
adopted by the commission if the commission terminates the plan as 755
authorized under that division.756

        (2) The plan may provide for or include, without limitation, 757
any of the following:758

        (a) Automatic recovery of any of the following costs of the 759
electric distribution utility, provided the cost is prudently 760
incurred: the cost of fuel used to generate the electricity 761
supplied under the offer; the cost of purchased power supplied 762
under the offer, including the cost of energy and capacity, and 763
including purchased power acquired from an affiliate; the cost of 764
emission allowances; and the cost of federally mandated carbon or 765
energy taxes;766

        (b) A reasonable allowance for construction work in progress 767
for any of the electric distribution utility's cost of 768
constructing an electric generating facility or for an 769
environmental expenditure for any electric generating facility of 770
the electric distribution utility, provided the cost is incurred 771
or the expenditure occurs on or after January 1, 2009. Any such 772
allowance shall be subject to the construction work in progress 773
allowance limitations of division (A) of section 4909.15 of the 774
Revised Code, except that the commission may authorize such an 775
allowance upon the incurrence of the cost or occurrence of the 776
expenditure. No such allowance for generating facility 777
construction shall be authorized, however, unless the commission 778
first determines in the proceeding that there is need for the 779
facility based on resource planning projections submitted by the 780
electric distribution utility. Further, no such allowance shall be 781
authorized unless the facility's construction was sourced through 782
a competitive bid process, regarding which process the commission 783
may adopt rules. An allowance approved under division (B)(2)(b) of 784
this section shall be established as a nonbypassable surcharge for 785
the life of the facility.786

       (c) The establishment of a nonbypassable surcharge for the 787
life of an electric generating facility that is owned or operated 788
by the electric distribution utility, was sourced through a 789
competitive bid process subject to any such rules as the 790
commission adopts under division (B)(2)(b) of this section, and is 791
newly used and useful on or after January 1, 2009, which surcharge 792
shall cover all costs of the utility specified in the application, 793
excluding costs recovered through a surcharge under division 794
(B)(2)(b) of this section. However, no surcharge shall be 795
authorized unless the commission first determines in the 796
proceeding that there is need for the facility based on resource 797
planning projections submitted by the electric distribution 798
utility. Additionally, if a surcharge is authorized for a facility 799
pursuant to plan approval under division (C) of this section and 800
as a condition of the continuation of the surcharge, the electric 801
distribution utility shall dedicate to Ohio consumers the capacity 802
and energy and the rate associated with the cost of that facility. 803
Before the commission authorizes any surcharge pursuant to this 804
division, it may consider, as applicable, the effects of any 805
decommissioning, deratings, and retirements.806

       (d) Terms, conditions, or charges relating to limitations on 807
customer shopping for retail electric generation service, 808
bypassability, standby, back-up, or supplemental power service, 809
default service, carrying costs, amortization periods, and 810
accounting or deferrals, including future recovery of such 811
deferrals, as would have the effect of stabilizing or providing 812
certainty regarding retail electric service;813

        (e) Automatic increases or decreases in any component of the 814
standard service offer price;815

        (f) Consistent with sections 4928.23 to 4928.2318 of the 816
Revised Code, both of the following:817

       (i) Provisions for the electric distribution utility to 818
securitize any phase-in, inclusive of carrying charges, of the 819
utility's standard service offer price, which phase-in is 820
authorized in accordance with section 4928.144 of the Revised 821
Code; 822

       (ii) Provisions for the recovery of the utility's cost of 823
securitization.824

        (g) Provisions relating to transmission, ancillary, 825
congestion, or any related service required for the standard 826
service offer, including provisions for the recovery of any cost 827
of such service that the electric distribution utility incurs on 828
or after that date pursuant to the standard service offer;829

       (h) Provisions regarding the utility's distribution service, 830
including, without limitation and notwithstanding any provision of 831
Title XLIX of the Revised Code to the contrary, provisions 832
regarding single issue ratemaking, a revenue decoupling mechanism 833
or any other incentive ratemaking, and provisions regarding 834
distribution infrastructure and modernization incentives for the 835
electric distribution utility. The latter may include a long-term 836
energy delivery infrastructure modernization plan for that utility 837
or any plan providing for the utility's recovery of costs, 838
including lost revenue, shared savings, and avoided costs, and a 839
just and reasonable rate of return on such infrastructure 840
modernization. As part of its determination as to whether to allow 841
in an electric distribution utility's electric security plan 842
inclusion of any provision described in division (B)(2)(h) of this 843
section, the commission shall examine the reliability of the 844
electric distribution utility's distribution system and ensure 845
that customers' and the electric distribution utility's 846
expectations are aligned and that the electric distribution 847
utility is placing sufficient emphasis on and dedicating 848
sufficient resources to the reliability of its distribution 849
system.850

       (i) Provisions under which the electric distribution utility 851
may implement economic development, job retention, and energy 852
efficiency programs, which provisions may allocate program costs 853
across all classes of customers of the utility and those of 854
electric distribution utilities in the same holding company 855
system.856

       (C)(1) The burden of proof in the proceeding shall be on the 857
electric distribution utility. The commission shall issue an order 858
under this division for an initial application under this section 859
not later than one hundred fifty days after the application's 860
filing date and, for any subsequent application by the utility 861
under this section, not later than two hundred seventy-five days 862
after the application's filing date. Subject to division (D) of 863
this section, the commission by order shall approve or modify and 864
approve an application filed under division (A) of this section if 865
it finds that the electric security plan so approved, including 866
its pricing and all other terms and conditions, including any 867
deferrals and any future recovery of deferrals, is more favorable 868
in the aggregate as compared to the expected results that would 869
otherwise apply under section 4928.142 of the Revised Code. 870
Additionally, if the commission so approves an application that 871
contains a surcharge under division (B)(2)(b) or (c) of this 872
section, the commission shall ensure that the benefits derived for 873
any purpose for which the surcharge is established are reserved 874
and made available to those that bear the surcharge. Otherwise, 875
the commission by order shall disapprove the application.876

       (2)(a) If the commission modifies and approves an application 877
under division (C)(1) of this section, the electric distribution 878
utility may withdraw the application, thereby terminating it, and 879
may file a new standard service offer under this section or a 880
standard service offer under section 4928.142 of the Revised Code.881

       (b) If the utility terminates an application pursuant to 882
division (C)(2)(a) of this section or if the commission 883
disapproves an application under division (C)(1) of this section, 884
the commission shall issue such order as is necessary to continue 885
the provisions, terms, and conditions of the utility's most recent 886
standard service offer, along with any expected increases or 887
decreases in fuel costs from those contained in that offer, until 888
a subsequent offer is authorized pursuant to this section or 889
section 4928.142 of the Revised Code, respectively.890

       (D) Regarding the rate plan requirement of division (A) of 891
section 4928.141 of the Revised Code, if an electric distribution 892
utility that has a rate plan that extends beyond December 31, 893
2008, files an application under this section for the purpose of 894
its compliance with division (A) of section 4928.141 of the 895
Revised Code, that rate plan and its terms and conditions are 896
hereby incorporated into its proposed electric security plan and 897
shall continue in effect until the date scheduled under the rate 898
plan for its expiration, and that portion of the electric security 899
plan shall not be subject to commission approval or disapproval 900
under division (C) of this section, and the earnings test provided 901
for in division (F) of this section shall not apply until after 902
the expiration of the rate plan. However, that utility may include 903
in its electric security plan under this section, and the 904
commission may approve, modify and approve, or disapprove subject 905
to division (C) of this section, provisions for the incremental 906
recovery or the deferral of any costs that are not being recovered 907
under the rate plan and that the utility incurs during that 908
continuation period to comply with section 4928.141, division (B) 909
of section 4928.644928.641, or division (A) of sectionsections910
4928.66 to 4928.6660 of the Revised Code.911

       (E) If an electric security plan approved under division (C) 912
of this section, except one withdrawn by the utility as authorized 913
under that division, has a term, exclusive of phase-ins or 914
deferrals, that exceeds three years from the effective date of the 915
plan, the commission shall test the plan in the fourth year, and 916
if applicable, every fourth year thereafter, to determine whether 917
the plan, including its then-existing pricing and all other terms 918
and conditions, including any deferrals and any future recovery of 919
deferrals, continues to be more favorable in the aggregate and 920
during the remaining term of the plan as compared to the expected 921
results that would otherwise apply under section 4928.142 of the 922
Revised Code. The commission shall also determine the prospective 923
effect of the electric security plan to determine if that effect 924
is substantially likely to provide the electric distribution 925
utility with a return on common equity that is significantly in 926
excess of the return on common equity that is likely to be earned 927
by publicly traded companies, including utilities, that face 928
comparable business and financial risk, with such adjustments for 929
capital structure as may be appropriate. The burden of proof for 930
demonstrating that significantly excessive earnings will not occur 931
shall be on the electric distribution utility. If the test results 932
are in the negative or the commission finds that continuation of 933
the electric security plan will result in a return on equity that 934
is significantly in excess of the return on common equity that is 935
likely to be earned by publicly traded companies, including 936
utilities, that will face comparable business and financial risk, 937
with such adjustments for capital structure as may be appropriate, 938
during the balance of the plan, the commission may terminate the 939
electric security plan, but not until it shall have provided 940
interested parties with notice and an opportunity to be heard. The 941
commission may impose such conditions on the plan's termination as 942
it considers reasonable and necessary to accommodate the 943
transition from an approved plan to the more advantageous 944
alternative. In the event of an electric security plan's 945
termination pursuant to this division, the commission shall permit 946
the continued deferral and phase-in of any amounts that occurred 947
prior to that termination and the recovery of those amounts as 948
contemplated under that electric security plan.949

       (F) With regard to the provisions that are included in an 950
electric security plan under this section, the commission shall 951
consider, following the end of each annual period of the plan, if 952
any such adjustments resulted in excessive earnings as measured by 953
whether the earned return on common equity of the electric 954
distribution utility is significantly in excess of the return on 955
common equity that was earned during the same period by publicly 956
traded companies, including utilities, that face comparable 957
business and financial risk, with such adjustments for capital 958
structure as may be appropriate. Consideration also shall be given 959
to the capital requirements of future committed investments in 960
this state. The burden of proof for demonstrating that 961
significantly excessive earnings did not occur shall be on the 962
electric distribution utility. If the commission finds that such 963
adjustments, in the aggregate, did result in significantly 964
excessive earnings, it shall require the electric distribution 965
utility to return to consumers the amount of the excess by 966
prospective adjustments; provided that, upon making such 967
prospective adjustments, the electric distribution utility shall 968
have the right to terminate the plan and immediately file an 969
application pursuant to section 4928.142 of the Revised Code. Upon 970
termination of a plan under this division, rates shall be set on 971
the same basis as specified in division (C)(2)(b) of this section, 972
and the commission shall permit the continued deferral and 973
phase-in of any amounts that occurred prior to that termination 974
and the recovery of those amounts as contemplated under that 975
electric security plan. In making its determination of 976
significantly excessive earnings under this division, the 977
commission shall not consider, directly or indirectly, the 978
revenue, expenses, or earnings of any affiliate or parent company.979

       Sec. 4928.20.  (A) The legislative authority of a municipal 980
corporation may adopt an ordinance, or the board of township 981
trustees of a township or the board of county commissioners of a 982
county may adopt a resolution, under which, on or after the 983
starting date of competitive retail electric service, it may 984
aggregate in accordance with this section the retail electrical 985
loads located, respectively, within the municipal corporation, 986
township, or unincorporated area of the county and, for that 987
purpose, may enter into service agreements to facilitate for those 988
loads the sale and purchase of electricity. The legislative 989
authority or board also may exercise such authority jointly with 990
any other such legislative authority or board. For customers that 991
are not mercantile customers, an ordinance or resolution under 992
this division shall specify whether the aggregation will occur 993
only with the prior, affirmative consent of each person owning, 994
occupying, controlling, or using an electric load center proposed 995
to be aggregated or will occur automatically for all such persons 996
pursuant to the opt-out requirements of division (D) of this 997
section. The aggregation of mercantile customers shall occur only 998
with the prior, affirmative consent of each such person owning, 999
occupying, controlling, or using an electric load center proposed 1000
to be aggregated. Nothing in this division, however, authorizes 1001
the aggregation of the retail electric loads of an electric load 1002
center, as defined in section 4933.81 of the Revised Code, that is 1003
located in the certified territory of a nonprofit electric 1004
supplier under sections 4933.81 to 4933.90 of the Revised Code or 1005
an electric load center served by transmission or distribution 1006
facilities of a municipal electric utility.1007

