(A) The public utilities commission, upon complaint by any person or complaint or initiative of the commission, has jurisdiction under section 4905.26 of the Revised Code regarding any violation of division (B) of section 4905.72 of the Revised Code by a public utility.

(B) Upon complaint or initiative under division (A) of this section, if the commission finds, after notice and hearing pursuant to section 4905.26 of the Revised Code, that a public utility has violated section 4905.72 of the Revised Code, the commission, by order, shall do all of the following:

(1) Rescind the aggrieved consumer's change in service provider;

(2) Require the public utility to absolve the aggrieved consumer of any liability for any charges assessed the consumer, or refund to the aggrieved consumer any charges collected from the consumer, by the public utility during the thirty-day period after the violation or failure to comply occurred or, where appropriate, during such other period after that occurrence as determined reasonable by the commission;

(3) Require the public utility to refund or pay to the aggrieved consumer any fees paid or costs incurred by the consumer resulting from the change of the consumer's service provider or providers, or from the resumption of the consumer's service with the service provider or providers from which the consumer was switched;

(4) Require the public utility to make the consumer whole regarding any bonuses or benefits, such as airline mileage or product discounts, to which the consumer is entitled, by restoring bonuses or benefits the consumer lost as a result of the violation or failure to comply and providing bonuses or benefits the consumer would have earned if not for the violation or failure to comply, or by providing something of equal value.

(C) In addition to the remedies under division (B) of this section, if the commission finds, after notice and hearing pursuant to section 4905.26 of the Revised Code, that a public utility has violated section 4905.72 of the Revised Code, the commission, by order, may impose any of the following remedies or forfeitures:

(1) Require the public utility to comply or undertake any necessary corrective action;

(2) Require the public utility to compensate the service provider or providers from which the aggrieved consumer was switched in the amount of all charges the consumer would have paid that particular service provider for the same or comparable service had the violation or failure to comply not occurred;

(3) Require the public utility to compensate the service provider or providers from which the aggrieved consumer was switched for any costs that the particular service provider incurs as a result of making the consumer whole as provided in division (B)(4) of this section or of effecting the resumption of the consumer's service;

(4) Assess upon the public utility forfeitures of not more than one thousand dollars for each day of each violation or failure to comply. However, if the commission finds that the public utility has engaged or is engaging in a pattern or practice of committing any such violations or failures to comply, the commission may assess upon the public utility forfeitures of not more than five thousand dollars for each day of each violation or failure. Any forfeiture collected pursuant to this division shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund.

(5) Require the public utility to file with the commission a security payable to the state in such amount and upon such terms as the commission determines necessary to ensure compliance and payment of any forfeitures assessed pursuant to division (C)(4) of this section;

(6) Rescind the public utility's authority to provide natural gas service or public telecommunications service within this state.

(D) Proceedings of the commission pursuant to division (B) or (C) of this section are governed by Chapter 4903. of the Revised Code.

(E) The commission may direct the attorney general to commence an action under section 4905.57 or 4905.60 of the Revised Code to enforce an order of the commission issued under division (B) or (C) of this section, including orders assessing forfeitures. Notwithstanding section 4905.57 of the Revised Code, an action authorized under this division may be brought in the court of common pleas of Franklin county or the court of common pleas of any county in which venue is proper under the Rules of Civil Procedure.

(F) The remedy available under section 4905.61 of the Revised Code may be applied to any violation of section 4905.72 of the Revised Code.

(G) The powers, remedies, forfeitures, and penalties provided by this section and section 4905.72 and division (C) of section 4905.99 of the Revised Code are in addition to any other power, remedy, forfeiture, or penalty provided by law.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.43, SB 162, §1, eff. 9/13/2010.

Effective Date: 05-17-2000 .