Bill Text: OH SB232 | 2009-2010 | 128th General Assembly | Enrolled
Bill Title: To exempt qualifying energy facilities from property taxation upon county approval, to require payments in lieu of taxes on the basis of each megawatt of production capacity of such facilities, to expand special improvement district energy improvement projects and the municipal solar energy revolving loan program law to include alternative energy, to address the treatment of energy efficiency savings and reductions in demand regarding certain energy projects, to prohibit the use of the exemption to determine the cost of compliance for the state's alternative energy portfolio standard, to clarify the sales and use tax treatment of related energy conversion equipment purchases, to specify that operators of such facilities are subject to the commercial activity tax, to require the Public Utilities Commission to study reactive power in the state, and to declare an emergency.
Spectrum: Unknown
Status: (Passed) 2010-06-17 - Effective Date [SB232 Detail]
Download: Ohio-2009-SB232-Enrolled.html
To amend sections 717.25, 1710.01, 1710.02, 1710.06, 1710.07, 4928.01, 4928.64, 5709.53, 5713.30, 5713.34, 5727.01, 5727.02, 5727.06, 5727.11, 5727.111, 5727.15, 5727.30, and 5739.02 and to enact sections 1710.061, 4935.10, and 5727.75 of the Revised Code to exempt qualifying energy facilities from property taxation upon county approval, to require payments in lieu of taxes on the basis of each megawatt of production capacity of such facilities, to expand special improvement district energy improvement projects and the municipal solar energy revolving loan program law to include alternative energy, to address the treatment of energy efficiency savings and reductions in demand regarding certain energy projects, to prohibit the use of the exemption to determine the cost of compliance for the state's alternative energy portfolio standard, to clarify the sales and use tax treatment of related energy conversion equipment purchases, to specify that operators of such facilities are subject to the commercial activity tax, to require the Public Utilities Commission to study reactive power in the state, and to declare an emergency.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:
SECTION 1. That sections 717.25, 1710.01, 1710.02, 1710.06, 1710.07, 4928.01, 4928.64, 5709.53, 5713.30, 5713.34, 5727.01, 5727.02, 5727.06, 5727.11, 5727.111, 5727.15, 5727.30, and 5739.02 be amended and sections 1710.061, 4935.10, and 5727.75 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 717.25. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Customer-generated energy project" means a wind, biomass, or gasification facility for the generation of electricity that meets either of the following requirements:
(a) The facility is designed to have a generating capacity of two hundred fifty kilowatts of electricity or less.
(b) The facility is:
(i) Designed to have a generating capacity of more than two hundred fifty kilowatts of electricity;
(ii) Operated in parallel with electric transmission and distribution facilities serving the real property at the site of the customer-generated energy project;
(iii) Intended primarily to offset part or all of the facility owner's requirements for electricity at the site of the customer-generated energy project and is located on the facility owner's real property; and
(iv) Not producing energy for direct sale by the facility owner to the public.
(2) "Electric distribution utility" and "mercantile customer" have the same meanings as in section 4928.01 of the Revised Code.
(3) "Reduction in demand" has the same meaning as in section 1710.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) The legislative authority of a municipal corporation may
establish a low-cost solar panel alternative energy revolving loan
program to assist residents of owners of real property within the
municipal corporation to install solar panels at their residences.
If with installing and implementing either of the following on
their real property:
(1) Alternative energy technologies limited to solar photovoltaic projects, solar thermal energy projects, geothermal energy projects, and customer-generated energy projects;
(2) Energy efficiency technologies, products, and activities that reduce or support the reduction of energy consumption, allow for the reduction in demand, or support the production of clean, renewable energy.
(C) If the legislative authority decides to establish such a program, the legislative authority shall adopt an ordinance that provides for the following:
(A)(1) Creation in the municipal treasury of a residential
solar panel an alternative energy revolving loan fund;
(B)(2) A source of money, such as gifts, bond issues, real
property assessments, or federal subsidies, to seed the
residential solar panel alternative energy revolving loan fund;
(C)(3) Facilities for making loans from the residential solar
panel alternative energy revolving loan fund, including an
explanation of how
residents of owners of real property within
the municipal corporation may qualify for loans from the fund, a
description of the solar panels alternative energy and energy
efficiency technologies and related equipment for which a loan can
be made from the fund, authorization of a municipal agency to
process applications for loans and otherwise to administer the
low-cost solar panel
alternative energy revolving loan program, a
procedure whereby loans can be applied for, criteria for reviewing
and accepting or denying applications for loans, criteria for
determining the appropriate amount of a loan, the interest rate to
be charged, the repayment schedule, and other terms and conditions
of a loan, and procedures for collecting loans that are not repaid
according to the repayment schedule;
(D)(4) A specification that repayments of loans from the
residential solar panel alternative energy revolving loan fund may
be made in installments and, at the option of the resident real
property owner repaying the loan, the installments may be paid and
collected as if they were special assessments paid and collected
in the manner specified in Chapter 727. of the Revised Code and as
specified in the ordinance;
(E)(5) A specification that repayments of loans from the
residential solar panel alternative energy revolving loan fund are
to be credited to the fund, that the money in the fund is to be
invested pending its being lent out, and that investment earnings
on the money in the fund is are to be credited to the fund; and
(F)(6) Other matters necessary and proper for efficient
operation of the low-cost solar panel alternative energy revolving
loan program as a means of encouraging use of renewable
alternative energy and energy efficiency technologies.
The interest rate charged on a loan from the residential
solar panel alternative energy revolving loan fund shall be below
prevailing market rates. The legislative authority may specify the
interest rate in the ordinance or may, after establishing a
standard in the ordinance whereby the interest rate can be
specified, delegate authority to specify the interest rate to the
administrator of loans from the residential solar panel
alternative energy revolving loan fund.
The residential solar panel alternative energy revolving loan
fund shall be seeded with sufficient money to enable loans to be
made until the fund accumulates sufficient reserves through
investment and repayment of loans for revolving operation.
(D) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, an electric distribution utility may count toward its compliance with the energy efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements of section 4928.66 of the Revised Code any energy efficiency savings or any reduction in demand that is produced by projects utilizing alternative energy technologies or energy efficiency technologies, products, and activities that are located in its certified territory and for which a loan has been made under this section.
(E) A mercantile customer that realizes energy efficiency savings or reduction in demand produced by alternative energy technologies or energy efficiency technologies, products, or activities that it owns and for which a loan has been made under this section may elect to commit the savings or reduction to the electric distribution utility in exchange for an exemption from an energy efficiency cost recovery mechanism permitted under section 4928.66 of the Revised Code, approved by the public utilities commission.
(F) The legislative authority shall submit a quarterly report to the electric distribution utility that includes, but is not limited to, both of the following:
(1) The number and a description of each new and ongoing project utilizing alternative energy technologies or energy efficiency technologies, products, or activities located in the utility's certified territory that produces energy efficiency savings or reduction in demand and for which a loan has been made under this section;
(2) Any additional information that the electric distribution utility needs in order to obtain credit under section 4928.66 of the Revised Code for energy efficiency savings or reduction in demand from such projects.
Sec. 1710.01. As used in this chapter:
(A) "Special improvement district" means a special improvement district organized under this chapter.
(B) "Church" means a fellowship of believers, congregation, society, corporation, convention, or association that is formed primarily or exclusively for religious purposes and that is not formed for the private profit of any person.
(C) "Church property" means property that is described as being exempt from taxation under division (A)(2) of section 5709.07 of the Revised Code and that the county auditor has entered on the exempt list compiled under section 5713.07 of the Revised Code.
(D) "Municipal executive" means the mayor, city manager, or other chief executive officer of the municipal corporation in which a special improvement district is located.
(E) "Participating political subdivision" means the municipal corporation or township, or each of the municipal corporations or townships, that has territory within the boundaries of a special improvement district created under this chapter.
(F) "Legislative authority of a participating political subdivision" means, with reference to a township, the board of township trustees.
(G) "Public improvement" means the planning, design, construction, reconstruction, enlargement, or alteration of any facility or improvement, including the acquisition of land, for which a special assessment may be levied under Chapter 727. of the Revised Code, and includes any special energy improvement project.
(H) "Public service" means any service that can be provided by a municipal corporation or any service for which a special assessment may be levied under Chapter 727. of the Revised Code.
(I) "Special energy improvement project" means any property,
device, structure, or equipment necessary for the acquisition,
installation, equipping, and improvement of any real or personal
property used for the purpose of creating a solar photo voltaic
photovoltaic project or, a solar thermal energy project, a
geothermal energy project, a customer-generated energy project, or
an energy efficiency improvement, whether such real or personal
property is publicly or privately owned.
(J) "Existing qualified nonprofit corporation" means a nonprofit corporation that existed before the creation of the corresponding district under this chapter, that is composed of members located within or adjacent to the district, that has established a police department under section 1702.80 of the Revised Code, and that is organized for purposes that include acquisition of real property within an area specified by its articles for the subsequent transfer of such property to its members exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, or holding and maintaining and leasing such property; planning for and assisting in the development of its members; providing for the relief of the poor and distressed or underprivileged in the area and adjacent areas; combating community deterioration and lessening the burdens of government; providing or assisting others in providing housing for low- or moderate-income persons; and assisting its members by the provision of public safety and security services, parking facilities, transit service, landscaping, and parks.
(K) "Energy efficiency improvement" means energy efficiency technologies, products, and activities that reduce or support the reduction of energy consumption, allow for the reduction in demand, or support the production of clean, renewable energy and that are or will be permanently fixed to real property.
(L) "Customer-generated energy project" means a wind, biomass, or gasification facility for the production of electricity that meets either of the following requirements:
(1) The facility is designed to have a generating capacity of two hundred fifty kilowatts of electricity or less.
(2) The facility is:
(a) Designed to have a generating capacity of more than two hundred fifty kilowatts of electricity;
(b) Operated in parallel with electric transmission and distribution facilities serving the real property at the site of the customer-generated energy project;
(c) Intended primarily to offset part or all of the facility owner's requirements for electricity at the site of the customer-generated energy project and is located on the facility owner's real property; and
(d) Not producing energy for direct sale by the facility owner to the public.
(M) "Reduction in demand" means a change in customer behavior or a change in customer-owned or operated assets that reduces or has the capability to reduce the demand for electricity as a result of price signals or other incentives.
(N) "Electric distribution utility" and "mercantile customer" have the same meanings as in section 4928.01 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 1710.02. (A) A special improvement district may be created within the boundaries of any one municipal corporation, any one township, or any combination of contiguous municipal corporations and townships for the purpose of developing and implementing plans for public improvements and public services that benefit the district. A district may be created by petition of the owners of real property within the proposed district, or by an existing qualified nonprofit corporation. If the district is created by an existing qualified nonprofit corporation, the purposes for which the district is created may be supplemental to the other purposes for which the corporation is organized. All territory in a special improvement district shall be contiguous; except that the territory in a special improvement district may be noncontiguous if at least one special energy improvement project is designated for each parcel of real property included within the special improvement district. Additional territory may be added to a special improvement district created under this chapter for the purpose of developing and implementing plans for special energy improvement projects if at least one special energy improvement project is designated for each parcel of real property included within such additional territory and the addition of territory is authorized by the initial plan proposed under division (F) of this section or a plan adopted by the board of directors of the special improvement district under section 1710.06 of the Revised Code.
The district shall be governed by the board of trustees of a nonprofit corporation. This board shall be known as the board of directors of the special improvement district. No special improvement district shall include any church property, or property of the federal or state government or a county, township, or municipal corporation, unless the church or the county, township, or municipal corporation specifically requests in writing that the property be included within the district, or unless the church is a member of the existing qualified nonprofit corporation creating the district at the time the district is created. More than one district may be created within a participating political subdivision, but no real property may be included within more than one district unless the owner of the property files a written consent with the clerk of the legislative authority, the township fiscal officer, or the village clerk, as appropriate. The area of each district shall be contiguous; except that the area of a special improvement district may be noncontiguous if all parcels of real property included within such area contain at least one special energy improvement thereon.
(B) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, a district created under this chapter is not a political subdivision. A district created under this chapter shall be considered a public agency under section 102.01 and a public authority under section 4115.03 of the Revised Code. Each member of the board of directors of a district, each member's designee or proxy, and each officer and employee of a district shall be considered a public official or employee under section 102.01 of the Revised Code and a public official and public servant under section 2921.42 of the Revised Code. Districts created under this chapter are not subject to section 121.251 of the Revised Code. Districts created under this chapter are subject to sections 121.22 and 121.23 of the Revised Code.
(C) Each district created under this chapter shall be considered a political subdivision for purposes of section 4905.34 of the Revised Code.
Membership on the board of directors of the district shall not be considered as holding a public office. Directors and their designees shall be entitled to the immunities provided by Chapter 1702. and to the same immunity as an employee under division (A)(6) of section 2744.03 of the Revised Code, except that directors and their designees shall not be entitled to the indemnification provided in section 2744.07 of the Revised Code unless the director or designee is an employee or official of a participating political subdivision of the district and is acting within the scope of the director's or designee's employment or official responsibilities.
