(a) The city will not buy and resell natural gas to aggregation program participants. The city will aggregate natural gas loads within the city’s corporation limits including municipal facilities. Through a competitive selection process, the city will develop and negotiate a contract with a CRNGS provider or providers for firm, all-requirements service. The contract will contain mutually agreeable price terms for affordable, reliable natural gas supplies and other related services. The city may pursue this purpose individually or in cooperation with other entities. Contracts will be monitored by the city on behalf of consumers.
(b) CRNGS providers will supply information on natural gas supply charges by COH customer rate classification or other appropriate pricing category as approved by the city. All natural gas supply charges will be fully and prominently disclosed in consumer enrollment materials and will be subject to approval by the Columbiana City Council.
(c) The city will contract only with a CRNGS provider or providers that meet at a minimum the following criteria:
(1) Certified CRNGS provider by the PUCO;
(2) Registered with COH;
(3) Have a service agreement under COH gas transportation service tariff;
(4) Successfully completed electronic data interchange (EDI) computer system testing with COH and that CRNGS provider’s EDI computer system is capable of effectively processing aggregation program EDI transactions in a timely manner;
(5) Meet standards of creditworthiness established by the city;
(6) Have a customer call center capable of effectively handling participants’ questions, concerns and disputes in a timely manner using a toll-free telephone number; and
(7) Hold the city harmless from any financial obligations arising from offering natural gas and/or energy-related services to aggregation program participants.
(d) The CRNGS provider’s contract will contain all pricing, charges, early termination, fees, and the like, in clear and easily understood terms, and it will include a sales tax instead of a gross receipts tax.
(e) The CRNGS provider’s rates will include an administrative fee, which shall (if implemented) be collected on behalf of the city to fund the implementation and administration of the city’s aggregation program. The administrative fee will be adjusted annually to cover the city’s cost of administering the program. The fee will be reviewed annually to ensure that the amounts collected do not exceed the cost of administering the aggregation program.
(f) COH assigns customer rate classifications, character of service and associated regulated rates subject to PUCO approved tariffs. In addition to the CRNGS provider’s gas service charges, consumers will continue to be billed for COH service and delivery charges. Although the city may participate in regulatory proceedings and represent the interests of consumers regarding these regulated rates, it cannot assign or alter customer rate classifications.
(Ord. 05-O-2198, passed 6-7-2005)