4929.29 Order for distribution of service on comparable and nondiscriminatory basis to nonmercantile consumers. - Ohio Statutes

4929.29 Order for distribution of service on comparable and nondiscriminatory basis to nonmercantile consumers.

(A)(1) The legislative authority of a municipal corporation described in division (K)(1) of section 4929.01 of the Revised Code, the board of township trustees of a township, or the board of county commissioners of a county may petition the public utilities commission to require a natural gas company with fifteen thousand or more customers in this state to provide, upon the effective date of an ordinance or resolution authorized and adopted under section 4929.26 or 4929.27 of the Revised Code, distribution service on a fully open, equal, and nondiscriminatory basis to consumers that are not mercantile customers and are within the area of the governmental aggregation and to which the company provides distribution service through distribution facilities it singly or jointly owns or operates.

(2) The legislative authority of a municipal corporation described in division (K)(2) of section 4929.01 of the Revised Code may petition the commission to require a natural gas company with fifteen thousand or more customers in this state to provide, upon the effective date of an ordinance adopted under Section 5 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution, distribution service on a fully open, equal, and nondiscriminatory basis to consumers that are within the area of the governmental aggregation and to which the company provides distribution service through distribution facilities it singly or jointly owns or operates.

(3) A retail natural gas supplier may petition the commission to require a natural gas company with fifteen thousand or more customers in this state to so provide such fully open, equal, and nondiscriminatory service to all consumers that are not mercantile customers and to which the company provides distribution service through distribution facilities it singly or jointly owns or operates.

(B) Upon petition under division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section, the commission, after notice and opportunity for hearing and by order, may require that the natural gas company provide the service within the area specified in the petition, provided that the commission finds that the provision of the service within the area is in the public interest. The applicant shall have the burden of proof under this division. Chapter 4903. of the Revised Code shall apply to a proceeding under this division.

(C) Upon the issuance of an order under division (B) of this section requiring distribution service on a comparable and nondiscriminatory basis within the area specified in the order, the natural gas company shall file with the commission under section 4905.30 of the Revised Code revised schedules under which the company shall provide the service so ordered. The commission shall act promptly to approve the schedules.

Effective Date: 06-26-2001