District officers and district members and directors and their designees or proxies shall not be required to file a statement with the Ohio ethics commission under section 102.02 of the Revised Code. All records of the district shall be treated as public records under section 149.43 of the Revised Code, except that records of organizations contracting with a district shall not be considered to be public records under section 149.43 or section 149.431 of the Revised Code solely by reason of any contract with a district.
(D) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the nonprofit corporation that governs a district shall be organized in the manner described in Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code. Except in the case of a district created by an existing qualified nonprofit corporation, the corporation's articles of incorporation are required to be approved, as provided in division (E) of this section, by resolution of the legislative authority of each participating political subdivision of the district. A copy of that resolution shall be filed along with the articles of incorporation in the secretary of state's office.
In addition to meeting the requirements for articles of incorporation set forth in Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code, the articles of incorporation for the nonprofit corporation governing a district formed under this chapter shall provide all the following:
(1) The name for the district, which shall include the name of each participating political subdivision of the district;
(2) A description of the territory within the district, which may be all or part of each participating political subdivision. The description shall be specific enough to enable real property owners to determine if their property is located within the district.
(3) A description of the procedure by which the articles of incorporation may be amended. The procedure shall include receiving approval of the amendment, by resolution, from the legislative authority of each participating political subdivision and filing the approved amendment and resolution with the secretary of state.
(4) The reasons for creating the district, plus an explanation of how the district will be conducive to the public health, safety, peace, convenience, and welfare of the district.
(E) The articles of incorporation for a nonprofit corporation governing a district created under this chapter and amendments to them shall be submitted to the municipal executive, if any, and the legislative authority of each municipal corporation or township in which the proposed district is to be located. Except in the case of a district created by an existing qualified nonprofit corporation, the articles or amendments shall be accompanied by a petition signed either by the owners of at least sixty per cent of the front footage of all real property located in the proposed district that abuts upon any street, alley, public road, place, boulevard, parkway, park entrance, easement, or other existing public improvement within the proposed district, excluding church property or property owned by the state, county, township, municipal, or federal government, unless a church, county, township, or municipal corporation has specifically requested in writing that the property be included in the district, or by the owners of at least seventy-five per cent of the area of all real property located within the proposed district, excluding church property or property owned by the state, county, township, municipal, or federal government, unless a church, county, township, or municipal corporation has specifically requested in writing that the property be included in the district. Pursuant to Section 2o of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, the petition required under this division may be for the purpose of developing and implementing plans for special energy improvement projects, and, in such case, is determined to be in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Section 2o of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution. If a special improvement district is being created under this chapter for the purpose of developing and implementing plans for special energy improvement projects, the petition required under this division shall be signed by one hundred per cent of the owners of the area of all real property located within the proposed special improvement district, at least one special energy improvement project shall be designated for each parcel of real property within the special improvement district, and the special improvement district may include any number of parcels of real property as determined by the legislative authority of each participating political subdivision in which the proposed special improvement district is to be located. For purposes of determining compliance with these requirements, the area of the district, or the front footage and ownership of property, shall be as shown in the most current records available at the county recorder's office and the county engineer's office sixty days prior to the date on which the petition is filed.
Each municipal corporation or township with which the petition is filed has sixty days to approve or disapprove, by resolution, the petition, including the articles of incorporation. In the case of a district created by an existing qualified nonprofit corporation, each municipal corporation or township has sixty days to approve or disapprove the creation of the district after the corporation submits the articles of incorporation or amendments thereto. This chapter does not prohibit or restrict the rights of municipal corporations under Article XVIII of the Ohio Constitution or the right of the municipal legislative authority to impose reasonable conditions in a resolution of approval. The acquisition, installation, equipping, and improvement of a special energy improvement project under this chapter shall not supersede any local zoning, environmental, or similar law or regulation.
(F) Persons proposing creation and operation of the district may propose an initial plan for public services or public improvements that benefit all or any part of the district. Any initial plan shall be submitted as part of the petition proposing creation of the district or, in the case of a district created by an existing qualified nonprofit corporation, shall be submitted with the articles of incorporation or amendments thereto.
An initial plan may include provisions for the following:
(1) Creation and operation of the district and of the nonprofit corporation to govern the district under this chapter;
(2) Hiring employees and professional services;
(3) Contracting for insurance;
(4) Purchasing or leasing office space and office equipment;
(5) Other actions necessary initially to form, operate, or organize the district and the nonprofit corporation to govern the district;
(6) A plan for public improvements or public services that
benefit all or part of the district, which plan shall comply with
the requirements of division (A) of section 1710.06 of the Revised
Code and may include, but is not limited to, any of the permissive
provisions described in the fourth sentence of that division or
listed in divisions (A)(1) to (6)(7) of that section;
(7) If the special improvement district is being created under this chapter for the purpose of developing and implementing plans for special energy improvement projects, provision for the addition of territory to the special improvement district.
After the initial plan is approved by all municipal
corporations and townships to which it is submitted for approval
and the district is created, each participating subdivision shall
levy a special assessment within its boundaries to pay for the
costs of the initial plan. The levy shall be for no more than ten
years from the date of the approval of the initial plan; except
that if the proceeds of the levy are to be used to pay the costs
of a special energy improvement project, the levy of a special
assessment shall be for no more than twenty-five thirty years from
the date of approval of the initial plan. In the event that
additional territory is added to a special improvement district,
the special assessment to be levied with respect to such
additional territory shall commence not earlier than the date such
territory is added and shall be for no more than twenty-five
thirty years from such date. For purposes of levying an assessment
for this initial plan, the services or improvements included in
the initial plan shall be deemed a special benefit to property
owners within the district.
(G) Each nonprofit corporation governing a district under this chapter may do the following:
(1) Exercise all powers of nonprofit corporations granted under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code that do not conflict with this chapter;
(2) Develop, adopt, revise, implement, and repeal plans for public improvements and public services for all or any part of the district;
(3) Contract with any person, political subdivision as defined in section 2744.01 of the Revised Code, or state agency as defined in section 1.60 of the Revised Code to develop and implement plans for public improvements or public services within the district;
(4) Contract and pay for insurance for the district and for directors, officers, agents, contractors, employees, or members of the district for any consequences of the implementation of any plan adopted by the district or any actions of the district.
The board of directors of a special improvement district may, acting as agent and on behalf of a participating political subdivision, sell, transfer, lease, or convey any special energy improvement project owned by the participating political subdivision upon a determination by the legislative authority thereof that the project is not required to be owned exclusively by the participating political subdivision for its purposes, for uses determined by the legislative authority thereof as those that will promote the welfare of the people of such participating political subdivision; to improve the quality of life and the general and economic well-being of the people of the participating political subdivision; better ensure the public health, safety, and welfare; protect water and other natural resources; provide for the conservation and preservation of natural and open areas and farmlands, including by making urban areas more desirable or suitable for development and revitalization; control, prevent, minimize, clean up, or mediate certain contamination of or pollution from lands in the state and water contamination or pollution; or provide for safe and natural areas and resources. The legislative authority of each participating political subdivision shall specify the consideration for such sale, transfer, lease, or conveyance and any other terms thereof. Any determinations made by a legislative authority of a participating political subdivision under this division shall be conclusive.
Any sale, transfer, lease, or conveyance of a special energy improvement project by a participating political subdivision or the board of directors of the special improvement district may be made without advertising, receipt of bids, or other competitive bidding procedures applicable to the participating political subdivision or the special improvement district under Chapter 153. or 735. or section 1710.11 of the Revised Code or other representative provisions of the Revised Code.
Sec. 1710.06. (A) The board of directors of a special improvement district may develop and adopt one or more written plans for public improvements or public services that benefit all or any part of the district. Each plan shall set forth the specific public improvements or public services that are to be provided, identify the area in which they will be provided, and specify the method of assessment to be used. Each plan for public improvements or public services shall indicate the period of time the assessments are to be levied for the improvements and services and, if public services are included in the plan, the period of time the services are to remain in effect. Plans for public improvements may include the planning, design, construction, reconstruction, enlargement, or alteration of any public improvements and the acquisition of land for the improvements. Plans for public improvements or public services may also include, but are not limited to, provisions for the following:
(1) Creating and operating the district and the nonprofit corporation under this chapter, including hiring employees and professional services, contracting for insurance, and purchasing or leasing office space and office equipment and other requirements of the district;
(2) Planning, designing, and implementing a public improvements or public services plan, including hiring architectural, engineering, legal, appraisal, insurance, consulting, energy auditing, and planning services, and, for public services, managing, protecting, and maintaining public and private facilities, including public improvements;
(3) Conducting court proceedings to carry out this chapter;
(4) Paying damages resulting from the provision of public improvements or public services and implementing the plans;
(5) Paying the costs of issuing, paying interest on, and
redeeming notes and bonds issued for funding public improvements
and public services plans; and
(6) Sale, lease, lease with an option to purchase, conveyance of other interests in, or other contracts for the acquisition, construction, maintenance, repair, furnishing, equipping, operation, or improvement of any special energy improvement project by the special improvement district, between a participating political subdivision and the special improvement district, and between the special improvement district and any owner of real property in the special improvement district on which a special energy improvement project has been acquired, installed, equipped, or improved; and
(7) Aggregating the renewable energy credits generated by one or more special energy improvement projects within a special improvement district, upon the consent of the owners of the credits and for the purpose of negotiating and completing the sale of such credits.
(B) Once the board of directors of the special improvement district adopts a plan, it shall submit the plan to the legislative authority of each participating political subdivision and the municipal executive of each municipal corporation in which the district is located, if any. The legislative authorities and municipal executives shall review the plan and, within sixty days after receiving it, may submit their comments and recommendations about it to the district. After reviewing these comments and recommendations, the board of directors may amend the plan. It may then submit the plan, amended or otherwise, in the form of a petition to members of the district whose property may be assessed for the plan. Once the petition is signed by those members who own at least sixty per cent of the front footage of property that is to be assessed and that abuts upon a street, alley, public road, place, boulevard, parkway, park entrance, easement, or other public improvement, or those members who own at least seventy-five per cent of the area to be assessed for the improvement or service, the petition may be submitted to each legislative authority for approval. If the special improvement district was created for the purpose of developing and implementing plans for special energy improvement projects, the petition required under this division shall be signed by one hundred per cent of the owners of the area of all real property located within the area to be assessed for the special energy improvement project.
Each legislative authority shall, by resolution, approve or reject the petition within sixty days after receiving it. If the petition is approved by the legislative authority of each participating political subdivision, the plan contained in the petition shall be effective at the earliest date on which a nonemergency resolution of the legislative authority with the latest effective date may become effective. A plan may not be resubmitted to the legislative authorities and municipal executives more than three times in any twelve-month period.
(C) Each participating political subdivision shall levy, by special assessment upon specially benefited property located within the district, the costs of any public improvements or public services plan contained in a petition approved by the participating political subdivisions under this section or division (F) of section 1710.02 of the Revised Code. The levy shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 727. of the Revised Code, except that:
(1) The assessment for each improvements or services plan may be levied by any one or any combination of the methods of assessment listed in section 727.01 of the Revised Code, provided that the assessment is uniformly applied.
(2) For the purpose of levying an assessment, the board of directors may combine one or more improvements or services plans or parts of plans and levy a single assessment against specially benefited property.
(3) For purposes of special assessments levied by a township pursuant to this chapter, references in Chapter 727. of the Revised Code to the municipal corporation shall be deemed to refer to the township, and references to the legislative authority of the municipal corporation shall be deemed to refer to the board of township trustees.
Church property or property owned by a political subdivision, including any participating political subdivision in which a special improvement district is located, shall be included in and be subject to special assessments made pursuant to a plan adopted under this section or division (F) of section 1710.02 of the Revised Code, if the church or political subdivision has specifically requested in writing that its property be included within the special improvement district and the church or political subdivision is a member of the district or, in the case of a district created by an existing qualified nonprofit corporation, if the church is a member of the corporation.
(D) All rights and privileges of property owners who are assessed under Chapter 727. of the Revised Code shall be granted to property owners assessed under this chapter, including those rights and privileges specified in sections 727.15 to 727.17 and 727.18 to 727.22 of the Revised Code and the right to notice of the resolution of necessity and the filing of the estimated assessment under section 727.13 of the Revised Code. Property owners assessed for public services under this chapter shall have the same rights and privileges as property owners assessed for public improvements under this chapter.
Sec. 1710.061. (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, an electric distribution utility may count toward its compliance with the energy efficiency and peak demand reduction requirements of section 4928.66 of the Revised Code any efficiency savings or reduction in demand produced by a special energy improvement project located in its certified territory.
(B) A mercantile customer that realizes energy efficiency savings or reduction in demand produced by a special energy improvement project that it owns may elect to commit the savings or reduction to the electric distribution utility in exchange for an exemption from an energy efficiency cost recovery mechanism permitted under section 4928.66 of the Revised Code, approved by the public utilities commission.
(C) The board of directors of a special improvement district shall submit a quarterly report to the electric distribution utility that includes, but is not limited to, both of the following:
(1) The total number and a description of each new and ongoing special energy improvement project located within the special improvement district that produces energy efficiency savings or reduction in demand;
(2) Any additional information that the electric distribution utility needs in order to obtain credit under section 4928.66 of the Revised Code for energy efficiency savings or reduction in demand from such projects.
