4901:1-38-04. Energy efficiency arrangements

(A) An electric utility, mercantile customer, or group of mercantile customers of an electric utility may file an application for commission approval for an energy efficiency arrangement between the electric utility and its customer or group of customers that have new or expanded energy efficiency production facilities. The application shall include a copy of the proposed arrangement and provide information on all associated incentives, estimated annual electric billings without incentives for the term of the incentives, and annual estimated delta revenues for the term of the incentives.

(1) Each customer requesting to take service pursuant to an energy efficiency arrangement with the electric utility shall describe the general status of the customer in the community and how such arrangement furthers the policy of the state of Ohio embodied in section 4928.02 of the Revised Code.

(2) Each customer requesting to take service pursuant to an energy efficiency arrangement with the electric utility shall meet the following criteria, submit to the electric utility verifiable information detailing how the criteria are met, and provide an affidavit from a company official as to the veracity of the information provided:

(a) The customer shall be an energy efficiency production facility as defined in this chapter.

(b) At least ten new, full-time or full-time equivalent jobs shall be created within three years of initial operations.

(c) The average hourly base wage rate of the new, full-time, or full-time equivalent jobs shall be at least one hundred fifty per cent of federal minimum wage.

(d) The customer shall demonstrate financial viability.

(e) The customer shall identify local (city, county), state, or federal support in the form of tax abatements or credits, jobs programs, or other incentives.

(f) The customer shall agree to maintain operations at the project site for the term of the incentives.

(3) An electric utility and/or mercantile customer or group of mercantile customers filing an application for commission approval of an energy efficiency arrangement bears the burden of proof that the proposed arrangement is reasonable and does not violate the provisions of sections 4905.33 and 4905.35 of the Revised Code, and shall submit to the commission verifiable information detailing the rationale for the arrangement.

(B) Upon the filing of an energy efficiency application, the commission may fix a time and place for a hearing if the application appears to be unjust or unreasonable.

(1) The energy efficiency arrangement shall be subject to change, alteration, or modification by the commission.

(2) The staff shall have access to all customer and electric utility information related to service provided pursuant to the energy efficiency arrangements.

(C) Customer information provided to demonstrate eligibility under paragraph (A) of this rule shall be treated by the electric utility as confidential. The electric utility shall request confidential treatment of customer-specific information that is filed with the commission, with the exception of customer names and addresses.

(D) Affected parties may file a motion to intervene and file comments and objections to any application filed under this rule within twenty days of the date of the filing of the application.

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 10/17/2014 and 10/17/2019
Promulgated Under: 111.15
Statutory Authority: 4905.31, 4928.02, 4928.06
Rule Amplifies: 4905.31, 4928.02
Prior Effective Dates: 4/2/09

Prior History: (Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 10/17/2014 and 10/17/2019
Promulgated Under: 111.15
Statutory Authority: 4905.31, 4928.02, 4928.06
Rule Amplifies: 4905.31, 4928.02
Prior Effective Dates: 4/2/09)