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As Introduced
123rd General Assembly
Regular Session
1999-2000 | S. B. No. 3 |
SENATORS JOHNSON-FINAN-BLESSING-HERINGTON
A BILL
To enact section 4928.01 of the Revised Code to declare that the public policy
of the State of Ohio is to effect the restructuring of the electric industry
pursuant to specified goals permitting effective competition in the provision
of retail electric service to all Ohio consumers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 4928.01 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as
follows:
Sec. 4928.01. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT COMPETITIVE MARKETS ARE
SUPERIOR TO REGULATED MARKETS FOR DISPENSING GOODS AND SERVICES, FOSTERING
COMPETITIVE INNOVATION, AND PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THEREFORE, IT IS
THE PUBLIC POLICY OF THIS STATE TO EFFECT THE RESTRUCTURING OF ITS ELECTRIC
INDUSTRY, BY ESTABLISHING A MARKET STRUCTURE AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, AS
DETERMINED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THAT PERMITS EFFECTIVE COMPETITION IN THE
PROVISION OF RETAIL ELECTRIC SERVICE TO ALL CONSUMERS IN THIS STATE BEGINNING
ON SUCH DATE AS IS SPECIFIED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE MARKET STRUCTURE
AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK SHALL ACHIEVE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING GOALS:
(A) THE BROADEST POSSIBLE ARRAY OF CUSTOMER CHOICE REGARDING
THOSE ASPECTS OF RETAIL ELECTRIC SERVICE FOR WHICH COMPETITIVE OFFERING IS
APPROPRIATE;
(B) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION AMONG ALL ELECTRIC CONSUMERS OF THE
BENEFITS OF EFFECTIVE COMPETITION, AND MECHANISMS TO ENSURE THAT LOW-USE
CONSUMERS ARE NOT DISADVANTAGED BY A LACK OF BARGAINING POWER;
(C) COMPARABLE AND NONDISCRIMINATORY ACCESS TO ALL SERVICES BY
ELECTRIC
CONSUMERS AND SUPPLIERS;
(D) A SHIFT FROM TRADITIONAL REGULATION TO SAFEGUARDING AGAINST
POTENTIAL MARKET POWER ABUSES, AND FROM PROTECTION OF CAPTIVE ELECTRIC
CONSUMERS TO THE PROMOTION OF EFFECTIVE COMPETITIVE CHOICE FOR ALL CONSUMERS;
(E) ASSURANCE OF UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND THE RELIABILITY OF
ELECTRIC SERVICE, AND THE PRESERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY AND
SAFETY OF ELECTRIC SERVICE;
(F) FULL MAINTENANCE OF THE FIVE CURRENT LOW-INCOME ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS FOR ELECTRIC CONSUMERS DURING AND AFTER THE TRANSITION TO A
COMPETITIVE ELECTRIC MARKET, AND COORDINATION AND CONSOLIDATION OF THE
PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE DELIVERY TO CONSUMERS;
(G) FULFILLMENT OF THIS STATE'S RESPONSIBILITIES TO ACHIEVE
APPROPRIATE ENERGY CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION;
(H) A TRANSITION THAT PROVIDES FOR THE PROTECTION OF CONSUMERS
AND ASSURANCE OF THE RELIABILITY OF
THE DELIVERY OF ELECTRIC SERVICES;
(I) ALLOWANCE OF TRANSITION COSTS THAT ARE REASONABLE AND FAIR
FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND THAT ARE ESTABLISHED ON A RATIONAL BASIS;
(J) AN AMPLE TRANSITION TO A NEW STATE TAX STRUCTURE THAT
PROTECTS SCHOOL AND LOCAL FUNDING NEEDS AND THAT IS REVENUE NEUTRAL, WITH NO
OVERALL NET TAX INCREASE TO ENERGY CONSUMERS OR TAX WINDFALL TO THOSE
CURRENTLY RECEIVING TAX REVENUES.
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