       (B) If an ordinance or resolution adopted under division (A) 1008
of this section specifies that aggregation of customers that are 1009
not mercantile customers will occur automatically as described in 1010
that division, the ordinance or resolution shall direct the board 1011
of elections to submit the question of the authority to aggregate 1012
to the electors of the respective municipal corporation, township, 1013
or unincorporated area of a county at a special election on the 1014
day of the next primary or general election in the municipal 1015
corporation, township, or county. The legislative authority or 1016
board shall certify a copy of the ordinance or resolution to the 1017
board of elections not less than ninety days before the day of the 1018
special election. No ordinance or resolution adopted under 1019
division (A) of this section that provides for an election under 1020
this division shall take effect unless approved by a majority of 1021
the electors voting upon the ordinance or resolution at the 1022
election held pursuant to this division.1023

       (C) Upon the applicable requisite authority under divisions 1024
(A) and (B) of this section, the legislative authority or board 1025
shall develop a plan of operation and governance for the 1026
aggregation program so authorized. Before adopting a plan under 1027
this division, the legislative authority or board shall hold at 1028
least two public hearings on the plan. Before the first hearing, 1029
the legislative authority or board shall publish notice of the 1030
hearings once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of 1031
general circulation in the jurisdiction or as provided in section 1032
7.16 of the Revised Code. The notice shall summarize the plan and 1033
state the date, time, and location of each hearing.1034

       (D) No legislative authority or board, pursuant to an 1035
ordinance or resolution under divisions (A) and (B) of this 1036
section that provides for automatic aggregation of customers that 1037
are not mercantile customers as described in division (A) of this 1038
section, shall aggregate the electrical load of any electric load 1039
center located within its jurisdiction unless it in advance 1040
clearly discloses to the person owning, occupying, controlling, or 1041
using the load center that the person will be enrolled 1042
automatically in the aggregation program and will remain so 1043
enrolled unless the person affirmatively elects by a stated 1044
procedure not to be so enrolled. The disclosure shall state 1045
prominently the rates, charges, and other terms and conditions of 1046
enrollment. The stated procedure shall allow any person enrolled 1047
in the aggregation program the opportunity to opt out of the 1048
program every three years, without paying a switching fee. Any 1049
such person that opts out before the commencement of the 1050
aggregation program pursuant to the stated procedure shall default 1051
to the standard service offer provided under section 4928.14 or 1052
division (D) of section 4928.35 of the Revised Code until the 1053
person chooses an alternative supplier.1054

       (E)(1) With respect to a governmental aggregation for a 1055
municipal corporation that is authorized pursuant to divisions (A) 1056
to (D) of this section, resolutions may be proposed by initiative 1057
or referendum petitions in accordance with sections 731.28 to 1058
731.41 of the Revised Code.1059

       (2) With respect to a governmental aggregation for a township 1060
or the unincorporated area of a county, which aggregation is 1061
authorized pursuant to divisions (A) to (D) of this section, 1062
resolutions may be proposed by initiative or referendum petitions 1063
in accordance with sections 731.28 to 731.40 of the Revised Code, 1064
except that:1065

       (a) The petitions shall be filed, respectively, with the 1066
township fiscal officer or the board of county commissioners, who 1067
shall perform those duties imposed under those sections upon the 1068
city auditor or village clerk.1069

       (b) The petitions shall contain the signatures of not less 1070
than ten per cent of the total number of electors in, 1071
respectively, the township or the unincorporated area of the 1072
county who voted for the office of governor at the preceding 1073
general election for that office in that area.1074

       (F) A governmental aggregator under division (A) of this 1075
section is not a public utility engaging in the wholesale purchase 1076
and resale of electricity, and provision of the aggregated service 1077
is not a wholesale utility transaction. A governmental aggregator 1078
shall be subject to supervision and regulation by the public 1079
utilities commission only to the extent of any competitive retail 1080
electric service it provides and commission authority under this 1081
chapter.1082

       (G) This section does not apply in the case of a municipal 1083
corporation that supplies such aggregated service to electric load 1084
centers to which its municipal electric utility also supplies a 1085
noncompetitive retail electric service through transmission or 1086
distribution facilities the utility singly or jointly owns or 1087
operates.1088

       (H) A governmental aggregator shall not include in its 1089
aggregation the accounts of any of the following: 1090

       (1) A customer that has opted out of the aggregation;1091

       (2) A customer in contract with a certified electric services 1092
company;1093

       (3) A customer that has a special contract with an electric 1094
distribution utility;1095

       (4) A customer that is not located within the governmental 1096
aggregator's governmental boundaries;1097

       (5) Subject to division (C) of section 4928.21 of the Revised 1098
Code, a customer who appears on the "do not aggregate" list 1099
maintained under that section.1100

       (I) Customers that are part of a governmental aggregation 1101
under this section shall be responsible only for such portion of a 1102
surcharge under section 4928.144 of the Revised Code that is 1103
proportionate to the benefits, as determined by the commission, 1104
that electric load centers within the jurisdiction of the 1105
governmental aggregation as a group receive. The proportionate 1106
surcharge so established shall apply to each customer of the 1107
governmental aggregation while the customer is part of that 1108
aggregation. If a customer ceases being such a customer, the 1109
otherwise applicable surcharge shall apply. Nothing in this 1110
section shall result in less than full recovery by an electric 1111
distribution utility of any surcharge authorized under section 1112
4928.144 of the Revised Code. Nothing in this section shall result 1113
in less than the full and timely imposition, charging, collection, 1114
and adjustment by an electric distribution utility, its assignee, 1115
or any collection agent, of the phase-in-recovery charges 1116
authorized pursuant to a final financing order issued pursuant to 1117
sections 4928.23 to 4928.2318 of the Revised Code.1118

       (J) On behalf of the customers that are part of a 1119
governmental aggregation under this section and by filing written 1120
notice with the public utilities commission, the legislative 1121
authority that formed or is forming that governmental aggregation 1122
may elect not to receive standby service within the meaning of 1123
division (B)(2)(d) of section 4928.143 of the Revised Code from an 1124
electric distribution utility in whose certified territory the 1125
governmental aggregation is located and that operates under an 1126
approved electric security plan under that section. Upon the 1127
filing of that notice, the electric distribution utility shall not 1128
charge any such customer to whom competitive retail electric 1129
generation service is provided by another supplier under the 1130
governmental aggregation for the standby service. Any such 1131
consumer that returns to the utility for competitive retail 1132
electric service shall pay the market price of power incurred by 1133
the utility to serve that consumer plus any amount attributable to 1134
the utility's cost of compliance with the alternative energy 1135
resource provisions of sectionsections 4928.64 to 4928.6410 of 1136
the Revised Code to serve the consumer. Such market price shall 1137
include, but not be limited to, capacity and energy charges; all 1138
charges associated with the provision of that power supply through 1139
the regional transmission organization, including, but not limited 1140
to, transmission, ancillary services, congestion, and settlement 1141
and administrative charges; and all other costs incurred by the 1142
utility that are associated with the procurement, provision, and 1143
administration of that power supply, as such costs may be approved 1144
by the commission. The period of time during which the market 1145
price and alternative energy resource amount shall be so assessed 1146
on the consumer shall be from the time the consumer so returns to 1147
the electric distribution utility until the expiration of the 1148
electric security plan. However, if that period of time is 1149
expected to be more than two years, the commission may reduce the 1150
time period to a period of not less than two years.1151

       (K) The commission shall adopt rules to encourage and promote 1152
large-scale governmental aggregation in this state. For that 1153
purpose, the commission shall conduct an immediate review of any 1154
rules it has adopted for the purpose of this section that are in 1155
effect on the effective date of the amendment of this section by 1156
S.B. 221 of the 127th general assembly, July 31, 2008. Further, 1157
within the context of an electric security plan under section 1158
4928.143 of the Revised Code, the commission shall consider the 1159
effect on large-scale governmental aggregation of any 1160
nonbypassable generation charges, however collected, that would be 1161
established under that plan, except any nonbypassable generation 1162
charges that relate to any cost incurred by the electric 1163
distribution utility, the deferral of which has been authorized by 1164
the commission prior to the effective date of the amendment of 1165
this section by S.B. 221 of the 127th general assembly, July 31, 1166
2008.1167

       Sec. 4928.61.  (A) There is hereby established in the state 1168
treasury the advanced energy fund, into which shall be deposited 1169
all advanced energy revenues remitted to the director of 1170
development under division (B) of this section, for the exclusive 1171
purposes of funding the advanced energy program created under 1172
section 4928.62 of the Revised Code and paying the program's 1173
administrative costs. Interest on the fund shall be credited to 1174
the fund.1175

       (B) Advanced energy revenues shall include all of the 1176
following:1177

       (1) Revenues remitted to the director after collection by 1178
each electric distribution utility in this state of a temporary 1179
rider on retail electric distribution service rates as such rates 1180
are determined by the public utilities commission pursuant to this 1181
chapter. The rider shall be a uniform amount statewide, determined 1182
by the director of development, after consultation with the public 1183
benefits advisory board created by section 4928.58 of the Revised 1184
Code. The amount shall be determined by dividing an aggregate 1185
revenue target for a given year as determined by the director, 1186
after consultation with the advisory board, by the number of 1187
customers of electric distribution utilities in this state in the 1188
prior year. Such aggregate revenue target shall not exceed more 1189
than fifteen million dollars in any year through 2005 and shall 1190
not exceed more than five million dollars in any year after 2005. 1191
The rider shall be imposed beginning on the effective date of the 1192
amendment of this section by Sub. H.B. 251 of the 126th general 1193
assembly, January 4, 2007, and shall terminate at the end of ten 1194
years following the starting date of competitive retail electric 1195
service or until the advanced energy fund, including interest, 1196
reaches one hundred million dollars, whichever is first.1197

       (2) Revenues from payments, repayments, and collections under 1198
the advanced energy program and from program income;1199

       (3) Revenues remitted to the director after collection by a 1200
municipal electric utility or electric cooperative in this state 1201
upon the utility's or cooperative's decision to participate in the 1202
advanced energy fund;1203

        (4) Revenues from renewable energy compliance payments as 1204
provided under division (C)(2) of section 4928.644928.643 of the 1205
Revised Code;1206

       (5) Revenue from forfeitures under division (C) of section 1207
4928.664928.6656 of the Revised Code;1208

       (6) Funds transferred pursuant to division (B) of Section 1209
512.10 of S.B. 315 of the 129th general assembly;1210

       (7) Interest earnings on the advanced energy fund.1211

       (C)(1) Each electric distribution utility in this state shall 1212
remit to the director on a quarterly basis the revenues described 1213
in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section. Such remittances 1214
shall occur within thirty days after the end of each calendar 1215
quarter.1216

       (2) Each participating electric cooperative and participating 1217
municipal electric utility shall remit to the director on a 1218
quarterly basis the revenues described in division (B)(3) of this 1219
section. Such remittances shall occur within thirty days after the 1220
end of each calendar quarter. For the purpose of division (B)(3) 1221
of this section, the participation of an electric cooperative or 1222
municipal electric utility in the energy efficiency revolving loan 1223
program as it existed immediately prior to the effective date of 1224
the amendment of this section by Sub. H.B. 251 of the 126th 1225
general assembly, January 4, 2007, does not constitute a decision 1226
to participate in the advanced energy fund under this section as 1227
so amended.1228

       (3) All remittances under divisions (C)(1) and (2) of this 1229
section shall continue only until the end of ten years following 1230
the starting date of competitive retail electric service or until 1231
the advanced energy fund, including interest, reaches one hundred 1232
million dollars, whichever is first.1233

       (D) Any moneys collected in rates for non-low-income customer 1234
energy efficiency programs, as of October 5, 1999, and not 1235
contributed to the energy efficiency revolving loan fund 1236
authorized under this section prior to the effective date of its 1237
amendment by Sub. H.B. 251 of the 126th general assembly, January 1238
4, 2007, shall be used to continue to fund cost-effective, 1239
residential energy efficiency programs, be contributed into the 1240
universal service fund as a supplement to that required under 1241
section 4928.53 of the Revised Code, or be returned to ratepayers 1242
in the form of a rate reduction at the option of the affected 1243
electric distribution utility.1244

       Sec. 4928.64. (A)(1) As used in sections 4928.64 to 4928.64101245
and 4928.65 of the Revised Code, "alternative energy resource" 1246
means anthe following:1247

       (1) An advanced energy resource or renewable energy resource, 1248
as defined in section 4928.01 of the Revised Code that has a 1249
placed-in-service date of January 1, 1998, or after; a1250

       (2) A renewable energy resource created on or after January 1251
1, 1998, by the modification or retrofit of any facility placed in 1252
service prior to January 1, 1998; or a1253

       (3) A mercantile customer-sited advanced energy resource or 1254
renewable energy resource, whether new or existing, that the 1255
mercantile customer contractually commits to an electric 1256
distribution utility or an electric services company for purposes 1257
of compliance with section 4928.641 of the Revised Code or 1258
contractually commits to an electric distribution utility for 1259
integration into the electric distribution utility's 1260
demand-response, energy efficiency, or peak demand reduction 1261
programs as provided under division (A)(2)(c) of section 4928.661262
4928.6650 of the Revised Code, including, but not limited to, any 1263
of the following: 1264

