71-00 Plan of Operation & Gov for Electricity Aggregation

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Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council 2.4 Consumer Participation An "eligible consumer" shall be a consumer as to which a shoppable rate is available from First Energy and is not enrolled in a State of Ohio-sponsored Aggregation Program for residential customers or is otherwise ineligible under utility or PUCO rules. Eligible consumers shall be notified of the Aggregation Program and terms and conditions of participation prior to initiation of services and be provided an opportunity to "opt-out" at no cost during a 20 day period specified in the terms and conditions of the Supply Contract(s). (See section 2.4.1 below for details of the notification and opt-out process.) During this 20 day period consumers may choose another competing supplier, or standard offer service from their local distribution company. Participating consumers will be given the opportunity every two years after the initiation of service to opt-out. Participating consumers who choose to opt-out of the Aggregation Program after the initial 20 day period, but prior to the next two-year opt-out oppommity, may face an exit charge which will be described in the opt-out notification. Consumers who relocate to a NOPEC member community (including those who move from a member community) and are new electric customers may participate in the program at the existing price and terms offered for that customer class, or other terms specified under the Supply Contract. Such new electric consumer can also choose to opt-out of the Aggregation Program at no charge during the initial 20 day peri'~d after the relocation and at subsequent opt-out periods every two years. New member communities may also join the NOPEC Aggregation Program under prices and terms contained in an existing Supply Contract, however such prices may be'higher than for those communities which have joined at the outset of the contract. Each member community will also have the opportunity to cancel its membership in NOPEC on an annual basis. 2.4.1 Notification of Consumers Prior to initiation of service, all eligible consumers shall be notified of the opt-out terms. The process of notification shall be as follows: (1) a separate mailing; (2) newspaper notices; (3) public service announcements; and (4) posting of prominent notice in the local government office building in each member community. Prior to enrollment, this notification shall be mailed in a timely manner for receipt by consumers prior to their start-of-service day. The opt-out period shall be 20 days. The notification shall: (1) inform consumers of their the right to decline (opt-out of) service under the Aggregation Program without penalty or interruption of their current service; 7