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Northeast Ohio Public Energy C,ouncil Draft Natural Gas Plan of Operation and Governance <br />Purpose of the Plan of Operation and Governance <br />This Natural Gas Agb egation Program Plan of Operation and Governance <br />("Natural Gas Plan") has been prepared by the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council <br />("NOPEC") on behalf of its approximately 100 member communities in compliance with <br />Ohio law regarding government aggregation of natural gas customers (the "Natural Gas <br />Aggregation Program"). The Natural Gas Plan contains information on the structure, <br />governance, operations, management, funding, and policies of the Natural Gas Natural <br />Gas Aggregation Program to be utilized for participating customers in member <br />communities. <br />NOPEC's purpose in preparing this Natural Gas Plan is to describe the uniform <br />approach to a customer Natural Gas Aggregation Program undertaken by its member <br />communities. Through NOPEC, the member communities seek to represent customer <br />interests in emerging competitive markets for natural gas. NOPEC seeks to aggregate <br />customers to negotiate the best rates available for the supply and distribution of natural <br />gas and to advance customer protection for all eligible residents, schools, churches, <br />businesses and industries, and governmental entities. NOPEC acts as agent for its <br />member -communities -and oversees managerial, technical, and financial resources-to <br />acquire service and financial guarantees sufficient to protect customers and the natural <br />gas distribution utility. ` :. 1- 1 <br />Combining customer interests of the NOPEC member communities increases <br />.. leverage, resources, and buying pawer.: of -:paiticipating-?>customers in member <br />communities. Under the proposed opt-out Natural Gas Aggregation Program, <br />-? participation'is voluntary for'each individual customer in-a°-ni-ember community. Any <br />individual customer will have the opportunity to. decline service provided through the <br />Natural Gas Aggregation Program and choose any natural gas supplier they wish at the <br />outset of the program and every two years thereafter. New member communities shall <br />have the opportunity to join NOPEC and every member community of NOPEC shall have <br />the opportunity to withdra.w from its membership in NOPEC every two years after the <br />outset of the program. <br />This Natural Gas Plan will not be adopted until public hearings are held in <br />accordance with Section 4929.26(C) of the Ohio Revised Code. - <br />1.0 Overview <br />1.1 Ohio Law <br />Ohio law enacted in 2001 allows for competitive purchase of retail natural gas <br />supply. Section 4929.26 of the Ohio Revised Code allows municipalities, townships, or <br />counties to develop governmental Natural Gas Aggregation Programs providing options <br />COL 281320.2 <br />76130/16064 <br />3 <br />, , ..: <br />?