       (a) A resource, behavior, or practice that hasdoes any of 1265
the following:1266

       (i) Has the effect of improving the relationship between real 1267
and reactive power;1268

       (ii) Reduces line losses;1269

       (iii) Reduces transformation losses.1270

       (b) A resource, behavior, or practice that makes efficient 1271
use of waste heat or other thermal capabilities owned or 1272
controlled by a mercantile customer; 1273

       (c) Storage, behavior, practice, or technology that allows a 1274
mercantile customer more flexibility to modify its demand or load 1275
and usage characteristics; 1276

       (d) Electric generation equipment owned or controlled by a 1277
mercantile customer that uses an advanced energy resource or 1278
renewable energy resource; 1279

       (e) Any plan, policy, behavior, or practice that reduces the 1280
total energy intensity of a facility, pipeline, building, plant, 1281
or equipment regardless of the type of energy intensity reduction, 1282
provided that such plan, policy, behavior, or practice does not 1283
result in a substitution of an alternative form of energy use for 1284
the use of purchased electricity;1285

        (f) Any plan, policy, behavior, or practice that reduces the 1286
energy intensity of any water supply function or water treatment 1287
function;1288

        (g) Any advanced energy resource or renewable energy resource 1289
of the mercantile customer that can be utilized effectively as 1290
part of any advanced energy resource plan of an electric 1291
distribution utility and would otherwise qualify as an alternative 1292
energy resource if it were utilized directly by an electric 1293
distribution utility. 1294

       (2)(h) Any energy intensity reduction that is achieved, in 1295
whole or in part, as a result of the funding provided from the 1296
universal service fund established under section 4928.51 of the 1297
Revised Code.1298

       (B) For the purpose of this sectionsections 4928.641 to 1299
4928.6410 of the Revised Code and as it considers appropriate, the 1300
public utilities commission may classify any new technology as 1301
such an advanced energy resource or a renewable energy resource. 1302

       Sec. 4928.641. (B)(A) By 2025 and thereafter, an electric 1303
distribution utility shall provide from alternative energy 1304
resources, including, at its discretion, alternative energy 1305
resources obtained pursuant to an electricity supply contract, a 1306
portion of the electricity supply required for its standard 1307
service offer under section 4928.141 of the Revised Code, and an 1308
electric services company shall provide a portion of its 1309
electricity supply for retail consumers in this state from 1310
alternative energy resources, including, at its discretion, 1311
alternative energy resources obtained pursuant to an electricity 1312
supply contract. That portion shall equal twenty-five per cent of 1313
the total number of kilowatt hours of electricity sold by the 1314
subject utility or company to any and all retail electric 1315
consumers whose electric load centers are served by that utility 1316
and are located within the utility's certified territory or, in 1317
the case of an electric services company, are served by the 1318
company and are located within this state. However, nothing in 1319
this section precludes a utility or company from providing a 1320
greater percentage. The baseline for a utility's or company's 1321
compliance with the alternative energy resource requirements of 1322
this section shall be the average of such total kilowatt hours it 1323
sold in the preceding three calendar years, except that the public 1324
utilities commission may reduce a utility's or company's baseline 1325
to adjust for new economic growth in the utility's certified 1326
territory or, in the case of an electric services company, in the 1327
company's service area in this state. 1328

       Of(B) Subject to the cost cap provisions of section 4928.644 1329
of the Revised Code, of the alternative energy resources 1330
implemented by the subject utility or company by 2025 and 1331
thereafter: 1332

       (1) Half may be generatedmet from advanced energy resources 1333
and shall be counted towards compliance with this section in every 1334
year it is provided in order to meet compliance, beginning in 1335
2009; 1336

       (2) At least half shall be generated from renewable energy 1337
resources, including one-half per cent from solar energy 1338
resources, in accordance with the following benchmarks: 1339

By end of year Renewable energy resources Solar energy resources 1340
2009 0.25% 0.004% 1341
2010 0.50% 0.010% 1342
2011 1% 0.030% 1343
2012 1.5% 0.060% 1344
2013 2% 0.090% 1345
2014 2.5% 0.12% 1346
2015 3.5% 0.15% 1347
2016 4.5% 0.18% 1348
2017 5.5% 0.22% 1349
2018 6.5% 0.26% 1350
2019 7.5% 0.3% 1351
2020 8.5% 0.34% 1352
2021 9.5% 0.38% 1353
2022 10.5% 0.42% 1354
2023 11.5% 0.46% 1355
2024 and each calendar year thereafter 12.5% 0.5% 1356

       (3) At least one-half of the renewable energy resources 1357
implemented by the utility or company shall be met through 1358
facilities located in this state; the remainder shall be met with 1359
resources that can be shown to be deliverable into this statefrom 1360
renewable energy resources that are one of the following:1361

       (a) Located in this state;1362

        (b) Eligible, or become eligible, to be provided as capacity, 1363
energy, or ancillary services through or within the wholesale 1364
electric market operated by the PJM interconnection regional 1365
transmission organization or its successor, the midcontinent 1366
independent system operator or its successor, or any regional 1367
transmission entity performing the functions identified in section 1368
4928.12 of the Revised Code and applicable to this state. 1369

       Sec. 4928.642. (C)(1) The public utilities commission 1370
annually shall review an electric distribution utility's or 1371
electric services company's compliance with the most recent 1372
applicable benchmark under division (B)(2) of this section 1373
4928.641 of the Revised Code and, in the course of that review, 1374
shall identify any undercompliance or noncompliance of the utility 1375
or company that it determines is weather-related, related to 1376
equipment or resource shortages for advanced energy or renewable 1377
energy resources as applicable, or is otherwise outside the 1378
utility's or company's control. 1379

       Sec. 4928.643. (2) Subject to the cost cap provisions of 1380
division (C)(3) of this section 4928.644 of the Revised Code, if 1381
the public utilities commission determines, after notice and 1382
opportunity for hearing, and based upon its findings in that 1383
review regarding avoidable undercompliance or noncompliance, but 1384
subject to division (C)(4) of this section 4928.645 of the Revised 1385
Code, that the utility or company has failed to comply with any 1386
such benchmark, the commission shallmay impose a renewable energy 1387
compliance payment on the utility or company. 1388

       (a)(A) The compliance payment pertaining to the solar energy 1389
resource benchmarks under division (B)(2) of this section 4928.641 1390
of the Revised Code shall be an amount per megawatt hour of 1391
undercompliance or noncompliance in the period under review, 1392
starting at four hundred fifty dollars for 2009, four hundred 1393
dollars for 2010 and 2011, and similarly reduced every two years 1394
thereafter through 2024 by fifty dollars, to a minimum of fifty 1395
dollars. 1396

       (b)(B) The compliance payment pertaining to the renewable 1397
energy resource benchmarks under division (B)(2) of this section 1398
4928.641 of the Revised Code shall equal the number of additional 1399
renewable energy credits that the electric distribution utility or 1400
electric services company would have needed to comply with the 1401
applicable benchmark in the period under review times an amount 1402
that shall begin at forty-five dollars and shall be adjusted 1403
annually by the commission to reflect any change in the consumer 1404
price index as defined in section 101.27 of the Revised Code, but 1405
shall not be less than forty-five dollars. 1406

       (c)(C) The compliance payment shall not be passed through by 1407
the electric distribution utility or electric services company to 1408
consumers. The compliance payment shall be remitted to the 1409
commission, for deposit to the credit of the advanced energy fund 1410
created under section 4928.61 of the Revised Code. Payment of the 1411
compliance payment shall be subject to such collection and 1412
enforcement procedures as apply to the collection of a forfeiture 1413
under sections 4905.55 to 4905.60 and 4905.64 of the Revised Code. 1414

       Sec. 4928.644. (3)(A) An electric distribution utility or an 1415
electric services company need not comply with a benchmark under 1416
division (B)(1) or (2) of this section to the extent that its 1417
reasonably expected cost of that compliance exceeds its reasonably 1418
expected cost of otherwise producing or acquiring the requisite 1419
electricity by three per cent or more. The cost of compliance 1420
shall be calculated as though any exemption from taxes and 1421
assessments had not been granted under section 5727.75 of the 1422
Revised Codeshall not continue to comply, or be subject to any 1423
obligation to continue to comply, in any year, with a benchmark 1424
under division (B)(1) or (2) of section 4928.641 of the Revised 1425
Code, if continued compliance for that year would exceed the cost 1426
cap calculated under division (B) of this section. 1427

       (B) The cost cap for each utility and company shall equal the 1428
product of three per cent multiplied by the sales supply amount. 1429
The sales supply amount is the product of the sales baseline 1430
multiplied by the generation supply dollar amount. For purposes of 1431
division (B) of this section:1432

        (1) "Sales baseline" means the sales baseline in megawatt 1433
hours for the applicable compliance year, which consists of an 1434
average of the utility's or company's annual retail sales of 1435
electricity sold in the state from the three preceding years; and 1436

       (2) "Generation supply dollar amount" means the reasonably 1437
expected dollar amount per megawatt hour for the generation supply 1438
available to consumers pursuant to section 4928.141 of the Revised 1439
Code during the applicable compliance year, which consists of a 1440
weighted average of the cost of the standard service offer supply 1441
for the delivery during that compliance year, net of distribution 1442
losses. With respect to an electric services company, generation 1443
supply dollar amount means the average weighted cost of generation 1444
supply of the relevant electric distribution utility.1445

        (C) In making the calculation under division (B) of this 1446
section, any exemption from taxes and assessments granted under 1447
section 5727.75 of the Revised Code shall be treated as if it had 1448
not been granted.1449

       (D) Notwithstanding the cost cap established in this section, 1450
ongoing costs associated with contracts executed by the electric 1451
distribution utility to procure renewable energy resources that 1452
are being recovered from customers through a bypassable charge as 1453
of the effective date of S.B. 58 of the 130th general assembly 1454
shall continue to be recovered for the term of the contract. 1455

       Sec. 4928.645. (4)(a)(A) An electric distribution utility or 1456
electric services company may request the public utilities1457
commission to make a force majeure determination pursuant to this 1458
divisionsection regarding all or part of the utility's or 1459
company's compliance with any minimum benchmark under division 1460
(B)(2) of this section 4928.641 of the Revised Code during the 1461
period of review occurring pursuant to division (C)(2) of this1462
section 4928.643 of the Revised Code. The commission may require 1463
the electric distribution utility or electric services company to 1464
make solicitations for renewable energy resource credits as part 1465
of its default service before the utility's or company's request 1466
of force majeure under this division can be made. 1467

       (b)(B) Within ninety days after the filing of a request by an 1468
electric distribution utility or electric services company under 1469
division (C)(4)(a)(A) of this section, the commission shall 1470
determine if renewable energy resources are reasonably available 1471
in the marketplace in sufficient quantities for the utility or 1472
company to comply with the subject minimum benchmark during the 1473
review period. In making this determination, the commission shall 1474
consider whether the electric distribution utility or electric 1475
services company has made a good faith effort to acquire 1476
sufficient renewable energy or, as applicable, solar energy 1477
resources to so comply, including, but not limited to, by banking 1478
or seeking renewable energy resource credits or by seeking the 1479
resources through long-term contracts. Additionally, the 1480
commission shall consider the availability of renewable energy or 1481
solar energy resources in this state and other jurisdictions in 1482
the PJM interconnection regional transmission organization or its 1483
successor and the midwestmidcontinent independent system operator 1484
or its successor. 1485

       (c)(C) If, pursuant to division (C)(4)(b)(B) of this section, 1486
the commission determines that renewable energy or solar energy 1487
resources are not reasonably available to permit the electric 1488
distribution utility or electric services company to comply, 1489
during the period of review, with the subject minimum benchmark 1490
prescribed under division (B)(2) of this section 4928.641 of the 1491
Revised Code, the commission shall modify that compliance 1492
obligation of the utility or company as it determines appropriate 1493
to accommodate the finding. Commission modification shall not 1494
automatically reduce the obligation for the electric distribution 1495
utility's or electric services company's compliance in subsequent 1496
years. If it modifies the electric distribution utility or 1497
electric services company obligation under division (C)(4)(c) of 1498
this section, the commission may require the utility or company, 1499
if sufficient renewable energy resource credits exist in the 1500
marketplace, to acquire additional renewable energy resource 1501
credits in subsequent years equivalent to the utility's or 1502
company's modified obligation under division (C)(4)(c) of this 1503
section. 1504

