(A) As used in this section, "nonbypassable," with respect to phase-in-recovery charges, means that such charges cannot be avoided by any customer or other person obligated to pay the charges.

(B)

(1) As long as phase-in-recovery bonds issued under a final financing order are outstanding and the related phase-in costs and financing costs have not been recovered in full, the phase-in-recovery charges authorized under the final financing order shall be nonbypassable. Subject to the methodology approved in the final financing order pursuant to division (E)(4) of section 4928.232 of the Revised Code, phase-in-recovery charges shall apply to all customers of the electric distribution utility for as long as they remain customers of the electric distribution utility, except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section. If a customer of the electric distribution utility purchases electric generation service from a competitive retail electric service provider, the electric distribution utility shall collect the phase-in-recovery charges directly from that customer.

(2) If a customer of the electric distribution utility subsequently receives retail electric distribution service from another electric distribution utility operating in the same service area, including by succession, assignment, transfer, or merger, the phase-in-recovery charges shall continue to apply to that customer.

(C) The phase-in-recovery charges shall be collected by the electric distribution utility or the electric distribution utility's successors or assignees, or a collection agent, in full through a charge that is separate and apart from the electric distribution utility's base rates.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.61, HB 364, §1, eff. 3/22/2012.