Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits local governments from limiting the use of natural gas

Highlights:

• Defines “political subdivision” to mean a township, county, or municipal corporation (Sec. 1).

• Defines “competitive retail natural gas service,” “natural gas company,” “distribution service,” and “retail natural gas service” to have the same meanings as in section 4929.01 of the Revised Code (Sec. 1).

• Defines “energy dealer” to have the same meaning as in section 5117.01 of the Revised Code (Sec. 1).

• Defines “propane” to have the same meaning as in section 936.01 of the Revised Code (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that every person seeking to obtain distribution service or retail natural gas

• service has the right to obtain any available distribution service or retail natural gas service from a natural gas company with capacity to provide service to the person in that location or any available competitive retail natural gas service from any competitive retail natural gas service supplier certified to provide that service to that person in that location (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that every person seeking to obtain propane has the right to obtain propane from any energy dealer willing to provide propane to that customer in that location (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that any regulations enacted by the public utilities commission thereunder, and any tariffs approved by the public utilities commission, and subject to Sections 4 and 6 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that any regulations enacted by the director of the department of agriculture thereunder, and subject to Sections 4 and 6 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that no legislative or executive authority of any political subdivision will enact any ordinance or resolution or promulgate or impose any building code, contractual provision, or other requirement that limits, prohibits, or prevents residential, commercial, or industrial consumers within their boundaries from using the following (Sec. 1):

• Distribution service or retail natural gas service that would otherwise be available to those consumers under Title 49 and regulations promulgated thereunder; and

• Propane.

• Specifies that nothing in section 4933.41 of the Revised Code is intended to inhibit or restrict a municipality's right and ability to enter into and administer franchise agreements pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution, and sections 4939.01 to 4939.09 of the Revised Code (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that nothing in this section is to be construed either to limit a natural gas company's ability to provide service to new customers or to require free extensions of service (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that nothing in this section is to be construed to prevent or limit a municipal corporation from exercising its authority pursuant to sections 4928.20 to 4928.28 of the Revised Code (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that Sec. 4933.42. Section 4933.41 of the Revised Code promotes the public policy of the state to do the following (Sec. 1):

• Increase utilization of the state's indigenous energy resources as provided in section 1551.18 of the Revised Code;

• Promote the availability of natural gas services and goods as provided in section 4929.02 of the Revised Code; and 

• Encourage the utilization of propane.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits local governments from limiting the use of natural gas

Highlights:

• Defines “political subdivision” to mean a township, county, or municipal corporation (Sec. 1).

• Defines “competitive retail natural gas service,” “natural gas company,” “distribution service,” and “retail natural gas service” to have the same meanings as in section 4929.01 of the Revised Code (Sec. 1).

• Defines “energy dealer” to have the same meaning as in section 5117.01 of the Revised Code (Sec. 1).

• Defines “propane” to have the same meaning as in section 936.01 of the Revised Code (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that every person seeking to obtain distribution service or retail natural gas

• service has the right to obtain any available distribution service or retail natural gas service from a natural gas company with capacity to provide service to the person in that location or any available competitive retail natural gas service from any competitive retail natural gas service supplier certified to provide that service to that person in that location (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that every person seeking to obtain propane has the right to obtain propane from any energy dealer willing to provide propane to that customer in that location (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that any regulations enacted by the public utilities commission thereunder, and any tariffs approved by the public utilities commission, and subject to Sections 4 and 6 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that any regulations enacted by the director of the department of agriculture thereunder, and subject to Sections 4 and 6 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that no legislative or executive authority of any political subdivision will enact any ordinance or resolution or promulgate or impose any building code, contractual provision, or other requirement that limits, prohibits, or prevents residential, commercial, or industrial consumers within their boundaries from using the following (Sec. 1):

• Distribution service or retail natural gas service that would otherwise be available to those consumers under Title 49 and regulations promulgated thereunder; and

• Propane.

• Specifies that nothing in section 4933.41 of the Revised Code is intended to inhibit or restrict a municipality's right and ability to enter into and administer franchise agreements pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution, and sections 4939.01 to 4939.09 of the Revised Code (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that nothing in this section is to be construed either to limit a natural gas company's ability to provide service to new customers or to require free extensions of service (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that nothing in this section is to be construed to prevent or limit a municipal corporation from exercising its authority pursuant to sections 4928.20 to 4928.28 of the Revised Code (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that Sec. 4933.42. Section 4933.41 of the Revised Code promotes the public policy of the state to do the following (Sec. 1):

• Increase utilization of the state's indigenous energy resources as provided in section 1551.18 of the Revised Code;

• Promote the availability of natural gas services and goods as provided in section 4929.02 of the Revised Code; and 

• Encourage the utilization of propane.

Full Bill Text