       Sec. 4928.646. (5) The public utilities commission shall 1505
establish a process to provide for at least an annual review of 1506
the alternative energy resource market in this state and in the 1507
service territories of the regional transmission organizations 1508
that manage transmission systems located in this state. The 1509
commission shall use the results of this study to identify any 1510
needed changes to the amount of the renewable energy compliance 1511
payment specified under divisions (C)(2)(a)(A) and (b)(B) of this1512
section 4928.643 of the Revised Code. Specifically, the commission 1513
may increase the amount to ensure that payment of compliance 1514
payments is not used to achieve compliance with this section 1515
4928.641 of the Revised Code in lieu of actually acquiring or 1516
realizing energy derived from renewable energy resources. However, 1517
if the commission finds that the amount of the compliance payment 1518
should be otherwise changed, the commission shall present this 1519
finding to the general assembly for legislative enactment.1520

       Sec. 4928.647. (D)(1)(A) The public utilities commission 1521
annually shall submit to the general assembly in accordance with 1522
section 101.68 of the Revised Code a report describing all of the 1523
following:1524

       (a)(1) The compliance of electric distribution utilities and 1525
electric services companies with division (B) of this section 1526
4928.641 of the Revised Code;1527

       (b)(2) The average annual cost of renewable energy credits 1528
purchased by utilities and companies for the year covered in the 1529
report;1530

       (c)(3) Any strategy for utility and company compliance or for 1531
encouraging the use of alternative energy resources in supplying 1532
this state's electricity needs in a manner that considers 1533
available technology, costs, job creation, and economic impacts. 1534

       (B) The commission shall begin providing the information 1535
described in division (D)(1)(b)(A)(2) of this section in each 1536
report submitted after the effective date of the amendment of this 1537
section by S.B. 315 of the 129th general assemblySeptember 10, 1538
2012. The commission shall allow and consider public comments on 1539
the report prior to its submission to the general assembly. 1540
Nothing in the report shall be binding on any person, including 1541
any utility or company for the purpose of its compliance with any 1542
benchmark under division (B) of this section 4928.641 of the 1543
Revised Code, or the enforcement of that provision under division 1544
(C) of this sectionsections 4928.642 to 4928.646 of the Revised 1545
Code. 1546

       Sec. 4928.648. (2) The governor, in consultation with the 1547
commission chairperson of the public utilities commission, shall 1548
appoint an alternative energy advisory committee. The committee 1549
shall examine available technology for and related timetables, 1550
goals, and costs of the alternative energy resource requirements 1551
under division (B) of this section 4928.641 of the Revised Code1552
and shall submit to the commission a semiannual report of its 1553
recommendations. 1554

       Sec. 4928.649. (E) All costs incurred by an electric 1555
distribution utility in complying with the requirements of this1556
section 4928.641 of the Revised Code shall be bypassable by any 1557
consumer that has exercised choice of supplier under section 1558
4928.03 of the Revised Code. 1559

       Sec. 4928.6410. The following shall be counted for purposes 1560
of measuring compliance with the requirements of section 4928.641 1561
of the Revised Code regardless of whether the resource or its 1562
attributes may also be counted towards compliance with the 1563
requirements of sections 4928.66 to 4928.6660 of the Revised Code:1564

       (A) Energy efficiency savings and demand reductions described 1565
in division (E) of section 717.25 of the Revised Code and 1566
divisions (A) and (B) of section 1710.061 of the Revised Code;1567

        (B) Any advanced energy resource.1568

       Sec. 4928.65. An electric distribution utility or electric 1569
services company may use renewable energy credits any time in the 1570
five calendar years following the date of their purchase or 1571
acquisition from any entity, including, but not limited to, a 1572
mercantile customer or an owner or operator of a hydroelectric 1573
generating facility that is located at a dam on a river, or on any 1574
water discharged to a river or lake, that is within or bordering 1575
this state or, within or bordering an adjoining state, or within 1576
the Canadian provinces of Ontario or Quebec, for the purpose of 1577
complying with the renewable energy and solar energy resource 1578
requirements of division (B)(2) of section 4928.644928.641 of 1579
the Revised Code. The public utilities commission shall adopt 1580
rules specifying that one unit of credit shall equal one megawatt 1581
hour of electricity derived from renewable energy resources, 1582
except that, for a generating facility of seventy-five megawatts 1583
or greater that is situated within this state and has committed by 1584
December 31, 2009, to modify or retrofit its generating unit or 1585
units to enable the facility to generate principally from biomass 1586
energy by June 30, 2013, each megawatt hour of electricity 1587
generated principally from that biomass energy shall equal, in 1588
units of credit, the product obtained by multiplying the actual 1589
percentage of biomass feedstock heat input used to generate such 1590
megawatt hour by the quotient obtained by dividing the then 1591
existing unit dollar amount used to determine a renewable energy 1592
compliance payment as provided under division (C)(2)(b)(B) of 1593
section 4928.644928.643 of the Revised Code by the then existing 1594
market value of one renewable energy credit, but such megawatt 1595
hour shall not equal less than one unit of credit. The rules also 1596
shall provide for this state a system of registering renewable 1597
energy credits by specifying which of any generally available 1598
registries shall be used for that purpose and not by creating a 1599
registry. That selected system of registering renewable energy 1600
credits shall allow a hydroelectric generating facility to be 1601
eligible for obtaining renewable energy credits and shall allow 1602
customer-sited projects or actions the broadest opportunities to 1603
be eligible for obtaining renewable energy credits.1604

       Sec. 4928.66.  As used in sections 4928.66 to 4928.6660 of 1605
the Revised Code:1606

       (A) "Energy efficiency program" may include the following:1607

       (1) A policy, behavior, practice, or program designed and 1608
implemented to comply with energy efficiency requirements;1609

       (2) A combined heat and power system placed into service or 1610
retrofitted on or after the effective date of the amendment of 1611
this section by S.B. 315 of the 129th general assembly, September 1612
10, 2012;1613

       (3) A waste energy recovery system placed into service or 1614
retrofitted on or after September 10, 2012, except that a waste 1615
energy recovery system described in division (A)(38)(b) of section 1616
4928.01 of the Revised Code may be included only if it was placed 1617
into service between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2004;1618

       (4) Increased use of post-consumer recycled glass by a 1619
mercantile customer.1620

       (B) "Energy efficiency requirements" means the savings 1621
requirements under section 4928.661 of the Revised Code.1622

       (C) "Lost revenue mechanism" means a mechanism to recover 1623
either or both of the following based on kilowatt hours eliminated 1624
as a result of compliance with energy efficiency or peak demand 1625
reduction requirements:1626

       (1) All lost, forgone, or eliminated distribution revenue;1627

       (2) All lost, forgone, or eliminated distribution and 1628
transmission revenue.1629

       (D) "Peak demand reduction program" means a policy, practice, 1630
behavior, or program designed to comply with peak demand reduction 1631
requirements.1632

       (E) "Peak demand reduction requirements" means benchmark 1633
requirements under section 4928.662 of the Revised Code.1634

       (F) "Regional transmission organization" means the PJM 1635
interconnection regional transmission organization, L.L.C. or any 1636
entity performing the functions identified in section 4928.12 of 1637
the Revised Code within this state.1638

       (G) "Revenue decoupling mechanism" means a rate design or 1639
other cost recovery mechanism that provides recovery of the cost 1640
of distribution service irrespective of distribution service 1641
sales.1642

       (H) "Utility cost test" means a test to determine the net 1643
benefits of an energy efficiency or peak demand reduction program 1644
based on the costs and benefits of the program to the electric 1645
distribution utility, including incentive costs and excluding any 1646
net costs incurred by the customer participating in the program. 1647
The following apply for the purposes of a utility cost test:1648

       (1) "Benefits" means the following resulting from the 1649
program:1650

       (a) Avoided supply costs of energy and demand;1651

       (b) The reduction in transmission, distribution, generation, 1652
or capacity costs for the periods when load is reduced.1653

       (2) "Costs" means the electric distribution utility's costs 1654
of implementing the policy, behavior, practice, or program, 1655
including the incentives paid to customers, and the increased 1656
supply costs for the periods when load is not reduced through the 1657
operation of the policy, behavior, practice, or program. 1658

       (3) "Net benefits" means the net present value of the 1659
difference between the benefits and costs as part of a utility 1660
cost test.1661

       Sec. 4928.66.        Sec. 4928.661. (A)(1)(a) Beginning in 2009, an 1662
electric distribution utility shall implement energy efficiency 1663
programs that achieve energy efficiency savings that reduce the 1664
quantity of energy required to maintain or improve end-use or 1665
utility system functionality. Such energy savings shall be1666
equivalent to at least three-tenths of one per cent of the total, 1667
annual average, and normalized kilowatt-hour sales of the electric 1668
distribution utility during the preceding three calendar years to 1669
customers in this state. For a waste energy recovery or combined 1670
heat and power system, the savings shall be as estimated by the 1671
public utilities commission. The savings requirement, using such a 1672
three-year average, shall increase to an additional five-tenths of 1673
one per cent in 2010, seven-tenths of one per cent in 2011, 1674
eight-tenths of one per cent in 2012, nine-tenths of one per cent 1675
in 2013, one per cent from 2014 to 2018, andone and one-quarter 1676
per cent in 2019, one and one-half per cent in 2020, one and 1677
three-quarters per cent in 2021, two per cent each year thereafter1678
in 2022, two and one-quarter per cent in 2023, two and one-half 1679
per cent in 2024, and two and three-quarters per cent in 2025, 1680
achieving a cumulative, annual energy savings in excess of 1681
twenty-two per cent by the end of 2025. For purposes of a waste 1682
energy recovery or combined heat and power system, an electric 1683
distribution utility shall not apply more than the total annual 1684
percentage of the electric distribution utility's 1685
industrial-customer load, relative to the electric distribution 1686
utility's total load, to the annual energy savings requirement.1687

       Sec. 4928.662. (b)(A) Beginning in 2009, an electric 1688
distribution utility shall implement peak demand reduction 1689
programs designed to achieve a one per cent reduction in peak 1690
demand in 2009 and an additional seventy-five hundredths of one 1691
per cent reduction each year through 2018. InPeak demand 1692
reduction shall be measured relative to the measure of the peak 1693
demand that is used by the applicable regional transmission 1694
organization to establish a supplier's resource adequacy or 1695
capacity obligation.1696

       (B) In 2018, the standing committees in the house of 1697
representatives and the senate primarily dealing with energy 1698
issues shall make recommendations to the general assembly 1699
regarding future peak demand reduction targets.1700

       Sec. 4928.665. (2) For the purposes of divisions (A)(1)(a) 1701
and (b) of this section:1702

       (a) The baseline for energy savings under division (A)(1)(a) 1703
of this sectionthe energy efficiency requirements shall be the 1704
average of the total kilowatt hours the electric distribution 1705
utility sold in the preceding three calendar years, and the 1706
baseline for a peak demand reduction under division (A)(1)(b) of 1707
this sectionthe peak demand reduction requirements shall be the 1708
average peak demand on the utility in the preceding three calendar 1709
years, except that the public utilities commission mayshall1710
reduce either baselinethe baselines to adjust for new economic 1711
growth in the utility's certified territory and a downturn in the 1712
economy. The commission shall exclude the following from the 1713
baseline:1714

       (A) The load and usage of customers for which reasonable 1715
arrangements have been approved under section 4905.31 of the 1716
Revised Code;1717

       (B) The load and usage of customers that have opted out of 1718
participation in energy efficiency and peak demand reduction 1719
programs under section 4928.6630 of the Revised Code.1720

       Sec. 4928.666.  If a mercantile customer makes such existing 1721
or new demand-response, energy efficiency, including waste energy 1722
recovery and combined heat and power, or peak demand reduction 1723
capability available to an electric distribution utility pursuant 1724
to division (A)(2)(c) of this section 4928.6650 of the Revised 1725
Code, the electric utility's baseline under division (A)(2)(a) of 1726
this section 4928.665 of the Revised Code shall be adjusted to 1727
exclude the effects of all such demand-response, energy 1728
efficiency, including waste energy recovery and combined heat and 1729
power, or peak demand reduction programs that may have existed 1730
during the period used to establish the baseline.1731

       Sec. 4928.667.  The baseline also shall be normalized for 1732
changes in numbers of customers, sales, weather, peak demand, and 1733
other appropriate factors so that the compliance measurement is 1734
not unduly influenced by factors outside the control of the 1735
electric distribution utility.1736

       Sec. 4928.668. (b) The public utilities commission may amend 1737
the benchmarks set forth in division (A)(1)(a) or (b) of this 1738
sectionenergy efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements1739
if, after application by the electric distribution utility, the 1740
commission determines that the amendment is necessary because the 1741
utility cannot reasonably achieve the benchmarks due to 1742
regulatory, economic, or technological reasons beyond its 1743
reasonable control.1744

       Sec. 4928.6610.  Each electric distribution utility shall 1745
have a compliance plan to meet the energy efficiency and peak 1746
demand reduction requirements. Following the expiration of any 1747
compliance plan filed with or approved by the public utilities 1748
commission prior to the effective date of this section, each 1749
subsequent compliance plan shall encompass at least a three-year 1750
period.1751

