H.B. No. 247 Summary

• Amends Ohio's competitive retail electric service law by modifying definitions and procedures governing electric utilities, competitive service providers, and distribution utilities.

• Expands definitions to include new concepts such as "smart grid," "customer-focused energy services or products," "combined heat and power systems," and "advanced energy projects."

• Allows electric distribution utilities to offer customer-focused energy services including smart grid deployment, provided utilities maintain separate accounting and recover costs only from subscribing customers rather than through base rates.

• Creates new Section 4928.25 establishing a process for electric utilities to recover infrastructure development costs through nonbypassable riders for economic development projects and mercantile customer facilities.

• Modifies corporate separation requirements and electric security plan provisions to align with the expanded definition of utility services and customer-focused offerings.