OH HB226

Amends Ohio Revised Code sections 4909.05 and 4909.15 and enacts new sections 4909.173 and 4909.174 to permit water-works companies to bear costs for replacing certain customer-owned water service lines.

Water-works companies may replace lead customer-owned water service lines during scheduled utility main replacements, emergency replacements, or company-initiated lead service line replacement programs.

Water-works companies must include replacement costs in their valuation reports for rate cases, covering both company-side and customer-owned service line replacements plus costs to evaluate service lines of unknown composition.

Requires water-works companies to reimburse customers who independently replace customer-owned service lines composed of lead or other compositions mandated for replacement by law or regulatory agencies, if reimbursement is requested within twelve months of completion.

Customers retain legal title to replaced water service lines, and reimbursement amounts provided by water-works companies must be included in the company's valuation report for rate case purposes.