Section 4929.221
(A) If a competitive retail natural gas service supplier offers a residential customer or non-mercantile commercial customer a contract for a fixed introductory rate that converts to a variable rate upon the expiration of the fixed rate, the supplier shall send two notices to each residential customer and non-mercantile commercial customer that enters into such a contract. Each notice shall provide all of the following information to the customer:
(1) The fixed rate that is expiring under the contract;
(2) The expiration date of the contract's fixed rate;
(3) The public utilities commission web site that, as a comparison tool, lists rates offered by competitive retail natural gas service suppliers.
(B) The second notice shall include all the information required under division (A) of this section and shall also identify the initial rate to be charged upon the contract's conversion to a variable rate.
(C) The notices shall be sent by standard United States mail or electronically with a customer's verifiable consent as follows:
(1) The supplier shall send the first notice not earlier than ninety days and not later than sixty days prior to the expiration of the fixed rate.
(2) The supplier shall send the second notice not earlier than forty-five days and not later than fifteen days prior to the expiration of the fixed rate.
(D) A competitive retail natural gas service supplier shall provide an annual notice, by standard United States mail or electronically with a customer's verifiable consent, to each residential customer and non-mercantile commercial customer that has entered into a contract with the supplier that has converted to a variable rate upon the expiration of the contract's fixed introductory rate. The notice shall inform the customer that the customer is currently subject to a variable rate and that other fixed rate contracts are available.
(E) Not later than one hundred fifty days after the effective date of this section, the commission shall adopt rules in order to implement divisions (A) to (D) of this section. The rules, at a minimum, shall include the following requirements regarding the notices required under divisions (A) to (D) of this section:
(1) To use clear and unambiguous language in order to enable the customer to make an informed decision;
(2) To design the notices in a way to ensure that they cannot be confused with marketing materials.
(F) Notwithstanding any provision of section 121.95 of the Revised Code to the contrary, a regulatory restriction contained in a rule adopted under section 4929.221 of the Revised Code is not subject to sections 121.95 to 121.953 of the Revised Code.
Last updated May 22, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Available Versions of this Section
- August 14, 2025 – Enacted by House Bill 15 - 136th General Assembly [ View August 14, 2025 Version ]