Ohio Proposes Rules for Marketing, Reporting of Green Retail Supply Plans

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has issued proposed rules concerning the offering of green power plans by retail suppliers and utilities.

Notably, the proposed rules provide that, "Any program or marketing materials being used by an Ohio EDU [electric distribution utility] or CRES [competitive retail electric service provider] that address green pricing programs shall be provided to commission staff for review at least 10 business days prior to the initial distribution to existing or potential customers."

"Any Ohio EDU or CRES offering a green pricing program shall semi-annually file details including, but not limited to, the monthly number of participants and the monthly volume of participation measured in renewable megawatt-hours," the draft rules provide.

A utility or retail supplier would be required to maintain sufficient documentation to verify that adequate resources were secured and retired to support the green product offerings. Furthermore, a utility or retail supplier would be required to maintain sufficient documentation to verify that the resources used to support participation in the green pricing program are separate from the resources used for compliance with the state's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard.

Case No. 12-2157-EL-ORD