The Village of New Concord will hold two separate public hearings on the Electric and the Natural Gas Aggregation Program Plans of Operation and Governance for the Village of New Concord on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 11 a.m. (electric) and 11:30 a.m. (natural gas) and on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 4 p.m. (electric) and 4:30 p.m. (natural gas). All hearings will be held in the New Concord Village Hall located at 2 West Main Street, New Concord.
The Village of New Concord is considering becoming a member of the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (“SOPEC”), a regional council of governments under Chapter 167 of the Ohio Rev. Code. SOPEC provides energy services to member communities, political subdivisions, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and public agencies.
The public hearings will permit comments and questions regarding the SOPEC Electric and the Natural Gas Aggregation Program Plans of Operation and Governance. The plans describe the policies and procedures by which the government aggregation program will be carried out for electricity and for natural gas for eligible New Concord residents and small commercial customers, including those policies and procedures related to rates and customer service.
According to Section 4928.20 (Electric Aggregation) and Section 4929.26 (Natural Gas Aggregation) of the Ohio Revised Code, the legislative authority or board must develop a plan of operation and governance for any electric or natural gas aggregation program. Before adopting a plan under this division, the legislative authority or board shall hold at least two public hearings on the plan.
The applicable plan of operation and governance contains information on: structure, governance, operations, management, funding, and policies of the electric aggregation or natural gas aggregation program. The applicable plan of operation and governance also includes all information necessary for the certification of SOPEC by the PUCO as a governmental aggregator under Section 4928.20 (electric aggregation) and Section 4929.26 (natural gas aggregation) of the Ohio Revised Code. SOPEC acts as an agent for its member communities to establish the aggregation program in accordance with law and to provide managerial, technical, and financial resources to acquire service and other guarantees sufficient to protect customers.