Sec. 1710.07. The cost of any public improvements or public services plan of a special improvement district may include, but is not limited to, the following:
(A) The cost of creating and operating the district under this chapter, including creating and operating a nonprofit organization organized under this chapter, hiring employees and professional services, contracting for insurance, and purchasing or leasing office space or office equipment;
(B) The cost of planning, designing, and implementing the public improvements or public services plan, including payment of architectural, engineering, legal, appraisal, insurance, consulting, energy auditing, and planning fees and expenses, and, for public services, the management, protection, and maintenance costs of public or private facilities;
(C) Any court costs incurred by the district in implementing the public improvements or public services plan;
(D) Any damages resulting from implementing the public improvements or public services plan;
(E) The costs of issuing, paying interest on, and redeeming notes and bonds issued for funding the public improvements or public services plan; and
(F) The costs associated with the sale, lease, lease with an option to purchase, conveyance of other interests in, or other contracts for the acquisition, construction, maintenance, repair, furnishing, equipping, operation, or improvement of any special energy improvement project by the district, between a participating political subdivision and the special improvement district, or between the special improvement district and any owner of real property in the special improvement district on which a special energy improvement project has been acquired, installed, equipped, or improved.
Sec. 4928.01. (A) As used in this chapter:
(1) "Ancillary service" means any function necessary to the provision of electric transmission or distribution service to a retail customer and includes, but is not limited to, scheduling, system control, and dispatch services; reactive supply from generation resources and voltage control service; reactive supply from transmission resources service; regulation service; frequency response service; energy imbalance service; operating reserve-spinning reserve service; operating reserve-supplemental reserve service; load following; back-up supply service; real-power loss replacement service; dynamic scheduling; system black start capability; and network stability service.
(2) "Billing and collection agent" means a fully independent agent, not affiliated with or otherwise controlled by an electric utility, electric services company, electric cooperative, or governmental aggregator subject to certification under section 4928.08 of the Revised Code, to the extent that the agent is under contract with such utility, company, cooperative, or aggregator solely to provide billing and collection for retail electric service on behalf of the utility company, cooperative, or aggregator.
(3) "Certified territory" means the certified territory established for an electric supplier under sections 4933.81 to 4933.90 of the Revised Code.
(4) "Competitive retail electric service" means a component of retail electric service that is competitive as provided under division (B) of this section.
(5) "Electric cooperative" means a not-for-profit electric light company that both is or has been financed in whole or in part under the "Rural Electrification Act of 1936," 49 Stat. 1363, 7 U.S.C. 901, and owns or operates facilities in this state to generate, transmit, or distribute electricity, or a not-for-profit successor of such company.
(6) "Electric distribution utility" means an electric utility that supplies at least retail electric distribution service.
(7) "Electric light company" has the same meaning as in section 4905.03 of the Revised Code and includes an electric services company, but excludes any self-generator to the extent that it consumes electricity it so produces, sells that electricity for resale, or obtains electricity from a generating facility it hosts on its premises.
(8) "Electric load center" has the same meaning as in section 4933.81 of the Revised Code.
(9) "Electric services company" means an electric light company that is engaged on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis in the business of supplying or arranging for the supply of only a competitive retail electric service in this state. "Electric services company" includes a power marketer, power broker, aggregator, or independent power producer but excludes an electric cooperative, municipal electric utility, governmental aggregator, or billing and collection agent.
(10) "Electric supplier" has the same meaning as in section 4933.81 of the Revised Code.
(11) "Electric utility" means an electric light company that has a certified territory and is engaged on a for-profit basis either in the business of supplying a noncompetitive retail electric service in this state or in the businesses of supplying both a noncompetitive and a competitive retail electric service in this state. "Electric utility" excludes a municipal electric utility or a billing and collection agent.
(12) "Firm electric service" means electric service other than nonfirm electric service.
(13) "Governmental aggregator" means a legislative authority of a municipal corporation, a board of township trustees, or a board of county commissioners acting as an aggregator for the provision of a competitive retail electric service under authority conferred under section 4928.20 of the Revised Code.
(14) A person acts "knowingly," regardless of the person's purpose, when the person is aware that the person's conduct will probably cause a certain result or will probably be of a certain nature. A person has knowledge of circumstances when the person is aware that such circumstances probably exist.
(15) "Level of funding for low-income customer energy efficiency programs provided through electric utility rates" means the level of funds specifically included in an electric utility's rates on October 5, 1999, pursuant to an order of the public utilities commission issued under Chapter 4905. or 4909. of the Revised Code and in effect on October 4, 1999, for the purpose of improving the energy efficiency of housing for the utility's low-income customers. The term excludes the level of any such funds committed to a specific nonprofit organization or organizations pursuant to a stipulation or contract.
(16) "Low-income customer assistance programs" means the percentage of income payment plan program, the home energy assistance program, the home weatherization assistance program, and the targeted energy efficiency and weatherization program.
(17) "Market development period" for an electric utility means the period of time beginning on the starting date of competitive retail electric service and ending on the applicable date for that utility as specified in section 4928.40 of the Revised Code, irrespective of whether the utility applies to receive transition revenues under this chapter.
(18) "Market power" means the ability to impose on customers a sustained price for a product or service above the price that would prevail in a competitive market.
(19) "Mercantile customer" means a commercial or industrial customer if the electricity consumed is for nonresidential use and the customer consumes more than seven hundred thousand kilowatt hours per year or is part of a national account involving multiple facilities in one or more states.
(20) "Municipal electric utility" means a municipal corporation that owns or operates facilities to generate, transmit, or distribute electricity.
(21) "Noncompetitive retail electric service" means a component of retail electric service that is noncompetitive as provided under division (B) of this section.
(22) "Nonfirm electric service" means electric service provided pursuant to a schedule filed under section 4905.30 of the Revised Code or pursuant to an arrangement under section 4905.31 of the Revised Code, which schedule or arrangement includes conditions that may require the customer to curtail or interrupt electric usage during nonemergency circumstances upon notification by an electric utility.
(23) "Percentage of income payment plan arrears" means funds eligible for collection through the percentage of income payment plan rider, but uncollected as of July 1, 2000.
(24) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the Revised Code.
(25) "Advanced energy project" means any technologies, products, activities, or management practices or strategies that facilitate the generation or use of electricity or energy and that reduce or support the reduction of energy consumption or support the production of clean, renewable energy for industrial, distribution, commercial, institutional, governmental, research, not-for-profit, or residential energy users, including, but not limited to, advanced energy resources and renewable energy resources. "Advanced energy project" also includes any project described in division (A), (B), or (C) of section 4928.621 of the Revised Code.
(26) "Regulatory assets" means the unamortized net regulatory assets that are capitalized or deferred on the regulatory books of the electric utility, pursuant to an order or practice of the public utilities commission or pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles as a result of a prior commission rate-making decision, and that would otherwise have been charged to expense as incurred or would not have been capitalized or otherwise deferred for future regulatory consideration absent commission action. "Regulatory assets" includes, but is not limited to, all deferred demand-side management costs; all deferred percentage of income payment plan arrears; post-in-service capitalized charges and assets recognized in connection with statement of financial accounting standards no. 109 (receivables from customers for income taxes); future nuclear decommissioning costs and fuel disposal costs as those costs have been determined by the commission in the electric utility's most recent rate or accounting application proceeding addressing such costs; the undepreciated costs of safety and radiation control equipment on nuclear generating plants owned or leased by an electric utility; and fuel costs currently deferred pursuant to the terms of one or more settlement agreements approved by the commission.
(27) "Retail electric service" means any service involved in supplying or arranging for the supply of electricity to ultimate consumers in this state, from the point of generation to the point of consumption. For the purposes of this chapter, retail electric service includes one or more of the following "service components": generation service, aggregation service, power marketing service, power brokerage service, transmission service, distribution service, ancillary service, metering service, and billing and collection service.
(28) "Starting date of competitive retail electric service" means January 1, 2001.
(29) "Customer-generator" means a user of a net metering system.
(30) "Net metering" means measuring the difference in an applicable billing period between the electricity supplied by an electric service provider and the electricity generated by a customer-generator that is fed back to the electric service provider.
(31) "Net metering system" means a facility for the production of electrical energy that does all of the following:
(a) Uses as its fuel either solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas, or hydropower, or uses a microturbine or a fuel cell;
(b) Is located on a customer-generator's premises;
(c) Operates in parallel with the electric utility's transmission and distribution facilities;
(d) Is intended primarily to offset part or all of the customer-generator's requirements for electricity.
(32) "Self-generator" means an entity in this state that owns or hosts on its premises an electric generation facility that produces electricity primarily for the owner's consumption and that may provide any such excess electricity to another entity, whether the facility is installed or operated by the owner or by an agent under a contract.
(33) "Rate plan" means the standard service offer in effect on the effective date of the amendment of this section by S.B. 221 of the 127th general assembly, July 31, 2008.
(34) "Advanced energy resource" means any of the following:
(a) Any method or any modification or replacement of any property, process, device, structure, or equipment that increases the generation output of an electric generating facility to the extent such efficiency is achieved without additional carbon dioxide emissions by that facility;
(b) Any distributed generation system consisting of customer
cogeneration of electricity and thermal output simultaneously,
primarily to meet the energy needs of the customer's facilities;
(c) Clean coal technology that includes a carbon-based product that is chemically altered before combustion to demonstrate a reduction, as expressed as ash, in emissions of nitrous oxide, mercury, arsenic, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, or sulfur trioxide in accordance with the American society of testing and materials standard D1757A or a reduction of metal oxide emissions in accordance with standard D5142 of that society, or clean coal technology that includes the design capability to control or prevent the emission of carbon dioxide, which design capability the commission shall adopt by rule and shall be based on economically feasible best available technology or, in the absence of a determined best available technology, shall be of the highest level of economically feasible design capability for which there exists generally accepted scientific opinion;
(d) Advanced nuclear energy technology consisting of generation III technology as defined by the nuclear regulatory commission; other, later technology; or significant improvements to existing facilities;
(e) Any fuel cell used in the generation of electricity, including, but not limited to, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, phosphoric acid fuel cell, molten carbonate fuel cell, or solid oxide fuel cell;
(f) Advanced solid waste or construction and demolition debris conversion technology, including, but not limited to, advanced stoker technology, and advanced fluidized bed gasification technology, that results in measurable greenhouse gas emissions reductions as calculated pursuant to the United States environmental protection agency's waste reduction model (WARM).
(g) Demand-side management and any energy efficiency improvement;
(h) Methane gas emitted from an operating or abandoned coal mine.
(35) "Renewable energy resource" means solar photovoltaic or solar thermal energy, wind energy, power produced by a hydroelectric facility, geothermal energy, fuel derived from solid wastes, as defined in section 3734.01 of the Revised Code, through fractionation, biological decomposition, or other process that does not principally involve combustion, biomass energy, biologically derived methane gas, or energy derived from nontreated by-products of the pulping process or wood manufacturing process, including bark, wood chips, sawdust, and lignin in spent pulping liquors. "Renewable energy resource" includes, but is not limited to, any fuel cell used in the generation of electricity, including, but not limited to, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, phosphoric acid fuel cell, molten carbonate fuel cell, or solid oxide fuel cell; wind turbine located in the state's territorial waters of Lake Erie; storage facility that will promote the better utilization of a renewable energy resource that primarily generates off peak; or distributed generation system used by a customer to generate electricity from any such energy. As used in division (A)(35) of this section, "hydroelectric facility" means a hydroelectric generating facility that is located at a dam on a river, or on any water discharged to a river, that is within or bordering this state or within or bordering an adjoining state and meets all of the following standards:
(a) The facility provides for river flows that are not detrimental for fish, wildlife, and water quality, including seasonal flow fluctuations as defined by the applicable licensing agency for the facility.
(b) The facility demonstrates that it complies with the water quality standards of this state, which compliance may consist of certification under Section 401 of the "Clean Water Act of 1977," 91 Stat. 1598, 1599, 33 U.S.C. 1341, and demonstrates that it has not contributed to a finding by this state that the river has impaired water quality under Section 303(d) of the "Clean Water Act of 1977," 114 Stat. 870, 33 U.S.C. 1313.
(c) The facility complies with mandatory prescriptions
regarding fish passage as required by the federal energy
regulatory commission license issued for the project, regarding
fish protection for riverine, anadromous, and catadromus
catadromous fish.
(d) The facility complies with the recommendations of the Ohio environmental protection agency and with the terms of its federal energy regulatory commission license regarding watershed protection, mitigation, or enhancement, to the extent of each agency's respective jurisdiction over the facility.
(e) The facility complies with provisions of the "Endangered Species Act of 1973," 87 Stat. 884, 16 U.S.C. 1531 to 1544, as amended.
(f) The facility does not harm cultural resources of the area. This can be shown through compliance with the terms of its federal energy regulatory commission license or, if the facility is not regulated by that commission, through development of a plan approved by the Ohio historic preservation office, to the extent it has jurisdiction over the facility.
