(A) Before entering into an agreement to purchase synthetic natural gas or other fuels produced by a facility originated under the auspices of the federal government pursuant to a contract with the federal energy research and development administration or its successor agencies for the purpose of converting coal to gaseous, liquid, or solid fuels or by-products of such fuels, and the construction of which began on or after July 1, 1975, but not later than December 31, 1982, a gas company or natural gas company shall obtain approval of such agreement from the public utilities commission, which approval shall be granted if the purchase price is to be based on the total cost of service of the facility developer or developers in producing the synthetic natural gas or other fuels for a reasonable profit to said developer or developers, taking into account the desirability of encouraging energy research and development, the developmental nature of the facility involved, and the attendant risks for the developer or developers. Promptly after the filing with it of an application to obtain such approval, the public utilities commission shall set the matter for public hearing and shall render a final decision of such application within sixty days of its filing.

(B) Notwithstanding division (B) of section 4905.302 of the Revised Code, any gas company or natural gas company that, pursuant to terms approved by the public utilities commission, enters into an agreement to purchase synthetic natural gas or fuels produced by such a facility for distribution to some or all of its customers shall adjust its rates pursuant to and in accordance with a purchased gas adjustment rule promulgated by the commission pursuant to this section.

(C) The commission may adjust any proposed rate change under division (B) of this section on account of arithmetic or clerical error.

Effective Date: 12-14-1977 .