       Sec. 4928.6611.  Each compliance plan approved by the public 1752
utilities commission shall include:1753

        (A) Recovery from customers of all program costs incurred to 1754
implement the measures adopted for compliance with the mandates;1755

        (B) At the choice of the electric distribution utility, for 1756
each rate class of customer, compensation through either a lost 1757
revenue mechanism or a revenue decoupling mechanism; and1758

        (C) A shared savings incentive mechanism that permits the 1759
utility to retain one-third of the after-tax net benefits 1760
associated with the approved programs as measured by a utility 1761
cost test, provided that such incentive mechanism shall apply to 1762
all compliance activities, including activities described in 1763
sections 4928.6627 and 4928.6640 of the Revised Code, but 1764
excluding the following:1765

       (1) Any programs adopted by the commission and described in 1766
division (E)(1) of section 4928.58 of the Revised Code that are 1767
not cost-effective;1768

        (2) Compliance that exceeds energy efficiency and peak demand 1769
requirements.1770

        For purposes of calculating a shared savings incentive only, 1771
the commission may modify the utility cost test to include 1772
societal benefits that are validated by independent measurement 1773
and verification protocols that meet the evidentiary standard as 1774
specified by the United States supreme court in Daubert v. Merrell 1775
Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (1993)509 U.S. 579.1776

       Sec. 4928.6612.  In advance of the period during which the 1777
electric distribution utility will be required to comply with the 1778
energy efficiency and peak demand requirements, the public 1779
utilities commission shall approve a compliance plan for each 1780
electric distribution utility.1781

       Sec. 4928.6613. (A) If, on the effective date of S.B. 58 of 1782
the 130th general assembly, an electric distribution utility has a 1783
compliance plan based on the energy efficiency savings and peak 1784
demand reduction requirements under former section 4928.66 of the 1785
Revised Code as it existed prior to the effective date of S.B. 58 1786
of the 130th general assembly that was approved by the public 1787
utilities commission or was filed with but not yet approved by the 1788
commission, the electric distribution utility may, at its sole 1789
discretion, continue or implement such compliance plan, including 1790
any existing approved cost recovery and incentive mechanisms, 1791
until such costs and incentives are fully recovered. All 1792
provisions of sections 4928.66 to 4928.6660 of the Revised Code as 1793
amended or enacted in S.B. 58 of the 130th general assembly shall 1794
apply if the electric distribution utility continues or implements 1795
such compliance plan.1796

       (B) At its sole discretion, an electric distribution utility 1797
may elect not to be subject to a cost cap under sections 4928.6615 1798
to 4928.6623 of the Revised Code as part of a compliance plan 1799
described in division (A) of this section.1800

       (C) An electric distribution utility that continues or 1801
implements a compliance plan under division (A) of this section 1802
shall notify the public utilities commission if it elects not to 1803
be subject to a cost cap under sections 4928.6615 to 4928.6623 of 1804
the Revised Code while the plan is in effect.1805

       Sec. 4928.6615.  Not later than ninety days after the 1806
effective date of S.B. 58 of the 130th general assembly, each 1807
electric distribution utility shall have a one-time irrevocable 1808
option, exercised solely at the discretion of that electric 1809
distribution utility, to select one of the cost caps under section 1810
4928.6616 of the Revised Code, which cost cap shall apply to the 1811
electric distribution utility's compliance plans approved after 1812
the effective date of S.B. 58 of the 130th general assembly.1813

       Sec. 4928.6616. In order to minimize future rate impacts 1814
associated with the energy efficiency and peak demand requirements 1815
and as a consumer safeguard, beginning with calendar year 2014, an 1816
electric distribution utility shall, pursuant to section 4928.6615 1817
of the Revised Code, select one of the following cost cap methods 1818
for compliance plans approved after the effective date of S.B. 58 1819
of the 130th general assembly: 1820

       (A) The electric distribution utility's costs for compliance 1821
with the energy efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements 1822
in any year shall not exceed the cost per kilowatt hour of energy 1823
efficiency savings and cost per kilowatt of peak demand reduction 1824
that was incurred in calendar year 2013; 1825

       (B) The total annualized rate impact of program costs and 1826
shared savings incentives associated with an electric distribution 1827
utility's compliance in any year with the energy efficiency and 1828
peak demand reduction requirements shall not exceed the program 1829
costs approved for that electric distribution utility for the 1830
calendar year 2013. 1831

       Sec. 4928.6617.  Once the applicable cost cap under section 1832
4928.6616 of the Revised Code is met, an electric distribution 1833
utility, by operation of law, is relieved of the following:1834

       (A) Making further expenditures to meet the energy efficiency 1835
or peak demand reduction requirements for the remainder of the 1836
calendar year;1837

       (B) Achieving the energy efficiency and peak demand reduction 1838
requirements for the calendar year. 1839

       Once either cost cap under section 4928.6616 of the Revised 1840
Code is met, the electric distribution utility is deemed to have 1841
met the energy efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements 1842
for that calendar year. 1843

       Sec. 4928.6618.  An electric distribution utility shall 1844
notify the public utilities commission when, if ever, the cost cap 1845
is met under section 4928.6616 of the Revised Code.1846

       Sec. 4928.6619. Under either cost cap option described in 1847
section 4928.6616 of the Revised Code, the public utilities 1848
commission shall honor contractual obligations of an electric 1849
distribution utility that existed prior to the effective date of 1850
this section and shall ensure full recovery of costs relating to 1851
actions taken under previously approved compliance plans.1852

       Sec. 4928.6620. Nothing in sections 4928.6615 to 4928.6623 of 1853
the Revised Code shall prevent the timely recovery of compliance 1854
costs and incentives incurred by an electric distribution utility 1855
prior to the effective date of S.B. 58 of the 130th general 1856
assembly and costs or compensation under a lost revenue mechanism 1857
or revenue decoupling mechanism or other approved incentive 1858
mechanism as provided for in sections 4928.6611 or 4928.6651 of 1859
the Revised Code.1860

       Sec. 4928.6621.  The effects of lost revenue recovery or 1861
revenue decoupling shall not be included in the cost cap under 1862
sections 4928.6615 to 4928.6623 of the Revised Code.1863

       Sec. 4928.6622.  (A) If the cost cap described in section 1864
4928.6616 of the Revised Code is met, expenditure of program costs 1865
shall be curtailed as soon as practicable but full recovery of 1866
shared savings incentives earned on or before the date the cost 1867
cap is met shall not be curtailed or otherwise limited.1868

       (B) An electric distribution utility shall be permitted to 1869
recover all compliance costs, incentives, and related items 1870
resulting from any temporary overcompliance resulting from 1871
sections 4928.665 to 4928.6640 of the Revised Code.1872

       Sec. 4928.6623.  Any excess compliance with the energy 1873
efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements achieved at the 1874
time the cost cap is met may be banked for future use.1875

       Sec. 4928.6625. (c) Compliance with divisions (A)(1)(a) and 1876
(b) of this sectionthe energy efficiency and peak demand 1877
reduction requirements shall be measured by including the effects 1878
of all demand-response programscapabilities for mercantile 1879
customers of the subject electric distribution utility, all waste 1880
energy recovery systems and all combined heat and power systems, 1881
and all such mercantile customer-sited energy efficiency, 1882
including waste energy recovery and combined heat and power, and 1883
peak demand reduction programs, adjusted upward by the appropriate 1884
loss factors.1885

       Sec. 4928.6626. Division (A)(2)(c) of this sectionEnergy 1886
efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements shall be applied 1887
to include facilitating efforts by a mercantile customer or group 1888
of those customers to offer customer-sited demand-response, energy 1889
efficiency, including waste energy recovery and combined heat and 1890
power, or peak demand reduction capabilities to the electric 1891
distribution utility through a contractual commitment as part of a 1892
reasonable arrangement submitted to the public utilities1893
commission pursuant to section 4905.31 of the Revised Code.1894

       Sec. 4928.6627. (d) Programs(A) Energy efficiency and peak 1895
demand reduction programs implemented by a utility may include 1896
demand-response programs, smart grid investment programs, provided 1897
that such programs are demonstrated to be cost-beneficialcost 1898
effective, and customer-sited programs, including waste energy 1899
recovery and combined heat and power systems, and transmission.1900

       (B) The following shall also be counted toward meeting the 1901
energy efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements 1902
regardless of the intent or origin of the improvement:1903

       (1) Transmission and distribution infrastructure improvements 1904
that reduce line losses;1905

       (2) Energy savings and peak demand reduction that is 1906
achieved, in whole or in part, as a result of funding provided 1907
from the universal service fund established by section 4928.51 of 1908
the Revised Code.1909

       Sec. 4928.6630.  Any retail customer of an electric 1910
distribution utility that receives service above the primary 1911
voltage level as determined by the utility's tariff 1912
classification, may opt out of both the opportunity and ability to 1913
obtain direct benefits from the utility's compliance plan. Such 1914
opt out shall extend to all of the customer's accounts, 1915
irrespective of the size or service voltage level, which are 1916
associated with the activities performed by the customer and which 1917
are located on or adjacent to the customer's premises that are 1918
served above the primary voltage level.1919

       Sec. 4928.6631.  Any retail customer electing to opt out 1920
under sections 4928.6630 to 4928.6636 of the Revised Code shall do 1921
so by providing a written notice of intent to opt out to the 1922
electric distribution utility from which it receives service and 1923
submitting a complete copy of the opt-out notice to the secretary 1924
of the public utilities commission.1925

       (A) The notice provided to the utility shall include the 1926
following:1927

       (1) A statement indicating that the customer has elected to 1928
opt out;1929

       (2) The effective date of the election to opt out;1930

       (3) The customer's account numbers for each account related 1931
to the customer's premises that receives service above the primary 1932
voltage level as determined by the utility's tariff 1933
classification;1934

       (4) The physical location of the customer's load center.1935

        (B) The opt-out notice shall include a written election to 1936
opt out and a verified statement that affirms the following:1937

       (1) That the customer has adopted an ongoing energy 1938
management system that allows for identification and, in the 1939
customer's sole discretion, implementation of options to 1940
reasonably and cost effectively reduce the energy intensity of the 1941
organization;1942

       (2) That the customer's energy management system incorporates 1943
independent measurement and verification or includes measurement 1944
and verification protocols that meet or exceed measurement and 1945
verification protocols that are generally accepted within the 1946
customer's business sector.1947

       Sec. 4928.6632.  Upon a retail customer's election to opt out 1948
under sections 4928.6630 to 4928.6636 of the Revised Code, no 1949
account properly identified in the customer's verified notice 1950
shall be subject to the cost recovery mechanisms established under 1951
sections 4928.66 to 4928.6660 of the Revised Code or eligible to 1952
participate in, or directly benefit from, programs arising from 1953
electric distribution utility compliance plans approved by the 1954
commission.1955

       Sec. 4928.6633.  (A) A retail customer subsequently may opt 1956
in under section 4928.6634 of the Revised Code after a previous 1957
election to opt out under sections 4928.6630 and 4928.6631 of the 1958
Revised Code if both of the following apply:1959

       (1) The customer has previously opted out for a period of at 1960
least three consecutive calendar years.1961

       (2) The customer gives twelve months' advance notice of its 1962
intent to opt in to the public utilities commission and the 1963
electric distribution utility from which it receives service.1964

        (B) A retail customer that opts in under this section shall 1965
maintain its opt-in status for three consecutive calendar years 1966
before being eligible subsequently to exercise its right to opt 1967
out after giving the utility twelve months' advance notice.1968

        (C) A retail customer is not eligible to participate in a 1969
mercantile customer agreement under section 4928.6650 of the 1970
Revised Code during any period when it has an opt-out status.1971

       Sec. 4928.6634.  Any retail customer electing to opt in under 1972
section 4928.6633 of the Revised Code shall do so by providing a 1973
written notice of intent to opt in to the electric distribution 1974
utility from which it receives service and submitting a complete 1975
copy of the opt-in notice to the secretary of the public utilities 1976
commission. The notice shall include the following:1977

       (A) A statement indicating that the customer has elected to 1978
opt in;1979

       (B) The effective date of the election to opt in; 1980

       (C) The customer's account numbers for each account related 1981
to the customer's premises that receives service above the primary 1982
voltage level as determined by the utility's tariff 1983
classification;1984

