(A) Upon application of the acquiring company, the public utilities commission may authorize the acquiring company to defer post-in-service carrying costs on any improvements made to the company that is acquired after an acquisition described in section 4909.052 of the Revised Code. Such costs shall be calculated at the acquiring company's weighted average cost of debt as determined in its last rate case. Such deferrals shall commence after the date on which the expenditure was incurred and shall continue until the investment has been in service for a three-year period, until the acquiring company's next rate case that includes the investment, or until the inclusion of the investment in a charge authorized under section 4909.172 of the Revised Code, whichever occurs first.

(B) Upon application of the acquiring company, the public utilities commission may authorize the acquiring company to defer any depreciation expense related to the post-acquisition improvements described in division (A) of this section to be recovered over the life of the assets commencing with the first rate case including the acquisition. This depreciation deferral shall continue until the associated investment has been in service for a three-year period, until the acquiring company's next rate case that includes the investment, or until the inclusion of the investment in a charge authorized under section 4909.172 of the Revised Code, whichever occurs first.

Added by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 422, §1, eff. 4/5/2019.