(g) The facility complies with the terms of its federal energy regulatory commission license or exemption that are related to recreational access, accommodation, and facilities or, if the facility is not regulated by that commission, the facility complies with similar requirements as are recommended by resource agencies, to the extent they have jurisdiction over the facility; and the facility provides access to water to the public without fee or charge.
(h) The facility is not recommended for removal by any federal agency or agency of any state, to the extent the particular agency has jurisdiction over the facility.
(B) For the purposes of this chapter, a retail electric service component shall be deemed a competitive retail electric service if the service component is competitive pursuant to a declaration by a provision of the Revised Code or pursuant to an order of the public utilities commission authorized under division (A) of section 4928.04 of the Revised Code. Otherwise, the service component shall be deemed a noncompetitive retail electric service.
Sec. 4928.64. (A)(1) As used in sections 4928.64 and 4928.65 of the Revised Code, "alternative energy resource" means an advanced energy resource or renewable energy resource, as defined in section 4928.01 of the Revised Code that has a placed-in-service date of January 1, 1998, or after; a renewable energy resource created on or after January 1, 1998, by the modification or retrofit of any facility placed in service prior to January 1, 1998; or a mercantile customer-sited advanced energy resource or renewable energy resource, whether new or existing, that the mercantile customer commits for integration into the electric distribution utility's demand-response, energy efficiency, or peak demand reduction programs as provided under division (A)(2)(c) of section 4928.66 of the Revised Code, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(a) A resource that has the effect of improving the relationship between real and reactive power;
(b) A resource that makes efficient use of waste heat or other thermal capabilities owned or controlled by a mercantile customer;
(c) Storage technology that allows a mercantile customer more flexibility to modify its demand or load and usage characteristics;
(d) Electric generation equipment owned or controlled by a mercantile customer that uses an advanced energy resource or renewable energy resource;
(e) Any advanced energy resource or renewable energy resource of the mercantile customer that can be utilized effectively as part of any advanced energy resource plan of an electric distribution utility and would otherwise qualify as an alternative energy resource if it were utilized directly by an electric distribution utility.
(2) For the purpose of this section and as it considers appropriate, the public utilities commission may classify any new technology as such an advanced energy resource or a renewable energy resource.
(B) By 2025 and thereafter, an electric distribution utility shall provide from alternative energy resources, including, at its discretion, alternative energy resources obtained pursuant to an electricity supply contract, a portion of the electricity supply required for its standard service offer under section 4928.141 of the Revised Code, and an electric services company shall provide a portion of its electricity supply for retail consumers in this state from alternative energy resources, including, at its discretion, alternative energy resources obtained pursuant to an electricity supply contract. That portion shall equal twenty-five per cent of the total number of kilowatt hours of electricity sold by the subject utility or company to any and all retail electric consumers whose electric load centers are served by that utility and are located within the utility's certified territory or, in the case of an electric services company, are served by the company and are located within this state. However, nothing in this section precludes a utility or company from providing a greater percentage. The baseline for a utility's or company's compliance with the alternative energy resource requirements of this section shall be the average of such total kilowatt hours it sold in the preceding three calendar years, except that the commission may reduce a utility's or company's baseline to adjust for new economic growth in the utility's certified territory or, in the case of an electric services company, in the company's service area in this state.
Of the alternative energy resources implemented by the subject utility or company by 2025 and thereafter:
(1) Half may be generated from advanced energy resources;
(2) At least half shall be generated from renewable energy resources, including one-half per cent from solar energy resources, in accordance with the following benchmarks:
| By end of year | Renewable energy resources | Solar energy resources |
| 2009 | 0.25% | 0.004% |
| 2010 | 0.50% | 0.010% |
| 2011 | 1% | 0.030% |
| 2012 | 1.5% | 0.060% |
| 2013 | 2% | 0.090% |
| 2014 | 2.5% | 0.12% |
| 2015 | 3.5% | 0.15% |
| 2016 | 4.5% | 0.18% |
| 2017 | 5.5% | 0.22% |
| 2018 | 6.5% | 0.26% |
| 2019 | 7.5% | 0.3% |
| 2020 | 8.5% | 0.34% |
| 2021 | 9.5% | 0.38% |
| 2022 | 10.5% | 0.42% |
| 2023 | 11.5% | 0.46% |
| 2024 and each calendar year thereafter | 12.5% | 0.5% |
(3) At least one-half of the renewable energy resources implemented by the utility or company shall be met through facilities located in this state; the remainder shall be met with resources that can be shown to be deliverable into this state.
(C)(1) The commission annually shall review an electric distribution utility's or electric services company's compliance with the most recent applicable benchmark under division (B)(2) of this section and, in the course of that review, shall identify any undercompliance or noncompliance of the utility or company that it determines is weather-related, related to equipment or resource shortages for advanced energy or renewable energy resources as applicable, or is otherwise outside the utility's or company's control.
(2) Subject to the cost cap provisions of division (C)(3) of this section, if the commission determines, after notice and opportunity for hearing, and based upon its findings in that review regarding avoidable undercompliance or noncompliance, but subject to division (C)(4) of this section, that the utility or company has failed to comply with any such benchmark, the commission shall impose a renewable energy compliance payment on the utility or company.
(a) The compliance payment pertaining to the solar energy resource benchmarks under division (B)(2) of this section shall be an amount per megawatt hour of undercompliance or noncompliance in the period under review, starting at four hundred fifty dollars for 2009, four hundred dollars for 2010 and 2011, and similarly reduced every two years thereafter through 2024 by fifty dollars, to a minimum of fifty dollars.
(b) The compliance payment pertaining to the renewable energy resource benchmarks under division (B)(2) of this section shall equal the number of additional renewable energy credits that the electric distribution utility or electric services company would have needed to comply with the applicable benchmark in the period under review times an amount that shall begin at forty-five dollars and shall be adjusted annually by the commission to reflect any change in the consumer price index as defined in section 101.27 of the Revised Code, but shall not be less than forty-five dollars.
(c) The compliance payment shall not be passed through by the electric distribution utility or electric services company to consumers. The compliance payment shall be remitted to the commission, for deposit to the credit of the advanced energy fund created under section 4928.61 of the Revised Code. Payment of the compliance payment shall be subject to such collection and enforcement procedures as apply to the collection of a forfeiture under sections 4905.55 to 4905.60 and 4905.64 of the Revised Code.
(3) An electric distribution utility or an electric services company need not comply with a benchmark under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section to the extent that its reasonably expected cost of that compliance exceeds its reasonably expected cost of otherwise producing or acquiring the requisite electricity by three per cent or more. The cost of compliance shall be calculated as though any exemption from taxes and assessments had not been granted under section 5727.75 of the Revised Code.
(4)(a) An electric distribution utility or electric services company may request the commission to make a force majeure determination pursuant to this division regarding all or part of the utility's or company's compliance with any minimum benchmark under division (B)(2) of this section during the period of review occurring pursuant to division (C)(2) of this section. The commission may require the electric distribution utility or electric services company to make solicitations for renewable energy resource credits as part of its default service before the utility's or company's request of force majeure under this division can be made.
(b) Within ninety days after the filing of a request by an electric distribution utility or electric services company under division (C)(4)(a) of this section, the commission shall determine if renewable energy resources are reasonably available in the marketplace in sufficient quantities for the utility or company to comply with the subject minimum benchmark during the review period. In making this determination, the commission shall consider whether the electric distribution utility or electric services company has made a good faith effort to acquire sufficient renewable energy or, as applicable, solar energy resources to so comply, including, but not limited to, by banking or seeking renewable energy resource credits or by seeking the resources through long-term contracts. Additionally, the commission shall consider the availability of renewable energy or solar energy resources in this state and other jurisdictions in the PJM interconnection regional transmission organization or its successor and the midwest system operator or its successor.
(c) If, pursuant to division (C)(4)(b) of this section, the commission determines that renewable energy or solar energy resources are not reasonably available to permit the electric distribution utility or electric services company to comply, during the period of review, with the subject minimum benchmark prescribed under division (B)(2) of this section, the commission shall modify that compliance obligation of the utility or company as it determines appropriate to accommodate the finding. Commission modification shall not automatically reduce the obligation for the electric distribution utility's or electric services company's compliance in subsequent years. If it modifies the electric distribution utility or electric services company obligation under division (C)(4)(c) of this section, the commission may require the utility or company, if sufficient renewable energy resource credits exist in the marketplace, to acquire additional renewable energy resource credits in subsequent years equivalent to the utility's or company's modified obligation under division (C)(4)(c) of this section.
(5) The commission shall establish a process to provide for at least an annual review of the alternative energy resource market in this state and in the service territories of the regional transmission organizations that manage transmission systems located in this state. The commission shall use the results of this study to identify any needed changes to the amount of the renewable energy compliance payment specified under divisions (C)(2)(a) and (b) of this section. Specifically, the commission may increase the amount to ensure that payment of compliance payments is not used to achieve compliance with this section in lieu of actually acquiring or realizing energy derived from renewable energy resources. However, if the commission finds that the amount of the compliance payment should be otherwise changed, the commission shall present this finding to the general assembly for legislative enactment.
(D)(1) The commission annually shall submit to the general assembly in accordance with section 101.68 of the Revised Code a report describing the compliance of electric distribution utilities and electric services companies with division (B) of this section and any strategy for utility and company compliance or for encouraging the use of alternative energy resources in supplying this state's electricity needs in a manner that considers available technology, costs, job creation, and economic impacts. The commission shall allow and consider public comments on the report prior to its submission to the general assembly. Nothing in the report shall be binding on any person, including any utility or company for the purpose of its compliance with any benchmark under division (B) of this section, or the enforcement of that provision under division (C) of this section.
(2) The governor, in consultation with the commission chairperson, shall appoint an alternative energy advisory committee. The committee shall examine available technology for and related timetables, goals, and costs of the alternative energy resource requirements under division (B) of this section and shall submit to the commission a semiannual report of its recommendations.
(E) All costs incurred by an electric distribution utility in complying with the requirements of this section shall be bypassable by any consumer that has exercised choice of supplier under section 4928.03 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 4935.10. The public utilities commission shall conduct a study to review the condition of reactive power in the state. The commission shall issue a report of its findings to the general assembly not later than one year after the effective date of this section.
Sec. 5709.53. (A) A solar, wind, or hydrothermal energy system on which construction or installation is completed during the period from the effective date of this section through December 31, 1985, that meets the guidelines established under division (B) of section 1551.20 of the Revised Code is exempt from real property taxation.
(B) Any fixture or other real property included in an energy facility with an aggregate nameplate capacity of two hundred fifty kilowatts or less is exempt from taxation if construction or installation is completed on or after January 1, 2010.
As used in division (B) of this section, "energy facility" and "nameplate capacity" have the same meanings as in section 5727.01 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 5713.30. As used in sections 5713.31 to 5713.37 and 5715.01 of the Revised Code:
(A) "Land devoted exclusively to agricultural use" means:
(1) Tracts, lots, or parcels of land totaling not less than ten acres that, during the three calendar years prior to the year in which application is filed under section 5713.31 of the Revised Code, and through the last day of May of such year, were devoted exclusively to commercial animal or poultry husbandry, aquaculture, apiculture, the production for a commercial purpose of timber, field crops, tobacco, fruits, vegetables, nursery stock, ornamental trees, sod, or flowers, or the growth of timber for a noncommercial purpose, if the land on which the timber is grown is contiguous to or part of a parcel of land under common ownership that is otherwise devoted exclusively to agricultural use, or were devoted to and qualified for payments or other compensation under a land retirement or conservation program under an agreement with an agency of the federal government;
(2) Tracts, lots, or parcels of land totaling less than ten acres that, during the three calendar years prior to the year in which application is filed under section 5713.31 of the Revised Code and through the last day of May of such year, were devoted exclusively to commercial animal or poultry husbandry, aquaculture, apiculture, the production for a commercial purpose of field crops, tobacco, fruits, vegetables, timber, nursery stock, ornamental trees, sod, or flowers where such activities produced an average yearly gross income of at least twenty-five hundred dollars during such three-year period or where there is evidence of an anticipated gross income of such amount from such activities during the tax year in which application is made, or were devoted to and qualified for payments or other compensation under a land retirement or conservation program under an agreement with an agency of the federal government;
(3) A tract, lot, or parcel of land taxed under sections 5713.22 to 5713.26 of the Revised Code is not land devoted exclusively to agricultural use;
(4) Tracts, lots, or parcels of land, or portions thereof that, during the previous three consecutive calendar years have been designated as land devoted exclusively to agricultural use, but such land has been lying idle or fallow for up to one year and no action has occurred to such land that is either inconsistent with the return of it to agricultural production or converts the land devoted exclusively to agricultural use as defined in this section. Such land shall remain designated as land devoted exclusively to agricultural use provided that beyond one year, but less than three years, the landowner proves good cause as determined by the board of revision.
"Land devoted exclusively to agricultural use" includes tracts, lots, or parcels of land or portions thereof that are used for conservation practices, provided that the tracts, lots, or parcels of land or portions thereof comprise twenty-five per cent or less of the total of the tracts, lots, or parcels of land that satisfy the criteria established in division (A)(1), (2), or (4) of this section together with the tracts, lots, or parcels of land or portions thereof that are used for conservation practices.