       (D) The physical location of the customer's load center.1985

       Sec. 4928.6635.  If the energy management system of a retail 1986
customer that elects to opt out under sections 4928.6630 to 1987
4938.6633 of the Revised Code does not incorporate independent 1988
measurement and verification protocols, the public utilities 1989
commission may request information from the customer for the 1990
limited purpose of determining if the customer's protocols are 1991
reasonable compared to the protocols generally accepted within the 1992
customer's business sector. If the commission determines that the 1993
customer's protocols do not meet the protocols generally accepted 1994
within the customer's business sector, the commission may provide 1995
the customer with measurement and verification protocols that meet 1996
the generally accepted protocols, and the customer shall either 1997
adopt the protocols provided or adopt alternate protocols that 1998
meet the protocols generally accepted within the customer's 1999
business sector. However, in no event shall the commission have 2000
any authority to supervise or regulate the customer's energy 2001
management system or the customer's process for measurement and 2002
verification.2003

       Sec. 4928.6636. Sections 4928.6630 to 4928.6635 of the 2004
Revised Code shall apply to any accounts subject to the 2005
self-assessing purchaser option under section 5727.81 of the 2006
Revised Code.2007

       Sec. 4928.6640.  For the purpose of measuring and determining 2008
compliance with the energy efficiency and peak demand reduction 2009
requirements, the public utilities commission shall count and 2010
recognize compliance as follows: 2011

       (A) Energy savings and peak demand reduction achieved through 2012
actions taken by customers or through utility programs that comply 2013
with federal standards for either or both energy efficiency and 2014
peak demand reduction requirements, including resources associated 2015
with such savings or reduction that are recognized as capacity 2016
resources by a regional transmission organization shall count 2017
toward compliance with the energy efficiency and peak demand 2018
reduction requirements.2019

       (B) Energy savings and peak demand reduction shall be 2020
measured on the higher of an as found or deemed basis, achieved 2021
since 2006 and going forward. For new construction, the energy 2022
savings and peak demand reduction shall be counted based on 2008 2023
federal standards, provided that when new construction replaces an 2024
existing facility, the difference in savings and reduction between 2025
the new and replaced facility shall be counted toward meeting the 2026
energy efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements.2027

       (C) The commission shall count both the energy savings and 2028
peak demand reduction on an annualized basis.2029

       (D) The commission shall count both the energy savings and 2030
peak demand reduction on a gross savings basis.2031

       (E) The commission shall recognize and count energy savings 2032
or peak demand reductions, on a British thermal unit equivalent 2033
basis, that occur as a consequence of a compliance plan approved 2034
by the commission, except that a British thermal unit savings 2035
related to a reduction in gas usage or associated with switching 2036
equipment or processes from electric usage to gas usage shall not 2037
qualify.2038

       (F) The commission shall recognize and count energy savings 2039
and peak demand reductions that occur as a consequence of consumer 2040
reductions in water usage or reductions and improvements in 2041
wastewater treatment.2042

       (G) The commission shall recognize and count energy savings 2043
and peak demand reduction associated with heat rate and other 2044
efficiency or energy intensity improvements achieved since 2006 2045
from electric generating plants that have existed as of January 1, 2046
2013, and are located either within an electric distribution 2047
utility's certified territory, or owned and operated by an 2048
affiliate of the electric distribution utility as long as the 2049
generating plant was previously owned, in whole or in part, by an 2050
electric distribution utility located in this state. Such energy 2051
savings and peak demand reductions shall count as both energy 2052
savings and peak demand reductions under this section and advanced 2053
energy under sections 4928.64 to 4928.6410 of the Revised Code. 2054
Payments or incentives paid to any such generating plant by an 2055
electric distribution utility are solely within the discretion of 2056
the utility, but shall not be recoverable as a cost of compliance 2057
with the requirements of this section.2058

       (H) The commission shall recognize and count all energy 2059
savings and peak demand reduction that is physically located 2060
within the certified territory of the electric distribution 2061
utility and is bid into regional transmission organization 2062
capacity auctions as energy efficiency resources and demand 2063
response resources toward the peak demand reduction requirements.2064

       (I) For purposes of measuring compliance, the commission 2065
shall permit the energy efficiency and peak demand reduction 2066
requirements to be met on an aggregated basis for electric 2067
distribution utilities in the same holding company system.2068

       (J) Energy savings and peak demand reduction amounts approved 2069
by the commission shall continue to be counted toward achieving 2070
the energy efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements as 2071
long as the requirements remain in effect. Any energy savings 2072
achieved in excess of the requirements may, at the discretion of 2073
the electric distribution utility, be banked and applied toward 2074
achieving the energy efficiency requirements in future years.2075

       Sec. 4928.6641. An electric distribution utility annually 2076
shall notify the public utilities commission regarding which 2077
measurements described in section 4928.6640 of the Revised Code 2078
will be included to determine compliance with the energy 2079
efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements.2080

       Sec. 4928.6642. All energy efficiency savings and peak demand 2081
reductions, including energy efficiency savings and demand 2082
reductions described in division (E) of section 717.25 of the 2083
Revised Code and divisions (A) and (B) of section 1710.061 of the 2084
Revised Code, shall be counted toward compliance with the energy 2085
efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements, consistent with 2086
section 4928.6640 of the Revised Code, regardless of whether the 2087
savings or reductions may also be counted towards compliance with 2088
sections 4928.64 to 4928.6410 of the Revised Code.2089

       Sec. 4928.6645. The public utilities commission shall not 2090
require that an electric distribution utility achieve energy 2091
savings or peak demand reduction in excess of the energy 2092
efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements.2093

       Sec. 4928.6646. The public utilities commission shall 2094
liberally construe sections 4928.66 to 4928.6660 of the Revised 2095
Code in favor of counting energy savings and peak demand reduction 2096
achieved by customers or through utility programs in order to 2097
achieve the energy efficiency and peak demand reduction 2098
requirements, as further specified in section 4928.6640 of the 2099
Revised Code.2100

       Sec. 4928.6647. The public utilities commission shall not 2101
impose a penalty, require any shortfall to be carried forward to a 2102
future compliance year, or compel the use of banked energy savings 2103
as a result of noncompliance or undercompliance resulting from the 2104
application of the cost cap under sections 4928.6615 to 4928.6623 2105
of the Revised Code.2106

       Sec. 4928.6650.  Any mechanism designed to recover the cost 2107
of energy efficiency, including waste energy recovery and combined 2108
heat and power, and peak demand reduction programs under divisions 2109
(A)(1)(a) and (b) of this section maythe energy efficiency and 2110
peak demand reduction requirements shall exempt any mercantile 2111
customers that commit their demand-response or other 2112
customer-sited capabilities, whether existing or new, for 2113
integration into the electric distribution utility's 2114
demand-response, energy efficiency, including waste energy 2115
recovery and combined heat and power, or peak demand reduction 2116
programs, if theprovided that:2117

       (A) The exemption in each year shall be proportionate to the 2118
annual compliance benchmark for such year compared to the 2119
customer's annualized demand or energy usage for the applicable 2120
baseline period; and2121

       (B) The public utilities commission determines that that 2122
exemption reasonably encourages such customers to commit those 2123
capabilities to those programs.2124

       Sec. 4928.6651. (D) The public utilities commission may 2125
establish rules regarding the content of an application by an 2126
electric distribution utility for commission approval of a revenue 2127
decoupling mechanism under this division. Such an application 2128
shall not be considered an application to increase rates and may 2129
be included as part of a proposal to establish, continue, or 2130
expand energy efficiency or conservation programs. The commission 2131
by order may approve an application under this division if it 2132
determines both that the revenue decoupling mechanism provides for 2133
the recovery of revenue that otherwise may be forgone by the 2134
utility as a result of or in connection with the implementation by 2135
the electric distribution utility of any energy efficiency or 2136
energy conservation programs and reasonably aligns the interests 2137
of the utility and of its customers in favor of those programs.2138

       Sec. 4928.6655. (B) In accordance with rules it shall adopt, 2139
the public utilities commission shall produce and docket at the 2140
commission an annual report containing the results of its 2141
verification of the annual levels of energy efficiency and of peak 2142
demand reductions achieved by each electric distribution utility 2143
pursuant to division (A) of this sectionthe energy efficiency 2144
and peak demand reduction requirements. A copy of the report shall 2145
be provided to the consumers' counsel.2146

       Sec. 4928.6656. (C) IfExcept as provided in section 2147
4928.6647 of the Revised Code, if the public utilities commission 2148
determines, after notice and opportunity for hearing and based 2149
upon its report under division (B) of this section 4928.6655 of 2150
the Revised Code, that an electric distribution utility has failed 2151
to comply with an energy efficiency or peak demand reduction 2152
requirement of division (A) of this section, the commission shall2153
may assess a forfeiture on the utility as provided under sections 2154
4905.55 to 4905.60 and 4905.64 of the Revised Code, either in the 2155
amount, per day per undercompliance or noncompliance, relative to 2156
the period of the report, equal to that prescribed for 2157
noncompliances under section 4905.54 of the Revised Code, or in an 2158
amount equal to the then existing market value of one renewable 2159
energy credit per megawatt hour of undercompliance or 2160
noncompliance. Revenue from any forfeiture assessed under this 2161
division shall be deposited to the credit of the advanced energy 2162
fund created under section 4928.61 of the Revised Code.2163

       Sec. 4928.6657. (E) The public utilities commission 2164
additionally shall adopt rules that require an electric 2165
distribution utility to provide a customer upon request with two 2166
years' consumption data in an accessible form.2167

       Sec. 4928.6658. (e) No programs or improvements described in 2168
division (A)(2)(d) of this sectionimplemented or undertaken to 2169
meet the energy efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements2170
shall conflict with any statewide building code adopted by the 2171
board of building standards.2172

       Sec. 4928.6659. The public utilities commission may require 2173
an electric distribution utility to offer energy efficiency 2174
resources and demand response resources into regional transmission 2175
organization capacity auctions if: 2176

       (A) The energy efficiency resources have been installed and 2177
the electric distribution utility can demonstrate resource 2178
ownership, provided that savings must be adjusted for regional 2179
transmission organization measurement and verification standards, 2180
have an approved measurement and verification plan approved by the 2181
regional transmission organization, and are of sufficient scale; 2182
and 2183

       (B) The demand response resources are owned by the electric 2184
distribution utility and will be available in the applicable 2185
delivery year.2186

        The commission shall not, however, require an electric 2187
distribution utility to offer projected energy efficiency 2188
resources or demand response resources into regional transmission 2189
organization capacity auctions. The commission shall not have any 2190
authority to supervise or regulate ownership or use rights of 2191
customer-sited capabilities which are not voluntarily committed to 2192
an electric distribution utility.2193

       Sec. 4928.6660. The energy efficiency and peak demand 2194
reduction requirements and any associated compliance requirements 2195
shall not apply after the date that any federal benchmarks 2196
requiring energy savings or peak demand reduction become effective 2197
regardless of whether the federal benchmarks specify that they 2198
have a preemptive effect on the energy efficiency and peak demand 2199
reduction requirements.2200

       Sec. 5501.311.  (A) Notwithstanding sections 123.01 and 2201
127.16 of the Revised Code the director of transportation may 2202
lease or lease-purchase all or any part of a transportation 2203
facility to or from one or more persons, one or more governmental 2204
agencies, a transportation improvement district, or any 2205
combination thereof, and may grant leases, easements, or licenses 2206
for lands under the control of the department of transportation. 2207
The director may adopt rules necessary to give effect to this 2208
section.2209

       (B) Plans and specifications for the construction of a 2210
transportation facility under a lease or lease-purchase agreement 2211
are subject to approval of the director and must meet or exceed 2212
all applicable standards of the department.2213

       (C) Any lease or lease-purchase agreement under which the 2214
department is the lessee shall be for a period not exceeding the 2215
then current two-year period for which appropriations have been 2216
made by the general assembly to the department, and such agreement 2217
may contain such other terms as the department and the other 2218
parties thereto agree, notwithstanding any other provision of law, 2219
including provisions that rental payments in amounts sufficient to 2220
pay bond service charges payable during the current two-year lease 2221
term shall be an absolute and unconditional obligation of the 2222
department independent of all other duties under the agreement 2223
without set-off or deduction or any other similar rights or 2224
defenses. Any such agreement may provide for renewal of the 2225
agreement at the end of each term for another term, not exceeding 2226
two years, provided that no renewal shall be effective until the 2227
effective date of an appropriation enacted by the general assembly 2228
from which the department may lawfully pay rentals under such 2229
agreement. Any such agreement may include, without limitation, any 2230
agreement by the department with respect to any costs of 2231
transportation facilities to be included prior to acquisition and 2232
construction of such transportation facilities. Any such agreement 2233
shall not constitute a debt or pledge of the faith and credit of 2234
the state, or of any political subdivision of the state, and the 2235
lessor shall have no right to have taxes or excises levied by the 2236
general assembly, or the taxing authority of any political 2237
subdivision of the state, for the payment of rentals thereunder. 2238
Any such agreement shall contain a statement to that effect.2239

