Substitute House Bill 201 Summary

• Prohibits townships, counties, and municipal corporations from enacting ordinances, resolutions, building codes, or contractual provisions that limit or prevent residential, commercial, or industrial use of natural gas distribution service, retail natural gas service, or propane.

• Guarantees persons the right to obtain available natural gas service from any natural gas company with service capacity or any certified competitive retail natural gas service supplier in their location.

• Guarantees persons the right to obtain propane from any energy dealer willing to provide it in their location.

• Allows municipalities to continue entering into and administering franchise agreements and exercising authority over natural gas companies pursuant to the Ohio Constitution and existing law.

• Establishes state public policy to increase utilization of indigenous energy resources, promote availability of natural gas services, and encourage propane utilization.