(B) "Conversion of land devoted exclusively to agricultural use" means any of the following:
(1) The failure of the owner of land devoted exclusively to agricultural use during the next preceding calendar year to file a renewal application under section 5713.31 of the Revised Code without good cause as determined by the board of revision;
(2) The failure of the new owner of such land to file an initial application under that section without good cause as determined by the board of revision;
(3) The failure of such land or portion thereof to qualify as land devoted exclusively to agricultural use for the current calendar year as requested by an application filed under such section;
(4) The failure of the owner of the land described in division (A)(4) of this section to act on such land in a manner that is consistent with the return of the land to agricultural production after three years.
The construction or installation of an energy facility, as defined in section 5727.01 of the Revised Code, on a portion of a tract, lot, or parcel of land devoted exclusively to agricultural use shall not cause the remaining portion of the tract, lot, or parcel to be regarded as a conversion of land devoted exclusively to agricultural use if the remaining portion of the tract, lot, or parcel continues to be devoted exclusively to agricultural use.
(C) "Tax savings" means the difference between the dollar amount of real property taxes levied in any year on land valued and assessed in accordance with its current agricultural use value and the dollar amount of real property taxes that would have been levied upon such land if it had been valued and assessed for such year in accordance with Section 2 of Article XII, Ohio Constitution.
(D) "Owner" includes, but is not limited to, any person owning a fee simple, fee tail, or life estate or a buyer on a land installment contract.
(E) "Conservation practices" are practices used to abate soil erosion as required in the management of the farming operation, and include, but are not limited to, the installation, construction, development, planting, or use of grass waterways, terraces, diversions, filter strips, field borders, windbreaks, riparian buffers, wetlands, ponds, and cover crops for that purpose.
(F) "Wetlands" has the same meaning as in section 6111.02 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 5713.34. (A)(1) Upon the conversion of all or any portion of a tract, lot, or parcel of land devoted exclusively to agricultural use a portion of the tax savings upon such converted land shall be recouped as provided for by Section 36, Article II, Ohio Constitution by levying a charge on such land in an amount equal to the amount of the tax savings on the converted land during the three tax years immediately preceding the year in which the conversion occurs. The charge shall constitute a lien of the state upon such converted land as of the first day of January of the tax year in which the charge is levied and shall continue until discharged as provided by law.
(2) Upon the conversion of an adequately described portion of a tract, lot, or parcel of land, the county auditor shall divide any numbered permanent parcel into economic units and value each unit individually for the purpose of levying the charge under division (A)(1) of this section against only the converted portion.
(3) A charge shall not be levied under this section for the conversion of a portion of a tract, lot, or parcel of land devoted exclusively to agricultural use if the conversion is incident to the construction or installation of an energy facility, as defined in section 5727.01 of the Revised Code, and if the remaining portion of the tract, lot, or parcel continues to be devoted exclusively to agricultural use.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) or (D) of this section, a public entity that acquires by any means and converts land devoted exclusively to agricultural use and a private entity granted the power of eminent domain that acquires by any means and converts land devoted exclusively to agricultural use shall pay the charge levied by division (A) of this section and shall not, directly or indirectly, transfer the charge to the person from whom the land is acquired. A person injured by a violation of this division may recover, in a civil action, any damages resulting from the violation.
(C) The charge levied by division (A)(1) of this section does not apply to the conversion of land acquired by a public entity by means other than eminent domain and thereafter used exclusively for a public purpose that leaves the land principally undeveloped when either of the following conditions applies:
(1) In the case of land so acquired and converted by a park district created under Chapter 1545. of the Revised Code, the land is located within the boundaries of the park district.
(2) In the case of land so acquired and converted by a public entity other than a park district created under Chapter 1545. of the Revised Code, the land is located within the boundaries of any city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district that is wholly or partially located within the boundaries of the public entity that so acquired and converted the land.
If all or any portion of a tract, lot, or parcel of such land is later developed or otherwise converted to a purpose other than one of the purposes enumerated under division (E)(1) of this section, the charge levied by division (A)(1) of this section shall be levied against such developed or converted land as otherwise required by that division.
The county auditor of the county in which the land is located shall determine annually whether all or any portion of a tract, lot, or parcel of land formerly converted to a purpose enumerated under division (E)(1) of this section has been developed in such a way or converted to such a purpose as to require the charge levied by division (A)(1) of this section to be levied against the land so developed or converted.
(D) Division (B) of this section does not apply to a public entity that acquires by means other than eminent domain and converts land devoted exclusively to agricultural use to use for public, active or passive, outdoor education, recreation, or similar open space uses when either of the following conditions applies:
(1) In the case of land so acquired and converted by a park district created under Chapter 1545. of the Revised Code, the land is located outside the boundaries of the park district.
(2) In the case of land so acquired and converted by a public entity other than a park district created under Chapter 1545. of the Revised Code, the land is located outside the boundaries of any city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district that is wholly or partially located within the boundaries of the public entity that so acquired and converted the land.
(E) As used in divisions (C) and (D) of this section:
(1) "Principally undeveloped" means a parcel of real property that is used for public, active or passive, outdoor education, recreation, or similar open space uses and contains only the structures, roadways, and other facilities that are necessary for such uses.
(2) "Public entity" means any political subdivision of this state or any agency or instrumentality of a political subdivision.
Sec. 5727.01. As used in this chapter:
(A) "Public utility" means each person referred to as a
telephone company, telegraph company, electric company, natural
gas company, pipe-line company, water-works company, water
transportation company, heating company, rural electric company,
railroad company, or combined company, or energy company.
(B) "Gross receipts" means the entire receipts for business done by any person from operations as a public utility, or incidental thereto, or in connection therewith, including any receipts received under Chapter 4928. of the Revised Code. The gross receipts for business done by an incorporated company engaged in operation as a public utility includes the entire receipts for business done by such company under the exercise of its corporate powers, whether from the operation as a public utility or from any other business.
(C) "Rural electric company" means any nonprofit corporation, organization, association, or cooperative engaged in the business of supplying electricity to its members or persons owning an interest therein in an area the major portion of which is rural. "Rural electric company" excludes an energy company.
(D) Any person:
(1) Is a telegraph company when engaged in the business of transmitting telegraphic messages to, from, through, or in this state;
(2) Is a telephone company when primarily engaged in the business of providing local exchange telephone service, excluding cellular radio service, in this state;
(3) Is an electric company when engaged in the business of generating, transmitting, or distributing electricity within this state for use by others, but excludes a rural electric company or an energy company;
(4) Is a natural gas company when engaged in the business of supplying or distributing natural gas for lighting, power, or heating purposes to consumers within this state, excluding a person that is a governmental aggregator or retail natural gas supplier as defined in section 4929.01 of the Revised Code;
(5) Is a pipe-line company when engaged in the business of transporting natural gas, oil, or coal or its derivatives through pipes or tubing, either wholly or partially within this state;
(6) Is a water-works company when engaged in the business of supplying water through pipes or tubing, or in a similar manner, to consumers within this state;
(7) Is a water transportation company when engaged in the transportation of passengers or property, by boat or other watercraft, over any waterway, whether natural or artificial, from one point within this state to another point within this state, or between points within this state and points without this state;
(8) Is a heating company when engaged in the business of supplying water, steam, or air through pipes or tubing to consumers within this state for heating purposes;
(9) Is a railroad company when engaged in the business of owning or operating a railroad either wholly or partially within this state on rights-of-way acquired and held exclusively by such company, or otherwise, and includes a passenger, street, suburban, or interurban railroad company;
(10) Is an energy company when engaged in the business of generating, transmitting, or distributing electricity within this state for use by others solely from an energy facility with an aggregate nameplate capacity in excess of two hundred fifty kilowatts.
As used in division (D)(2) of this section, "local exchange telephone service" means making available or furnishing access and a dial tone to all persons within a local calling area for use in originating and receiving voice grade communications over a switched network operated by the provider of the service within the area and for gaining access to other telecommunication services.
(E) "Taxable property" means the property required by section 5727.06 of the Revised Code to be assessed by the tax commissioner, but does not include either of the following:
(1) An item of tangible personal property that for the period subsequent to the effective date of an air, water, or noise pollution control certificate and continuing so long as the certificate is in force, has been certified as part of the pollution control facility with respect to which the certificate has been issued;
(2) An item of tangible personal property that during the construction of a plant or facility and until the item is first capable of operation, whether actually used in operation or not, is incorporated in or being held exclusively for incorporation in that plant or facility.
Notwithstanding section 5701.03 of the Revised Code, for tax year 2006 and thereafter, "taxable property" includes patterns, jigs, dies, and drawings of an electric company or a combined company for use in the activity of an electric company.
(F) "Taxing district" means a municipal corporation of or
township, or part thereof, in which the aggregate rate of taxation
is uniform.
(G) "Telecommunications service" has the same meaning as in division (AA) of section 5739.01 of the Revised Code.
(H) "Interexchange telecommunications company" means a person that is engaged in the business of transmitting telephonic messages to, from, through, or in this state, but that is not a telephone company.
(I) "Sale and leaseback transaction" means a transaction in which a public utility or interexchange telecommunications company sells any tangible personal property to a person other than a public utility or interexchange telecommunications company and leases that property back from the buyer.
(J) "Production equipment" means all taxable steam, nuclear, hydraulic, renewable resource, clean coal technology, and other production plant equipment used to generate electricity. For tax years prior to 2001, "production equipment" includes taxable station equipment that is located at a production plant.
(K) "Tax year" means the year for which property or gross receipts are subject to assessment under this chapter. This division does not limit the tax commissioner's ability to assess and value property or gross receipts outside the tax year.
(L) "Combined company" means any person engaged in the activity of an electric company or rural electric company that is also engaged in the activity of a heating company or a natural gas company, or any combination thereof.
(M) "Public utility property lessor" means any person, other than a public utility or an interexchange telecommunications company, that leases personal property, other than in a sale and leaseback transaction, to a public utility, other than a railroad, water transportation, telephone, or telegraph company if the property would be taxable property if owned by the public utility. A public utility property lessor is subject to this chapter only for the purposes of reporting and paying tax on taxable property it leases to a public utility other than a telephone or telegraph company. A public utility property lessor that leases property to a public utility other than a telephone or telegraph company is not a public utility, but it shall report its property and be assessed in the same manner as the utility to which it leases the property.
(N) "Energy resource" means any of the following:
(1) "Renewable energy resource" as defined in section 4928.01 of the Revised Code;
(2) "Clean coal technology" as described in division (A)(34)(c) of section 4928.01 of the Revised Code;
(3) "Advanced nuclear technology" as described in division (A)(34)(d) of section 4928.01 of the Revised Code;
(4) "Cogeneration technology" as described in division (A)(34)(b) of section 4928.01 of the Revised Code.
(O) "Energy conversion equipment" means tangible personal property connected to a wind turbine tower, connected to and behind solar radiation collector areas and designed to convert the radiant energy of the sun into electricity or heat, or connected to any other property used to generate electricity from an energy resource, through which electricity is transferred to controls, transformers, or power electronics and to the transmission interconnection point.
"Energy conversion equipment" includes, but is not limited to, inverters, batteries, switch gears, wiring, collection lines, substations, ancillary tangible personal property, or any lines and associated tangible personal property located between substations and the transmission interconnection point.
(P) "Energy facility" means one or more interconnected wind turbines, solar panels, or other tangible personal property used to generate electricity from an energy resource owned by the same person, including:
(1) All interconnection equipment, devices, and related apparatus connected to such tangible personal property;
(2) All cables, equipment, devices, and related apparatus that connect the generators to an electricity grid or to a building or facility that directly consumes the electricity produced, that facilitate the transmission of electrical energy from the generators to the grid, building, or facility, and, where applicable, that transform voltage before ultimate delivery of electricity to the grid, building, or facility.
"Energy facility" includes buildings, structures, improvements, or fixtures exclusively used to house, support, or stabilize tangible personal property constituting the facility or that are otherwise necessary for the operation of that property; and so much of the land on which such tangible personal property is situated as is required for operation of the facility and is not devoted to some other use, not to exceed, in the case of wind turbines, one-half acre for each wind turbine, and regardless of whether the land is owned by the owner or lessee of the tangible personal property or by another person.
(Q) "Nameplate capacity" means the original interconnected maximum rated alternating current output of a generator or other electric production equipment under specific conditions designated by the manufacturer, expressed in the number of kilowatts or megawatts.
Sec. 5727.02. As used in this chapter, "public utility," "electric company," "natural gas company," "pipe-line company," "water-works company," "water transportation company" or "heating company" does not include any of the following:
(A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section,
any person that is engaged in some other primary business to which
the supplying of electricity, heat, natural gas, water, water
transportation, steam, or air to others is incidental. As used in
division (A) of this section and in section 5727.031 of the
Revised Code, "supplying of electricity" means generating,
transmitting, or distributing electricity.
(2) For tax year 2009 and each tax year thereafter, a person that is engaged in some other primary business to which the supplying of electricity to others is incidental shall be treated as an "electric company" and a "public utility" for purposes of this chapter solely to the extent required by section 5727.031 of the Revised Code.
(3) For purposes of division (A) of this section and section 5727.031 of the Revised Code:
(a) "Supplying of electricity" means generating, transmitting, or distributing electricity.