       (D) A municipal corporation, township, or county may use 2240
service payments in lieu of taxes credited to special funds or 2241
accounts pursuant to sections 5709.43, 5709.75, and 5709.80 of the 2242
Revised Code to provide its contribution to the cost of a 2243
transportation facility, provided such facility was among the 2244
purposes for which such service payments were authorized. The 2245
contribution may be in the form of a lump sum or periodic 2246
payments.2247

       (E) Pursuant to the "Telecommunications Act of 1996," 110 2248
Stat. 152, 47 U.S.C. 332 note, the director may grant a lease, 2249
easement, or license in a transportation facility to a 2250
telecommunications service provider for construction, placement, 2251
or operation of a telecommunications facility. An interest granted 2252
under this division is subject to all of the following conditions:2253

       (1) The transportation facility is owned in fee simple or 2254
easement by this state at the time the lease, easement, or license 2255
is granted to the telecommunications provider.2256

       (2) The lease, easement, or license shall be granted on a 2257
competitive basis in accordance with policies and procedures to be 2258
determined by the director. The policies and procedures may 2259
include provisions for master leases for multiple sites.2260

       (3) The telecommunications facility shall be designed to 2261
accommodate the state's multi-agency radio communication system, 2262
the intelligent transportation system, and the department's 2263
communication system as the director may determine is necessary 2264
for highway or other departmental purposes.2265

       (4) The telecommunications facility shall be designed to 2266
accommodate such additional telecommunications equipment as may 2267
feasibly be co-located thereon as determined in the discretion of 2268
the director.2269

       (5) The telecommunications service providers awarded the 2270
lease, easement, or license, agree to permit other 2271
telecommunications service providers to co-locate on the 2272
telecommunications facility, and agree to the terms and conditions 2273
of the co-location as determined in the discretion of the 2274
director.2275

       (6) The director shall require indemnity agreements in favor 2276
of the department as a condition of any lease, easement, or 2277
license granted under this division. Each indemnity agreement 2278
shall secure this state and its agents from liability for damages 2279
arising out of safety hazards, zoning, and any other matter of 2280
public interest the director considers necessary.2281

       (7) The telecommunications service provider fully complies 2282
with any permit issued under section 5515.01 of the Revised Code 2283
pertaining to land that is the subject of the lease, easement, or 2284
license.2285

       (8) All plans and specifications shall meet with the 2286
director's approval.2287

       (9) Any other conditions the director determines necessary.2288

       (F) In accordance with section 5501.031 of the Revised Code, 2289
to further efforts to promote energy conservation and energy 2290
efficiency, the director may grant a lease, easement, or license 2291
in a transportation facility to a utility service provider that 2292
has received its certificate from the Ohio power siting board or 2293
appropriate local entity for construction, placement, or operation 2294
of an alternative energy generating facility service provider as 2295
defined in sectionsections 4928.64 to 4928.6410 of the Revised 2296
Code. An interest granted under this division is subject to all of 2297
the following conditions:2298

       (1) The transportation facility is owned in fee simple or in 2299
easement by this state at the time the lease, easement, or license 2300
is granted to the utility service provider.2301

       (2) The lease, easement, or license shall be granted on a 2302
competitive basis in accordance with policies and procedures to be 2303
determined by the director. The policies and procedures may 2304
include provisions for master leases for multiple sites.2305

       (3) The alternative energy generating facility shall be 2306
designed to provide energy for the department's transportation 2307
facilities with the potential for selling excess power on the 2308
power grid, as the director may determine is necessary for highway 2309
or other departmental purposes.2310

       (4) The director shall require indemnity agreements in favor 2311
of the department as a condition of any lease, easement, or 2312
license granted under this division. Each indemnity agreement 2313
shall secure this state from liability for damages arising out of 2314
safety hazards, zoning, and any other matter of public interest 2315
the director considers necessary.2316

       (5) The alternative energy service provider fully complies 2317
with any permit issued by the Ohio power siting board under 2318
Chapter 4906. of the Revised Code and complies with section 2319
5515.01 of the Revised Code pertaining to land that is the subject 2320
of the lease, easement, or license.2321

       (6) All plans and specifications shall meet with the 2322
director's approval.2323

       (7) Any other conditions the director determines necessary.2324

       (G) Money the department receives under this section shall be 2325
deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the highway 2326
operating fund.2327

        (H) A lease, easement, or license granted under division (E) 2328
or (F) of this section, and any telecommunications facility or 2329
alternative energy generating facility relating to such interest 2330
in a transportation facility, is hereby deemed to further the 2331
essential highway purpose of building and maintaining a safe, 2332
energy-efficient, and accessible transportation system.2333

       Sec. 5727.75.  (A) For purposes of this section: 2334

       (1) "Qualified energy project" means an energy project 2335
certified by the director of development services pursuant to this 2336
section. 2337

       (2) "Energy project" means a project to provide electric 2338
power through the construction, installation, and use of an energy 2339
facility. 2340

       (3) "Alternative energy zone" means a county declared as such 2341
by the board of county commissioners under division (E)(1)(b) or 2342
(c) of this section. 2343

       (4) "Full-time equivalent employee" means the total number of 2344
employee-hours for which compensation was paid to individuals 2345
employed at a qualified energy project for services performed at 2346
the project during the calendar year divided by two thousand 2347
eighty hours. 2348

       (5) "Solar energy project" means an energy project composed 2349
of an energy facility using solar panels to generate electricity. 2350

       (B)(1) Tangible personal property of a qualified energy 2351
project using renewable energy resources is exempt from taxation 2352
for tax years 2011 through 2016 if all of the following conditions 2353
are satisfied: 2354

       (a) On or before December 31, 2015, the owner or a lessee 2355
pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction of the project 2356
submits an application to the power siting board for a certificate 2357
under section 4906.20 of the Revised Code, or if that section does 2358
not apply, submits an application for any approval, consent, 2359
permit, or certificate or satisfies any condition required by a 2360
public agency or political subdivision of this state for the 2361
construction or initial operation of an energy project. 2362

       (b) Construction or installation of the energy facility 2363
begins on or after January 1, 2009, and before January 1, 2016. 2364
For the purposes of this division, construction begins on the 2365
earlier of the date of application for a certificate or other 2366
approval or permit described in division (B)(1)(a) of this 2367
section, or the date the contract for the construction or 2368
installation of the energy facility is entered into. 2369

       (c) For a qualified energy project with a nameplate capacity 2370
of five megawatts or greater, a board of county commissioners of a 2371
county in which property of the project is located has adopted a 2372
resolution under division (E)(1)(b) or (c) of this section to 2373
approve the application submitted under division (E) of this 2374
section to exempt the property located in that county from 2375
taxation. A board's adoption of a resolution rejecting an 2376
application or its failure to adopt a resolution approving the 2377
application does not affect the tax-exempt status of the qualified 2378
energy project's property that is located in another county. 2379

       (2) If tangible personal property of a qualified energy 2380
project using renewable energy resources was exempt from taxation 2381
under this section beginning in any of tax years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2382
2014, 2015, or 2016, and the certification under division (E)(2) 2383
of this section has not been revoked, the tangible personal 2384
property of the qualified energy project is exempt from taxation 2385
for tax year 2017 and all ensuing tax years if the property was 2386
placed into service before January 1, 2017, as certified in the 2387
construction progress report required under division (F)(2) of 2388
this section. Tangible personal property that has not been placed 2389
into service before that date is taxable property subject to 2390
taxation. An energy project for which certification has been 2391
revoked is ineligible for further exemption under this section. 2392
Revocation does not affect the tax-exempt status of the project's 2393
tangible personal property for the tax year in which revocation 2394
occurs or any prior tax year.2395

       (C) Tangible personal property of a qualified energy project 2396
using clean coal technology, advanced nuclear technology, or 2397
cogeneration technology is exempt from taxation for the first tax 2398
year that the property would be listed for taxation and all 2399
subsequent years if all of the following circumstances are met: 2400

       (1) The property was placed into service before January 1, 2401
2021. Tangible personal property that has not been placed into 2402
service before that date is taxable property subject to taxation. 2403

       (2) For such a qualified energy project with a nameplate 2404
capacity of five megawatts or greater, a board of county 2405
commissioners of a county in which property of the qualified 2406
energy project is located has adopted a resolution under division 2407
(E)(1)(b) or (c) of this section to approve the application 2408
submitted under division (E) of this section to exempt the 2409
property located in that county from taxation. A board's adoption 2410
of a resolution rejecting the application or its failure to adopt 2411
a resolution approving the application does not affect the 2412
tax-exempt status of the qualified energy project's property that 2413
is located in another county. 2414

       (3) The certification for the qualified energy project issued 2415
under division (E)(2) of this section has not been revoked. An 2416
energy project for which certification has been revoked is 2417
ineligible for exemption under this section. Revocation does not 2418
affect the tax-exempt status of the project's tangible personal 2419
property for the tax year in which revocation occurs or any prior 2420
tax year. 2421

       (D) Except as otherwise provided in this section, real 2422
property of a qualified energy project is exempt from taxation for 2423
any tax year for which the tangible personal property of the 2424
qualified energy project is exempted under this section. 2425

       (E)(1)(a) A person may apply to the director of development 2426
services for certification of an energy project as a qualified 2427
energy project on or before the following dates: 2428

       (i) December 31, 2015, for an energy project using renewable 2429
energy resources; 2430

       (ii) December 31, 2017, for an energy project using clean 2431
coal technology, advanced nuclear technology, or cogeneration 2432
technology. 2433

       (b) The director shall forward a copy of each application for 2434
certification of an energy project with a nameplate capacity of 2435
five megawatts or greater to the board of county commissioners of 2436
each county in which the project is located and to each taxing 2437
unit with territory located in each of the affected counties. Any 2438
board that receives from the director a copy of an application 2439
submitted under this division shall adopt a resolution approving 2440
or rejecting the application unless it has adopted a resolution 2441
under division (E)(1)(c) of this section. A resolution adopted 2442
under division (E)(1)(b) or (c) of this section may require an 2443
annual service payment to be made in addition to the service 2444
payment required under division (G) of this section. The sum of 2445
the service payment required in the resolution and the service 2446
payment required under division (G) of this section shall not 2447
exceed nine thousand dollars per megawatt of nameplate capacity 2448
located in the county. The resolution shall specify the time and 2449
manner in which the payments required by the resolution shall be 2450
paid to the county treasurer. The county treasurer shall deposit 2451
the payment to the credit of the county's general fund to be used 2452
for any purpose for which money credited to that fund may be used.2453

       The board shall send copies of the resolution by certified 2454
mail to the owner of the facility and the director within thirty 2455
days after receipt of the application, or a longer period of time 2456
if authorized by the director. 2457

       (c) A board of county commissioners may adopt a resolution 2458
declaring the county to be an alternative energy zone and 2459
declaring all applications submitted to the director of 2460
development services under this division after the adoption of the 2461
resolution, and prior to its repeal, to be approved by the board. 2462

       All tangible personal property and real property of an energy 2463
project with a nameplate capacity of five megawatts or greater is 2464
taxable if it is located in a county in which the board of county 2465
commissioners adopted a resolution rejecting the application 2466
submitted under this division or failed to adopt a resolution 2467
approving the application under division (E)(1)(b) or (c) of this 2468
section. 2469

       (2) The director shall certify an energy project if all of 2470
the following circumstances exist: 2471

       (a) The application was timely submitted. 2472

       (b) For an energy project with a nameplate capacity of five 2473
megawatts or greater, a board of county commissioners of at least 2474
one county in which the project is located has adopted a 2475
resolution approving the application under division (E)(1)(b) or 2476
(c) of this section. 2477

       (c) No portion of the project's facility was used to supply 2478
electricity before December 31, 2009. 2479

       (3) The director shall deny a certification application if 2480
the director determines the person has failed to comply with any 2481
requirement under this section. The director may revoke a 2482
certification if the director determines the person, or subsequent 2483
owner or lessee pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction of 2484
the qualified energy project, has failed to comply with any 2485
requirement under this section. Upon certification or revocation, 2486
the director shall notify the person, owner, or lessee, the tax 2487
commissioner, and the county auditor of a county in which the 2488
project is located of the certification or revocation. Notice 2489
shall be provided in a manner convenient to the director. 2490

       (F) The owner or a lessee pursuant to a sale and leaseback 2491
transaction of a qualified energy project shall do each of the 2492
following: 2493

       (1) Comply with all applicable regulations; 2494

       (2) File with the director of development services a 2495
certified construction progress report before the first day of 2496
March of each year during the energy facility's construction or 2497
installation indicating the percentage of the project completed, 2498
and the project's nameplate capacity, as of the preceding 2499
thirty-first day of December. Unless otherwise instructed by the 2500
director of development services, the owner or lessee of an energy 2501
project shall file a report with the director on or before the 2502
first day of March each year after completion of the energy 2503
facility's construction or installation indicating the project's 2504
nameplate capacity as of the preceding thirty-first day of 2505
December. Not later than sixty days after June 17, 2010, the owner 2506
or lessee of an energy project, the construction of which was 2507
completed before June 17, 2010, shall file a certificate 2508
indicating the project's nameplate capacity. 2509

