(A) This section applies to an electric cooperative, or to a governmental aggregator that is a municipal electric utility, only to the extent of a competitive retail electric service it provides to a customer to whom it does not provide a noncompetitive retail electric service through transmission or distribution facilities it singly or jointly owns or operates.

(B) No electric utility, electric services company, electric cooperative, or governmental aggregator shall provide a competitive retail electric service to a consumer in this state on and after the starting date of competitive retail electric service without first being certified by the public utilities commission regarding its managerial, technical, and financial capability to provide that service and providing a financial guarantee sufficient to protect customers and electric distribution utilities from default. Certification shall be granted pursuant to procedures and standards the commission shall prescribe in accordance with division (C) of this section, except that certification or certification renewal shall be deemed approved thirty days after the filing of an application with the commission unless the commission suspends that approval for good cause shown. In the case of such a suspension, the commission shall act to approve or deny certification or certification renewal to the applicant not later than ninety days after the date of the suspension.

(C) Capability standards adopted in rules under division (B) of this section shall be sufficient to ensure compliance with the minimum service requirements established under section 4928.10 of the Revised Code and with section 4928.09 of the Revised Code. The standards shall allow flexibility for voluntary aggregation, to encourage market creativity in responding to consumer needs and demands, and shall allow flexibility for electric services companies that exclusively provide installation of small electric generation facilities, to provide ease of market access. The rules shall include procedures for biennially renewing certification.

(D) The commission may suspend, rescind, or conditionally rescind the certification of any electric utility, electric services company, electric cooperative, or governmental aggregator issued under this section if the commission determines, after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing, that the utility, company, cooperative, or aggregator has failed to comply with any applicable certification standards or has engaged in anticompetitive or unfair, deceptive, or unconscionable acts or practices in this state.

(E) No electric distribution utility on and after the starting date of competitive retail electric service shall knowingly distribute electricity, to a retail consumer in this state, for any supplier of electricity that has not been certified by the commission pursuant to this section.

Effective Date: 10-05-1999 .