(b) A person that leases to others energy facilities with an aggregate nameplate capacity in this state of two hundred fifty kilowatts or less per lease is not supplying electricity to others.
(c) A person that owns, or leases from another person, energy facilities with an aggregate nameplate capacity in this state of two hundred fifty kilowatts or less is not supplying electricity to others, regardless of whether the owner or lessee engages in net metering as defined in section 4928.01 of the Revised Code.
(d) A political subdivision of this state that owns an energy facility is not supplying electricity to others regardless of the nameplate capacity of the facility if the primary purpose of the facility is to supply electricity for the political subdivision's own use. As used in this division, "political subdivision" means a county, township, municipal corporation, or any other body corporate and politic that is responsible for government activities in a geographic area smaller than that of the state.
(B) Any person that supplies electricity, natural gas, water, water transportation, steam, or air to its tenants, whether for a separate charge or otherwise;
(C) Any person whose primary business in this state consists of producing, refining, or marketing petroleum or its products.
(D) Any person whose primary business in this state consists of producing or gathering natural gas rather than supplying or distributing natural gas to consumers.
Sec. 5727.06. (A) Except as otherwise provided by law, the following constitutes the taxable property of a public utility, interexchange telecommunications company, or public utility property lessor that shall be assessed by the tax commissioner:
(1) For tax years before tax year 2006:
(a) In the case of a railroad company, all real property and tangible personal property owned or operated by the railroad company in this state on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year;
(b) In the case of a water transportation company, all tangible personal property, except watercraft, owned or operated by the water transportation company in this state on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year and all watercraft owned or operated by the water transportation company in this state during the preceding calendar year;
(c) In the case of all other public utilities and interexchange telecommunications companies, all tangible personal property that on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year was both located in this state and:
(i) Owned by the public utility or interexchange telecommunications company; or
(ii) Leased by the public utility or interexchange telecommunications company under a sale and leaseback transaction.
(2) For tax years 2006, 2007, and 2008:
(a) In the case of a railroad company, all real property used in railroad operations and tangible personal property owned or operated by the railroad company in this state on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year;
(b) In the case of a water transportation company, all tangible personal property, except watercraft, owned or operated by the water transportation company in this state on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year and all watercraft owned or operated by the water transportation company in this state during the preceding calendar year;
(c) In the case of all other public utilities except telephone and telegraph companies, all tangible personal property that on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year was both located in this state and either owned by the public utility or leased by the public utility under a sale and leaseback transaction.
(3) For tax year 2009 and each tax year thereafter:
(a) In the case of a railroad company, all real property used in railroad operations and tangible personal property owned or operated by the railroad company in this state on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year;
(b) In the case of a water transportation company, all tangible personal property, except watercraft, owned or operated by the water transportation company in this state on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year and all watercraft owned or operated by the water transportation company in this state during the preceding calendar year;
(c) In the case of all other public utilities except telephone and telegraph companies, all tangible personal property that on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year was both located in this state and either owned by the public utility or leased by the public utility under a sale and leaseback transaction, and that is not exempted from taxation under section 5727.75 of the Revised Code;
(d) In the case of a public utility property lessor, all personal property that on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year was both located in this state and leased, in other than a sale and leaseback transaction, to a public utility other than a railroad, telephone, telegraph, or water transportation company. The assessment rate used under section 5727.111 of the Revised Code shall be based on the assessment rate that would apply if the public utility owned the property, and that is not exempted from taxation under section 5727.75 of the Revised Code.
(4) For tax years 2005 and 2006, in the case of telephone, telegraph, or interexchange telecommunications companies, all tangible personal property that on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year was both located in this state and either owned by the telephone, telegraph, or interexchange telecommunications company or leased by the telephone, telegraph, or interexchange telecommunications company under a sale and leaseback transaction.
(5)(a) For tax year 2007 and thereafter, in the case of telephone, telegraph, or interexchange telecommunications companies, all tangible personal property shall be listed and assessed for taxation under Chapter 5711. of the Revised Code, but the tangible personal property shall be valued in accordance with this chapter using the composite annual allowances and other valuation procedures prescribed under section 5727.11 of the Revised Code by the tax commissioner for such property for tax year 2006, notwithstanding any section of Chapter 5711. of the Revised Code to the contrary.
(b) A telephone, telegraph, or interexchange telecommunications company subject to division (A)(5)(a) of this section shall file a combined return with the tax commissioner in accordance with section 5711.13 of the Revised Code even if the company has tangible personal property in only one county. Such a company also is subject to the issuance of a preliminary assessment certificate by the tax commissioner under section 5711.25 of the Revised Code. Such a company is not required to file a county supplemental return under section 5711.131 of the Revised Code.
(6) In the case of an energy company, for tax year 2011 and each tax year thereafter, all tangible personal property that on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year was both located in this state and either owned by the company or leased by the company under a sale and leaseback transaction, and that is not exempted from taxation under section 5727.75 of the Revised Code.
(B) This division applies to tax years before tax year 2007.
In the case of an interexchange telecommunications company, all taxable property shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter and shall be valued by the commissioner in accordance with division (A) of section 5727.11 of the Revised Code. A person described by this division shall file the report required by section 5727.08 of the Revised Code. Persons described in this division shall not be considered taxpayers, as defined in division (B) of section 5711.01 of the Revised Code, and shall not be required to file a return and list their taxable property under any provision of Chapter 5711. of the Revised Code.
(C) The lien of the state for taxes levied each year on the real and personal property of public utilities and interexchange telecommunications companies and on the personal property of public utility property lessors shall attach thereto on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year.
(D) Property that is required by division (A)(3)(b) of this section to be assessed by the tax commissioner under this chapter shall not be listed by the owner of the property under Chapter 5711. of the Revised Code.
(E) The ten-thousand-dollar exemption provided for in division (C)(3) of section 5709.01 of the Revised Code does not apply to any personal property that is valued under this chapter.
(F) The tax commissioner may adopt rules governing the listing of the taxable property of public utilities and interexchange telecommunications companies and the determination of true value.
Sec. 5727.11. (A) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the true value of all taxable property, except property of a railroad company, required by section 5727.06 of the Revised Code to be assessed by the tax commissioner shall be determined by a method of valuation using cost as capitalized on the public utility's books and records less composite annual allowances as prescribed by the commissioner. If the commissioner finds that application of this method will not result in the determination of true value of the public utility's taxable property, the commissioner may use another method of valuation.
(B)(1) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, the true value of current gas stored underground is the cost of that gas shown on the books and records of the public utility on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year.
(2) For tax year 2001 and thereafter, the true value of current gas stored underground is the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the average value of the current gas stored underground, which shall be determined by adding the value of the gas on hand at the end of each calendar month in the calendar year preceding the tax year, or, if applicable, the last day of business of each month for a partial month, divided by (b) the total number of months the natural gas company was in business during the calendar year prior to the beginning of the tax year. with the approval of the tax commissioner, a natural gas company may use a date other than the end of a calendar month to value its current gas stored underground.
(C) The true value of noncurrent gas stored underground is thirty-five per cent of the cost of that gas shown on the books and records of the public utility on the thirty-first day of December of the preceding year.
(D)(1) Except as provided in division (D)(2) of this section, the true value of the production equipment of an electric company and the true value of all taxable property of a rural electric company is the equipment's or property's cost as capitalized on the company's books and records less fifty per cent of that cost as an allowance for depreciation and obsolescence.
(2) The true value of the production equipment or energy
conversion equipment of an electric company or, rural electric
company, or energy company purchased, transferred, or placed into
service after the effective date of this amendment October 5,
1999, is the purchase price of the equipment as capitalized on the
company's books and records less composite annual allowances as
prescribed by the tax commissioner.
(E) The true value of taxable property, except property of a railroad company, required by section 5727.06 of the Revised Code to be assessed by the tax commissioner shall not include the allowance for funds used during construction or interest during construction that has been capitalized on the public utility's books and records as part of the total cost of the taxable property. This division shall not apply to the taxable property of an electric company or a rural electric company, excluding transmission and distribution property, first placed into service after December 31, 2000, or to the taxable property a person purchases, which includes transfers, if that property was used in business by the seller prior to the purchase.
(F) The true value of watercraft owned or operated by a water transportation company shall be determined by multiplying the true value of the watercraft as determined under division (A) of this section by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of revenue-earning miles traveled by the watercraft in the waters of this state and the denominator of which is the number of revenue-earning miles traveled by the watercraft in all waters.
(G) The cost of property subject to a sale and leaseback transaction is the cost of the property as capitalized on the books and records of the public utility owning the property immediately prior to the sale and leaseback transaction.
(H) The cost as capitalized on the books and records of a public utility includes amounts capitalized that represent regulatory assets, if such amounts previously were included on the company's books and records as capitalized costs of taxable personal property.
(I) Any change in the composite annual allowances as prescribed by the commissioner on a prospective basis shall not be admissible in any judicial or administrative action or proceeding as evidence of value with regard to prior years' taxes. Information about the business, property, or transactions of any taxpayer obtained by the commissioner for the purpose of adopting or modifying the composite annual allowances shall not be subject to discovery or disclosure.
Sec. 5727.111. The taxable property of each public utility, except a railroad company, and of each interexchange telecommunications company shall be assessed at the following percentages of true value:
(A) Fifty In the case of a rural electric company, fifty per
cent in the case of
the its taxable transmission and distribution
property of a rural electric company and its energy conversion
equipment, and twenty-five per cent for all its other taxable
property;
(B) In the case of a telephone or telegraph company, twenty-five per cent for taxable property first subject to taxation in this state for tax year 1995 or thereafter for tax years before tax year 2007, and pursuant to division (H) of section 5711.22 of the Revised Code for tax year 2007 and thereafter, and the following for all other taxable property:
(1) For tax years prior to 2005, eighty-eight per cent;
(2) For tax year 2005, sixty-seven per cent;
(3) For tax year 2006, forty-six per cent;
(4) For tax year 2007 and thereafter, pursuant to division (H) of section 5711.22 of the Revised Code.
(C) Twenty-five per cent in the case of a natural gas company.
(D) Eighty-eight per cent in the case of a pipe-line, water-works, or heating company;
(E)(1) For tax year 2005, eighty-eight per cent in the case of the taxable transmission and distribution property of an electric company, and twenty-five per cent for all its other taxable property;
(2) For tax year 2006 and each tax year thereafter, in the
case of an electric company, eighty-five per cent in the case of
the its taxable transmission and distribution property of an
electric company and its energy conversion equipment, and
twenty-four per cent for all its other taxable property.
(F)(1) Twenty-five per cent in the case of an interexchange telecommunications company for tax years before tax year 2007;
(2) Pursuant to division (H) of section 5711.22 of the Revised Code for tax year 2007 and thereafter.
(G) Twenty-five per cent in the case of a water transportation company;
(H) For tax year 2011 and each tax year thereafter in the case of an energy company, twenty-four per cent in the case of its taxable production equipment, and eighty-five per cent for all its other taxable property.
Sec. 5727.15. When all the taxable property of a public utility is located in one taxing district, the tax commissioner shall apportion the total taxable value thereof to that taxing district.
When taxable property of a public utility is located in more than one taxing district, the commissioner shall apportion the total taxable value thereof among the taxing districts as follows:
(A)(1) In the case of a telegraph, interexchange telecommunications, or telephone company that owns miles of wire in this state, the value apportioned to each taxing district shall be the same percentage of the total value apportioned to all taxing districts as the miles of wire owned by the company within the taxing district are to the total miles of wire owned by the company within this state;
(2) In the case of a telegraph, interexchange telecommunications, or telephone company that does not own miles of wire in this state, the value apportioned to each taxing district shall be the same percentage of the total value apportioned to all taxing districts as the cost of the taxable property physically located in the taxing district is of the total cost of all taxable property physically located in this state.
(B) In the case of a railroad company:
(1) The taxable value of real and personal property not used in railroad operations shall be apportioned according to its situs;
(2) The taxable value of personal property used in railroad operations shall be apportioned to each taxing district in proportion to the miles of track and trackage rights, weighted to reflect the relative use of such personal property in each taxing district;
(3) The taxable value of real property used in railroad operations shall be apportioned to each taxing district in proportion to its relative value in each taxing district.
(C)(1) Prior to tax year 2001, in the case of an electric company:
(a) Seventy per cent of the taxable value of all production equipment and of all station equipment that is not production equipment shall be apportioned to the taxing district in which such property is physically located; and
(b) The remaining value of such property, together with the value of all other taxable personal property, shall be apportioned to each taxing district in the per cent that the cost of all transmission and distribution property physically located in the taxing district is of the total cost of all transmission and distribution property physically located in this state.
(c) If an electric company's taxable value for the current year includes the value of any production equipment at a plant at which the initial cost of the plant's production equipment exceeded one billion dollars, then prior to making the apportionments required for that company by division (C)(1)(a) and (b) of this section, the tax commissioner shall do the following:
(i) Subtract four hundred twenty million dollars from the total taxable value of the production equipment at that plant for the current tax year.