       (3) File with the director of development services, in a 2510
manner prescribed by the director, a report of the total number of 2511
full-time equivalent employees, and the total number of full-time 2512
equivalent employees domiciled in Ohio, who are employed in the 2513
construction or installation of the energy facility; 2514

       (4) For energy projects with a nameplate capacity of five 2515
megawatts or greater, repair all roads, bridges, and culverts 2516
affected by construction as reasonably required to restore them to 2517
their preconstruction condition, as determined by the county 2518
engineer in consultation with the local jurisdiction responsible 2519
for the roads, bridges, and culverts. In the event that the county 2520
engineer deems any road, bridge, or culvert to be inadequate to 2521
support the construction or decommissioning of the energy 2522
facility, the road, bridge, or culvert shall be rebuilt or 2523
reinforced to the specifications established by the county 2524
engineer prior to the construction or decommissioning of the 2525
facility. The owner or lessee of the facility shall post a bond in 2526
an amount established by the county engineer and to be held by the 2527
board of county commissioners to ensure funding for repairs of 2528
roads, bridges, and culverts affected during the construction. The 2529
bond shall be released by the board not later than one year after 2530
the date the repairs are completed. The energy facility owner or 2531
lessee pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction shall post a 2532
bond, as may be required by the Ohio power siting board in the 2533
certificate authorizing commencement of construction issued 2534
pursuant to section 4906.10 of the Revised Code, to ensure funding 2535
for repairs to roads, bridges, and culverts resulting from 2536
decommissioning of the facility. The energy facility owner or 2537
lessee and the county engineer may enter into an agreement 2538
regarding specific transportation plans, reinforcements, 2539
modifications, use and repair of roads, financial security to be 2540
provided, and any other relevant issue. 2541

       (5) Provide or facilitate training for fire and emergency 2542
responders for response to emergency situations related to the 2543
energy project and, for energy projects with a nameplate capacity 2544
of five megawatts or greater, at the person's expense, equip the 2545
fire and emergency responders with proper equipment as reasonably 2546
required to enable them to respond to such emergency situations; 2547

       (6) Maintain a ratio of Ohio-domiciled full-time equivalent 2548
employees employed in the construction or installation of the 2549
energy project to total full-time equivalent employees employed in 2550
the construction or installation of the energy project of not less 2551
than eighty per cent in the case of a solar energy project, and 2552
not less than fifty per cent in the case of any other energy 2553
project. In the case of an energy project for which certification 2554
from the power siting board is required under section 4906.20 of 2555
the Revised Code, the number of full-time equivalent employees 2556
employed in the construction or installation of the energy project 2557
equals the number actually employed or the number projected to be 2558
employed in the certificate application, if such projection is 2559
required under regulations adopted pursuant to section 4906.03 of 2560
the Revised Code, whichever is greater. For all other energy 2561
projects, the number of full-time equivalent employees employed in 2562
the construction or installation of the energy project equals the 2563
number actually employed or the number projected to be employed by 2564
the director of development services, whichever is greater. To 2565
estimate the number of employees to be employed in the 2566
construction or installation of an energy project, the director 2567
shall use a generally accepted job-estimating model in use for 2568
renewable energy projects, including but not limited to the job 2569
and economic development impact model. The director may adjust an 2570
estimate produced by a model to account for variables not 2571
accounted for by the model. 2572

       (7) For energy projects with a nameplate capacity in excess 2573
of two megawatts, establish a relationship with a member of the 2574
university system of Ohio as defined in section 3345.011 of the 2575
Revised Code or with a person offering an apprenticeship program 2576
registered with the employment and training administration within 2577
the United States department of labor or with the apprenticeship 2578
council created by section 4139.02 of the Revised Code, to educate 2579
and train individuals for careers in the wind or solar energy 2580
industry. The relationship may include endowments, cooperative 2581
programs, internships, apprenticeships, research and development 2582
projects, and curriculum development. 2583

       (8) Offer to sell power or renewable energy credits from the 2584
energy project to electric distribution utilities or electric 2585
service companies subject to renewable energy resource 2586
requirements under section 4928.644928.641 of the Revised Code 2587
that have issued requests for proposal for such power or renewable 2588
energy credits. If no electric distribution utility or electric 2589
service company issues a request for proposal on or before 2590
December 31, 2010, or accepts an offer for power or renewable 2591
energy credits within forty-five days after the offer is 2592
submitted, power or renewable energy credits from the energy 2593
project may be sold to other persons. Division (F)(8) of this 2594
section does not apply if: 2595

        (a) The owner or lessee is a rural electric company or a 2596
municipal power agency as defined in section 3734.058 of the 2597
Revised Code. 2598

        (b) The owner or lessee is a person that, before completion 2599
of the energy project, contracted for the sale of power or 2600
renewable energy credits with a rural electric company or a 2601
municipal power agency. 2602

        (c) The owner or lessee contracts for the sale of power or 2603
renewable energy credits from the energy project before June 17, 2604
2010. 2605

       (9) Make annual service payments as required by division (G) 2606
of this section and as may be required in a resolution adopted by 2607
a board of county commissioners under division (E) of this 2608
section. 2609

       (G) The owner or a lessee pursuant to a sale and leaseback 2610
transaction of a qualified energy project shall make annual 2611
service payments in lieu of taxes to the county treasurer on or 2612
before the final dates for payments of taxes on public utility 2613
personal property on the real and public utility personal property 2614
tax list for each tax year for which property of the energy 2615
project is exempt from taxation under this section. The county 2616
treasurer shall allocate the payment on the basis of the project's 2617
physical location. Upon receipt of a payment, or if timely payment 2618
has not been received, the county treasurer shall certify such 2619
receipt or non-receipt to the director of development services and 2620
tax commissioner in a form determined by the director and 2621
commissioner, respectively. Each payment shall be in the following 2622
amount: 2623

       (1) In the case of a solar energy project, seven thousand 2624
dollars per megawatt of nameplate capacity located in the county 2625
as of December 31, 2010, for tax year 2011, as of December 31, 2626
2011, for tax year 2012, as of December 31, 2012, for tax year 2627
2013, as of December 31, 2013, for tax year 2014, as of December 2628
31, 2014, for tax year 2015, as of December 31, 2015, for tax year 2629
2016, and as of December 31, 2016, for tax year 2017 and each tax 2630
year thereafter; 2631

       (2) In the case of any other energy project using renewable 2632
energy resources, the following: 2633

       (a) If the project maintains during the construction or 2634
installation of the energy facility a ratio of Ohio-domiciled 2635
full-time equivalent employees to total full-time equivalent 2636
employees of not less than seventy-five per cent, six thousand 2637
dollars per megawatt of nameplate capacity located in the county 2638
as of the thirty-first day of December of the preceding tax year; 2639

       (b) If the project maintains during the construction or 2640
installation of the energy facility a ratio of Ohio-domiciled 2641
full-time equivalent employees to total full-time equivalent 2642
employees of less than seventy-five per cent but not less than 2643
sixty per cent, seven thousand dollars per megawatt of nameplate 2644
capacity located in the county as of the thirty-first day of 2645
December of the preceding tax year; 2646

       (c) If the project maintains during the construction or 2647
installation of the energy facility a ratio of Ohio-domiciled 2648
full-time equivalent employees to total full-time equivalent 2649
employees of less than sixty per cent but not less than fifty per 2650
cent, eight thousand dollars per megawatt of nameplate capacity 2651
located in the county as of the thirty-first day of December of 2652
the preceding tax year. 2653

       (3) In the case of an energy project using clean coal 2654
technology, advanced nuclear technology, or cogeneration 2655
technology, the following: 2656

       (a) If the project maintains during the construction or 2657
installation of the energy facility a ratio of Ohio-domiciled 2658
full-time equivalent employees to total full-time equivalent 2659
employees of not less than seventy-five per cent, six thousand 2660
dollars per megawatt of nameplate capacity located in the county 2661
as of the thirty-first day of December of the preceding tax year; 2662

       (b) If the project maintains during the construction or 2663
installation of the energy facility a ratio of Ohio-domiciled 2664
full-time equivalent employees to total full-time equivalent 2665
employees of less than seventy-five per cent but not less than 2666
sixty per cent, seven thousand dollars per megawatt of nameplate 2667
capacity located in the county as of the thirty-first day of 2668
December of the preceding tax year; 2669

       (c) If the project maintains during the construction or 2670
installation of the energy facility a ratio of Ohio-domiciled 2671
full-time equivalent employees to total full-time equivalent 2672
employees of less than sixty per cent but not less than fifty per 2673
cent, eight thousand dollars per megawatt of nameplate capacity 2674
located in the county as of the thirty-first day of December of 2675
the preceding tax year. 2676

       (H) The director of development services in consultation with 2677
the tax commissioner shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of 2678
the Revised Code to implement and enforce this section.2679

       Section 2. That existing sections 717.25, 1710.061, 3706.25, 2680
4905.31, 4928.01, 4928.143, 4928.20, 4928.61, 4928.64, 4928.65, 2681
4928.66, 5501.311, and 5727.75 of the Revised Code are hereby 2682
repealed.2683

       Section 3. The act recodifies section 4928.64 of the Revised 2684
Code by subdividing it into the sections identified in the 2685
following table. The left-hand column identifies the sections that 2686
result from the recodification, and the right-hand column 2687
indicates the source of the resulting section in section 4928.64 2688
of the Revised Code before its recodification. Except insofar as 2689
amendments are indicated in the resulting sections, the resulting 2690
sections are a continuation of, and are to be substituted in a 2691
continuing way for, the law as it existed in section 4928.64 of 2692
the Revised Code before its recodification.2693

Sections resulting from the recodification Source in former R.C. 4928.64 2694
4928.641 4928.64(B) 2695
4928.642 4928.64(C)(1) 2696
4928.643 4928.64(C)(2) 2697
4928.644 4928.64(C)(3) 2698
4928.645 4928.64(C)(4) 2699
4928.646 4928.64(C)(5) 2700
4928.647 4928.64(D)(1) 2701
4928.648 4928.64(D)(2) 2702
4928.649 4928.64(E) 2703

       Section 4928.64 of the Revised Code, as amended by this act, 2704
contains only division (A) of that section as it existed prior to 2705
the effective date of the amendments to that section, as well as 2706
the amendments made to that section.2707

       Section 4. The act recodifies section 4928.66 of the Revised 2708
Code by subdividing it into the sections identified in the 2709
following table. The left-hand column identifies the sections that 2710
result from the recodification, and the right-hand column 2711
indicates the source of the resulting section in section 4928.66 2712
of the Revised Code before its recodification. Except insofar as 2713
amendments are indicated in the resulting sections, the resulting 2714
sections are a continuation of, and are to be substituted in a 2715
continuing way for, the law as it existed in section 4928.64 of 2716
the Revised Code before its recodification.2717

Sections resulting from the recodification Source in former R.C. 4928.66 2718
4928.661 4928.66(A)(1)(a), 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th sentences. 2719
4928.662 4928.66(A)(1)(b) 2720
4928.665 4928.66(A)(2)(a) 2721
4928.666 4928.66(A)(2)(c), 3rd sentence. 2722
4928.667 4928.66(A)(2)(c), 4th sentence. 2723
4928.668 4928.66(A)(2)(b) 2724
4928.6625 4928.66(A)(2)(c), 1st sentence. 2725
4928.6626 4928.66(A)(2)(d), 2nd sentence. 2726
4928.6627 4928.66(A)(2)(d), 1st sentence. 2727
4928.6650 4928.66(A)(2)(c), 2nd sentence. 2728
4928.6651 4928.66(D) 2729
4928.6655 4928.66(B) 2730
4928.6656 4928.66(C) 2731
4928.6657 4928.66(E) 2732
4928.6658 4928.66(A)(2)(e) 2733

       The source of new section 4928.66 of the Revised Code is 2734
division (A)(1)(a)(second sentence) of former section 4928.66 of 2735
the Revised Code.2736

       Section 5. To the extent that the Public Utilities Commission 2737
may have adopted, prior to the effective date of S.B. 58 of the 2738
130th General Assembly, methods to measure alternative energy, 2739
energy efficiency, and peak demand reduction compliance that are 2740
different or inconsistent with the requirements of former sections 2741
4928.64 and 4928.66 of the Revised Code as they existed prior to 2742
the effective date of S.B. 58 of the 130th General Assembly, such 2743
difference or inconsistency shall, for purposes of addressing all 2744
cases or controversies, be resolved by the Commission and the 2745
Supreme Court in favor of the measurement method that maximizes 2746
the amount of compliance during the period in question.2747