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Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council <br /> <br />2.5.4 Consumer Protections <br /> <br /> Regarding all issues of consumer protection (including provisions relating to slamming <br />and blocking), NOPEC will ensure that the selected Supplier(s) comply with all statutes, rules <br />and regulations currently in place and as may be amended from time to time. NOPEC will <br />provide on-going consumer education in member communities through public service <br />announcements, posting of information, media press releases, advertising, and direct mailing <br />depending upon the subject and appropriate venue. NOPEC will also assist member <br />communities with all required notifications, information, and public hearings. <br /> <br />2.5.4.1 Contract Disclosure <br /> NOPEC will ensure that consumers are provided with adequate, accurate and <br />understandable pricing and terms and conditions of service, including any switching fees, opt-out <br />opportunities, including the conditions under which a consumer may rescind a contract without <br />penalty. <br /> <br />2.5.4.2 Billing and Service Assistance. <br /> The selected Supplier(s) shall utilize the billing services of the local distribution company <br />to render timely billings to each participating consumer. Separate bills from the selected <br />Supplier(s) and the local distributiOn company may also be requested for large commercial and <br />industrial custom~rs, but such separate bills may incur an additional charge from the selected <br />Supplie~(s). <br /> All bills at a minimum shall include the following information: (1) price and total billing <br /> units for the billing period and historical annual usage; (2) to the maximum extent practicable, <br /> separate listing of each service component to enable a consumer to recalculate its bill for <br /> accuracy; (3) highlighted and clear explanations, for two consecutive billing periods, of any <br /> changes in the rates, terms, and conditions of service; (4) identification of the supplier of each <br /> service; (5) statement of where and how payment may be made and (6) a toll-free or local <br /> customer assistance and complaint number for the Supplier, as well as a consumer assistance <br /> telephone numbers for state agencies, such as the Commission, the Office of the Consumers' <br /> Counsel, and the Attorney General's Office, with the available hours noted. <br /> Credit and collection processes concerning billing will remain the sole responsibility of <br /> the selected Supplier(s) and the local distribution company as provided by state law. Under no <br /> circumstances shall NOPEC have any responsibility for payment of any bills. <br /> Unless otherwise specified in the Supply Contract, all billing shall be based on the meter <br /> readings generated by meters of the distribution company at the consumer facilities. Consumer <br /> bills shall be rendered monthly. Customers are required to remit and comply with the payment <br /> terms of First Energy and/or the Supplier. Billing may take place through the distribution <br /> company at the Supplier's option. In the event that necessary billing data is not received from <br /> the distribution company in time to prepare monthly bills, the Supplier reserves the right to <br /> issue a bill based on an estimate of the participating consumer's usage for that billing period.. <br /> <br />11 <br /> <br /> <br />