(ii) Multiply the difference thus obtained by a fraction, the numerator of which is the portion of the taxable value of that plant's production equipment included in the company's total value for the current tax year, and the denominator of which is the total taxable value of such equipment included in the total taxable value of all electric companies for such year;
(iii) Apportion the product thus obtained to taxing districts in the manner prescribed in division (C)(1)(b) of this section.
(iv) Deduct the amounts so apportioned from the taxable value of the company's production equipment at the plant, prior to making the apportionments required by divisions (C)(1)(a) and (b) of this section.
For purposes of division (C)(1)(c) of this section, "initial cost" applies only to production equipment of plants placed in commercial operation on or after January 1, 1987, and means the cost of all production equipment at a plant for the first year the plant's equipment was subject to taxation.
(2) For tax year 2001 and thereafter, in the case of an electric company:
(a) The taxable value of all production equipment shall be apportioned to the taxing district in which such property is physically located; and
(b) The value of taxable personal property, other than
including energy conversion equipment but excluding production
equipment, shall be apportioned to each taxing district in the
proportion that the cost of such other taxable personal property
physically located in each taxing district is of the total cost of
such other taxable personal property physically located in this
state.
(D) For tax year 2011 and thereafter, in the case of the taxable property of an energy company:
(1) The taxable value of all production equipment shall be apportioned to the taxing district in which such property is physically located.
(2) The taxable value of all other taxable property, including energy conversion equipment, shall be apportioned to each taxing district in the proportion that the cost of such other taxable property physically located in each taxing district is of the total cost of such other taxable property physically located in this state.
(E) In the case of all other public utilities, the taxable
value of the property to be apportioned shall be apportioned to
each taxing district in proportion to the entire value cost of
such property within this state.
Sec. 5727.30. (A) Except as provided in divisions (B), (C), and (D) of this section, each public utility, except railroad companies, shall be subject to an annual excise tax, as provided by sections 5727.31 to 5727.62 of the Revised Code, for the privilege of owning property in this state or doing business in this state during the twelve-month period next succeeding the period upon which the tax is based. The tax shall be imposed against each such public utility that, on the first day of such twelve-month period, owns property in this state or is doing business in this state, and the lien for the tax, including any penalties and interest accruing thereon, shall attach on such day to the property of the public utility in this state.
(B) An electric company's or a rural electric company's gross
Gross receipts of an electric company, rural electric company, or
energy company received after April 30, 2001, are not subject to
the annual excise tax imposed by this section.
(C) A natural gas company's gross receipts received after April 30, 2000, are not subject to the annual excise tax imposed by this section.
(D) A telephone company's gross receipts derived from amounts billed to customers after June 30, 2004, are not subject to the annual excise tax imposed by this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, gross receipts derived from amounts billed by a telephone company to customers prior to July 1, 2004, shall be included in the telephone company's annual statement filed on or before August 1, 2004, which shall be the last statement or report filed under section 5727.31 of the Revised Code by a telephone company. A telephone company shall not deduct from its gross receipts included in that last statement any receipts it was unable to collect from its customers for the period of July 1, 2003, to June 30, 2004.
Sec. 5727.75. (A) For purposes of this section:
(1) "Qualified energy project" means an energy project certified by the director of development pursuant to this section.
(2) "Energy project" means a project to provide electric power through the construction, installation, and use of an energy facility.
(3) "Alternative energy zone" means a county declared as such by the board of county commissioners under division (E)(1)(b) or (c) of this section.
(4) "Full-time equivalent employee" means the total number of employee-hours for which compensation was paid to individuals employed at a qualified energy project for services performed at the project during the calendar year divided by two thousand eighty hours.
(5) "Solar energy project" means an energy project composed of an energy facility using solar panels to generate electricity.
(B)(1) Tangible personal property of a qualified energy project using renewable energy resources is exempt from taxation for tax years 2011 and 2012 if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) On or before December 31, 2011, the owner or a lessee pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction of the project submits an application to the power siting board for a certificate under section 4906.20 of the Revised Code, or if that section does not apply, submits an application for any approval, consent, permit, or certificate or satisfies any condition required by a public agency or political subdivision of this state for the construction or initial operation of an energy project.
(b) Construction or installation of the energy facility begins on or after January 1, 2009, and before January 1, 2012. For the purposes of this division, construction begins on the earlier of the date of application for a certificate or other approval or permit described in division (B)(1)(a) of this section, or the date the contract for the construction or installation of the energy facility is entered into.
(c) For a qualified energy project with a nameplate capacity of five megawatts or greater, a board of county commissioners of a county in which property of the project is located has adopted a resolution under division (E)(1)(b) or (c) of this section to approve the application submitted under division (E) of this section to exempt the property located in that county from taxation. A board's adoption of a resolution rejecting an application or its failure to adopt a resolution approving the application does not affect the tax-exempt status of the qualified energy project's property that is located in another county.
(2) If tangible personal property of a qualified energy project using renewable energy resources was exempt from taxation under this section for tax years 2011 and 2012 and the certification under division (E)(2) of this section has not been revoked, the tangible personal property of the qualified energy project is exempt from taxation for tax year 2013 and all ensuing tax years if the property was placed into service before January 1, 2013, as certified in the construction progress report required under division (F)(2) of this section. Tangible personal property that has not been placed into service before that date is taxable property subject to taxation. An energy project for which certification has been revoked is ineligible for further exemption under this section. Revocation does not affect the tax-exempt status of the project's tangible personal property for the tax year in which revocation occurs or any prior tax year.
(C) Tangible personal property of a qualified energy project using clean coal technology, advanced nuclear technology, or cogeneration technology is exempt from taxation for the first tax year that the property would be listed for taxation and all subsequent years if all of the following circumstances are met:
(1) The property was placed into service before January 1, 2017. Tangible personal property that has not been placed into service before that date is taxable property subject to taxation.
(2) For such a qualified energy project with a nameplate capacity of five megawatts or greater, a board of county commissioners of a county in which property of the qualified energy project is located has adopted a resolution under division (E)(1)(b) or (c) of this section to approve the application submitted under division (E) of this section to exempt the property located in that county from taxation. A board's adoption of a resolution rejecting the application or its failure to adopt a resolution approving the application does not affect the tax-exempt status of the qualified energy project's property that is located in another county.
(3) The certification for the qualified energy project issued under division (E)(2) of this section has not been revoked. An energy project for which certification has been revoked is ineligible for exemption under this section. Revocation does not affect the tax-exempt status of the project's tangible personal property for the tax year in which revocation occurs or any prior tax year.
(D) Except as otherwise provided in this division, real property of a qualified energy project is exempt from taxation for any tax year for which the tangible personal property of the qualified energy project is exempted under this section.
(E)(1)(a) A person may apply to the director of development for certification of an energy project as a qualified energy project on or before the following dates:
(i) December 31, 2011, for an energy project using renewable energy resources;
(ii) December 31, 2013, for an energy project using clean coal technology, advanced nuclear technology, or cogeneration technology.
(b) The director shall forward a copy of each application for certification of an energy project with a nameplate capacity of five megawatts or greater to the board of county commissioners of each county in which the project is located and to each taxing unit with territory located in each of the affected counties. Any board that receives from the director a copy of an application submitted under this division shall adopt a resolution approving or rejecting the application unless it has adopted a resolution under division (E)(1)(c) of this section. A resolution adopted under division (E)(1)(b) or (c) of this section may require an annual service payment to be made in addition to the service payment required under division (G) of this section. The sum of the service payment required in the resolution and the service payment required under division (G) of this section shall not exceed nine thousand dollars per megawatt of nameplate capacity located in the county. The resolution shall specify the time and manner in which the payments required by the resolution shall be paid to the county treasurer. The county treasurer shall deposit the payment to the credit of the county's general fund to be used for any purpose for which money credited to that fund may be used.
The board shall send copies of the resolution by certified mail to the owner of the facility and the director within thirty days after receipt of the application, or a longer period of time if authorized by the director.
(c) A board of county commissioners may adopt a resolution declaring the county to be an alternative energy zone and declaring all applications submitted to the director of development under this division after the adoption of the resolution, and prior to its repeal, to be approved by the board.
All tangible personal property and real property of an energy project with a nameplate capacity of five megawatts or greater is taxable if it is located in a county in which the board of county commissioners adopted a resolution rejecting the application submitted under this division or failed to adopt a resolution approving the application under division (E)(1)(b) or (c) of this section.
(2) The director shall certify an energy project if all of the following circumstances exist:
(a) The application was timely submitted.
(b) For an energy project with a nameplate capacity of five megawatts or greater, a board of county commissioners of at least one county in which the project is located has adopted a resolution approving the application under division (E)(1)(b) or (c) of this section.
(c) No portion of the project's facility was used to supply electricity before December 31, 2009.
(3) The director shall deny a certification application if the director determines the person has failed to comply with any requirement under this section. The director may revoke a certification if the director determines the person, or subsequent owner or lessee pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction of the qualified energy project, has failed to comply with any requirement under this section. Upon certification or revocation, the director shall notify the person, owner, or lessee, the tax commissioner, and the county auditor of a county in which the project is located of the certification or revocation. Notice shall be provided in a manner convenient to the director.
(F) The owner or a lessee pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction of a qualified energy project shall do each of the following:
(1) Comply with all applicable regulations;
(2) File with the director of development a certified construction progress report before the first day of March of each year during the energy facility's construction or installation indicating the percentage of the project completed, and the project's nameplate capacity, as of the preceding thirty-first day of December. Unless otherwise instructed by the director of development, the owner or lessee of an energy project shall file a report with the director on or before the first day of March each year after completion of the energy facility's construction or installation indicating the project's nameplate capacity as of the preceding thirty-first day of December. Not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section, the owner or lessee of an energy project, the construction of which was completed before the effective date of this section, shall file a certificate indicating the project's nameplate capacity.
(3) File with the director of development, in a manner prescribed by the director, a report of the total number of full-time equivalent employees, and the total number of full-time equivalent employees domiciled in Ohio, who are employed in the construction or installation of the energy facility;
(4) For energy projects with a nameplate capacity of five megawatts or greater, repair all roads, bridges, and culverts affected by construction as reasonably required to restore them to their preconstruction condition, as determined by the county engineer in consultation with the local jurisdiction responsible for the roads, bridges, and culverts. In the event that the county engineer deems any road, bridge, or culvert to be inadequate to support the construction or decommissioning of the energy facility, the road, bridge, or culvert shall be rebuilt or reinforced to the specifications established by the county engineer prior to the construction or decommissioning of the facility. The owner or lessee of the facility shall post a bond in an amount established by the county engineer and to be held by the board of county commissioners to ensure funding for repairs of roads, bridges, and culverts affected during the construction. The bond shall be released by the board not later than one year after the date the repairs are completed. The energy facility owner or lessee pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction shall post a bond, as may be required by the Ohio power siting board in the certificate authorizing commencement of construction issued pursuant to section 4906.10 of the Revised Code, to ensure funding for repairs to roads, bridges, and culverts resulting from decommissioning of the facility. The energy facility owner or lessee and the county engineer may enter into an agreement regarding specific transportation plans, reinforcements, modifications, use and repair of roads, financial security to be provided, and any other relevant issue.
(5) Provide or facilitate training for fire and emergency responders for response to emergency situations related to the energy project and, for energy projects with a nameplate capacity of five megawatts or greater, at the person's expense, equip the fire and emergency responders with proper equipment as reasonably required to enable them to respond to such emergency situations;
(6) Maintain a ratio of Ohio-domiciled full-time equivalent employees employed in the construction or installation of the energy project to total full-time equivalent employees employed in the construction or installation of the energy project of not less than eighty per cent in the case of a solar energy project, and not less than fifty per cent in the case of any other energy project. In the case of an energy project for which certification from the power siting board is required under section 4906.20 of the Revised Code, the number of full-time equivalent employees employed in the construction or installation of the energy project equals the number actually employed or the number projected to be employed in the certificate application, if such projection is required under regulations adopted pursuant to section 4906.03 of the Revised Code, whichever is greater. For all other energy projects, the number of full-time equivalent employees employed in the construction or installation of the energy project equals the number actually employed or the number projected to be employed by the director of development, whichever is greater. To estimate the number of employees to be employed in the construction or installation of an energy project, the director shall use a generally accepted job-estimating model in use for renewable energy projects, including but not limited to the job and economic development impact model. The director may adjust an estimate produced by a model to account for variables not accounted for by the model.
(7) For energy projects with a nameplate capacity in excess of two megawatts, establish a relationship with a member of the university system of Ohio as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code or with a person offering an apprenticeship program registered with the employment and training administration within the United States department of labor or with the apprenticeship council created by section 4139.02 of the Revised Code, to educate and train individuals for careers in the wind or solar energy industry. The relationship may include endowments, cooperative programs, internships, apprenticeships, research and development projects, and curriculum development.
(8) Offer to sell power or renewable energy credits from the energy project to electric distribution utilities or electric service companies subject to renewable energy resource requirements under section 4928.64 of the Revised Code that have issued requests for proposal for such power or renewable energy credits. If no electric distribution utility or electric service company issues a request for proposal on or before December 31, 2010, or accepts an offer for power or renewable energy credits within forty-five days after the offer is submitted, power or renewable energy credits from the energy project may be sold to other persons. Division (F)(8) of this section does not apply if:
(a) The owner or lessee is a rural electric company or a municipal power agency as defined in section 3734.058 of the Revised Code.
(b) The owner or lessee is a person that, before completion of the energy project, contracted for the sale of power or renewable energy credits with a rural electric company or a municipal power agency.
(c) The owner or lessee contracts for the sale of power or renewable energy credits from the energy project before the effective date of this section as enacted by this act.
(9) Make annual service payments as required by division (G) of this section and as may be required in a resolution adopted by a board of county commissioners under division (E) of this section.
(G) The owner or a lessee pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction of a qualified energy project shall make annual service payments in lieu of taxes to the county treasurer on or before the final dates for payments of taxes on public utility personal property on the real and public utility personal property tax list for each tax year for which property of the energy project is exempt from taxation under this section. The county treasurer shall allocate the payment on the basis of the project's physical location. Upon receipt of a payment, or if timely payment has not been received, the county treasurer shall certify such receipt or non-receipt to the director of development and tax commissioner in a form determined by the director and commissioner, respectively. Each payment shall be in the following amount:
(1) In the case of a solar energy project, seven thousand dollars per megawatt of nameplate capacity located in the county as of December 31, 2010, for tax year 2011, as of December 31, 2011, for tax year 2012, and as of December 31, 2012, for tax year 2013 and each tax year thereafter;
(2) In the case of any other energy project using renewable energy resources, the following:
(a) If the project maintains during the construction or installation of the energy facility a ratio of Ohio-domiciled full-time equivalent employees to total full-time equivalent employees of not less than seventy-five per cent, six thousand dollars per megawatt of nameplate capacity located in the county as of the thirty-first day of December of the preceding tax year;
(b) If the project maintains during the construction or installation of the energy facility a ratio of Ohio-domiciled full-time equivalent employees to total full-time equivalent employees of less than seventy-five per cent but not less than sixty per cent, seven thousand dollars per megawatt of nameplate capacity located in the county as of the thirty-first day of December of the preceding tax year;
(c) If the project maintains during the construction or installation of the energy facility a ratio of Ohio-domiciled full-time equivalent employees to total full-time equivalent employees of less than sixty per cent but not less than fifty per cent, eight thousand dollars per megawatt of nameplate capacity located in the county as of the thirty-first day of December of the preceding tax year.
(3) In the case of an energy project using clean coal technology, advanced nuclear technology, or cogeneration technology, the following:
(a) If the project maintains during the construction or installation of the energy facility a ratio of Ohio-domiciled full-time equivalent employees to total full-time equivalent employees of not less than seventy-five per cent, six thousand dollars per megawatt of nameplate capacity located in the county as of the thirty-first day of December of the preceding tax year;
(b) If the project maintains during the construction or installation of the energy facility a ratio of Ohio-domiciled full-time equivalent employees to total full-time equivalent employees of less than seventy-five per cent but not less than sixty per cent, seven thousand dollars per megawatt of nameplate capacity located in the county as of the thirty-first day of December of the preceding tax year;
(c) If the project maintains during the construction or installation of the energy facility a ratio of Ohio-domiciled full-time equivalent employees to total full-time equivalent employees of less than sixty per cent but not less than fifty per cent, eight thousand dollars per megawatt of nameplate capacity located in the county as of the thirty-first day of December of the preceding tax year.
(H) The director of development in consultation with the tax commissioner shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement and enforce this section.
Sec. 5739.02. For the purpose of providing revenue with which to meet the needs of the state, for the use of the general revenue fund of the state, for the purpose of securing a thorough and efficient system of common schools throughout the state, for the purpose of affording revenues, in addition to those from general property taxes, permitted under constitutional limitations, and from other sources, for the support of local governmental functions, and for the purpose of reimbursing the state for the expense of administering this chapter, an excise tax is hereby levied on each retail sale made in this state.
(A)(1) The tax shall be collected as provided in section 5739.025 of the Revised Code. The rate of the tax shall be five and one-half per cent. The tax applies and is collectible when the sale is made, regardless of the time when the price is paid or delivered.
(2) In the case of the lease or rental, with a fixed term of more than thirty days or an indefinite term with a minimum period of more than thirty days, of any motor vehicles designed by the manufacturer to carry a load of not more than one ton, watercraft, outboard motor, or aircraft, or of any tangible personal property, other than motor vehicles designed by the manufacturer to carry a load of more than one ton, to be used by the lessee or renter primarily for business purposes, the tax shall be collected by the vendor at the time the lease or rental is consummated and shall be calculated by the vendor on the basis of the total amount to be paid by the lessee or renter under the lease agreement. If the total amount of the consideration for the lease or rental includes amounts that are not calculated at the time the lease or rental is executed, the tax shall be calculated and collected by the vendor at the time such amounts are billed to the lessee or renter. In the case of an open-end lease or rental, the tax shall be calculated by the vendor on the basis of the total amount to be paid during the initial fixed term of the lease or rental, and for each subsequent renewal period as it comes due. As used in this division, "motor vehicle" has the same meaning as in section 4501.01 of the Revised Code, and "watercraft" includes an outdrive unit attached to the watercraft.
A lease with a renewal clause and a termination penalty or similar provision that applies if the renewal clause is not exercised is presumed to be a sham transaction. In such a case, the tax shall be calculated and paid on the basis of the entire length of the lease period, including any renewal periods, until the termination penalty or similar provision no longer applies. The taxpayer shall bear the burden, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the transaction or series of transactions is not a sham transaction.
(3) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, in the case of a sale, the price of which consists in whole or in part of the lease or rental of tangible personal property, the tax shall be measured by the installments of that lease or rental.
(4) In the case of a sale of a physical fitness facility service or recreation and sports club service, the price of which consists in whole or in part of a membership for the receipt of the benefit of the service, the tax applicable to the sale shall be measured by the installments thereof.
(B) The tax does not apply to the following:
(1) Sales to the state or any of its political subdivisions, or to any other state or its political subdivisions if the laws of that state exempt from taxation sales made to this state and its political subdivisions;
(2) Sales of food for human consumption off the premises where sold;
(3) Sales of food sold to students only in a cafeteria, dormitory, fraternity, or sorority maintained in a private, public, or parochial school, college, or university;
(4) Sales of newspapers and of magazine subscriptions and sales or transfers of magazines distributed as controlled circulation publications;
(5) The furnishing, preparing, or serving of meals without charge by an employer to an employee provided the employer records the meals as part compensation for services performed or work done;
(6) Sales of motor fuel upon receipt, use, distribution, or sale of which in this state a tax is imposed by the law of this state, but this exemption shall not apply to the sale of motor fuel on which a refund of the tax is allowable under division (A) of section 5735.14 of the Revised Code; and the tax commissioner may deduct the amount of tax levied by this section applicable to the price of motor fuel when granting a refund of motor fuel tax pursuant to division (A) of section 5735.14 of the Revised Code and shall cause the amount deducted to be paid into the general revenue fund of this state;
(7) Sales of natural gas by a natural gas company, of water by a water-works company, or of steam by a heating company, if in each case the thing sold is delivered to consumers through pipes or conduits, and all sales of communications services by a telegraph company, all terms as defined in section 5727.01 of the Revised Code, and sales of electricity delivered through wires;
(8) Casual sales by a person, or auctioneer employed directly by the person to conduct such sales, except as to such sales of motor vehicles, watercraft or outboard motors required to be titled under section 1548.06 of the Revised Code, watercraft documented with the United States coast guard, snowmobiles, and all-purpose vehicles as defined in section 4519.01 of the Revised Code;
(9)(a) Sales of services or tangible personal property, other than motor vehicles, mobile homes, and manufactured homes, by churches, organizations exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or nonprofit organizations operated exclusively for charitable purposes as defined in division (B)(12) of this section, provided that the number of days on which such tangible personal property or services, other than items never subject to the tax, are sold does not exceed six in any calendar year, except as otherwise provided in division (B)(9)(b) of this section. If the number of days on which such sales are made exceeds six in any calendar year, the church or organization shall be considered to be engaged in business and all subsequent sales by it shall be subject to the tax. In counting the number of days, all sales by groups within a church or within an organization shall be considered to be sales of that church or organization.
(b) The limitation on the number of days on which tax-exempt sales may be made by a church or organization under division (B)(9)(a) of this section does not apply to sales made by student clubs and other groups of students of a primary or secondary school, or a parent-teacher association, booster group, or similar organization that raises money to support or fund curricular or extracurricular activities of a primary or secondary school.
(c) Divisions (B)(9)(a) and (b) of this section do not apply to sales by a noncommercial educational radio or television broadcasting station.
(10) Sales not within the taxing power of this state under the Constitution of the United States;
(11) Except for transactions that are sales under division (B)(3)(r) of section 5739.01 of the Revised Code, the transportation of persons or property, unless the transportation is by a private investigation and security service;
(12) Sales of tangible personal property or services to churches, to organizations exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and to any other nonprofit organizations operated exclusively for charitable purposes in this state, no part of the net income of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, and no substantial part of the activities of which consists of carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation; sales to offices administering one or more homes for the aged or one or more hospital facilities exempt under section 140.08 of the Revised Code; and sales to organizations described in division (D) of section 5709.12 of the Revised Code.
"Charitable purposes" means the relief of poverty; the improvement of health through the alleviation of illness, disease, or injury; the operation of an organization exclusively for the provision of professional, laundry, printing, and purchasing services to hospitals or charitable institutions; the operation of a home for the aged, as defined in section 5701.13 of the Revised Code; the operation of a radio or television broadcasting station that is licensed by the federal communications commission as a noncommercial educational radio or television station; the operation of a nonprofit animal adoption service or a county humane society; the promotion of education by an institution of learning that maintains a faculty of qualified instructors, teaches regular continuous courses of study, and confers a recognized diploma upon completion of a specific curriculum; the operation of a parent-teacher association, booster group, or similar organization primarily engaged in the promotion and support of the curricular or extracurricular activities of a primary or secondary school; the operation of a community or area center in which presentations in music, dramatics, the arts, and related fields are made in order to foster public interest and education therein; the production of performances in music, dramatics, and the arts; or the promotion of education by an organization engaged in carrying on research in, or the dissemination of, scientific and technological knowledge and information primarily for the public.
Nothing in this division shall be deemed to exempt sales to any organization for use in the operation or carrying on of a trade or business, or sales to a home for the aged for use in the operation of independent living facilities as defined in division (A) of section 5709.12 of the Revised Code.
(13) Building and construction materials and services sold to construction contractors for incorporation into a structure or improvement to real property under a construction contract with this state or a political subdivision of this state, or with the United States government or any of its agencies; building and construction materials and services sold to construction contractors for incorporation into a structure or improvement to real property that are accepted for ownership by this state or any of its political subdivisions, or by the United States government or any of its agencies at the time of completion of the structures or improvements; building and construction materials sold to construction contractors for incorporation into a horticulture structure or livestock structure for a person engaged in the business of horticulture or producing livestock; building materials and services sold to a construction contractor for incorporation into a house of public worship or religious education, or a building used exclusively for charitable purposes under a construction contract with an organization whose purpose is as described in division (B)(12) of this section; building materials and services sold to a construction contractor for incorporation into a building under a construction contract with an organization exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 when the building is to be used exclusively for the organization's exempt purposes; building and construction materials sold for incorporation into the original construction of a sports facility under section 307.696 of the Revised Code; and building and construction materials and services sold to a construction contractor for incorporation into real property outside this state if such materials and services, when sold to a construction contractor in the state in which the real property is located for incorporation into real property in that state, would be exempt from a tax on sales levied by that state;
(14) Sales of ships or vessels or rail rolling stock used or to be used principally in interstate or foreign commerce, and repairs, alterations, fuel, and lubricants for such ships or vessels or rail rolling stock;
(15) Sales to persons primarily engaged in any of the activities mentioned in division (B)(42)(a) or (g) of this section, to persons engaged in making retail sales, or to persons who purchase for sale from a manufacturer tangible personal property that was produced by the manufacturer in accordance with specific designs provided by the purchaser, of packages, including material, labels, and parts for packages, and of machinery, equipment, and material for use primarily in packaging tangible personal property produced for sale, including any machinery, equipment, and supplies used to make labels or packages, to prepare packages or products for labeling, or to label packages or products, by or on the order of the person doing the packaging, or sold at retail. "Packages" includes bags, baskets, cartons, crates, boxes, cans, bottles, bindings, wrappings, and other similar devices and containers, but does not include motor vehicles or bulk tanks, trailers, or similar devices attached to motor vehicles. "Packaging" means placing in a package. Division (B)(15) of this section does not apply to persons engaged in highway transportation for hire.
(16) Sales of food to persons using supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits to purchase the food. As used in this division, "food" has the same meaning as in 7 U.S.C. 2012 and federal regulations adopted pursuant to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
(17) Sales to persons engaged in farming, agriculture, horticulture, or floriculture, of tangible personal property for use or consumption directly in the production by farming, agriculture, horticulture, or floriculture of other tangible personal property for use or consumption directly in the production of tangible personal property for sale by farming, agriculture, horticulture, or floriculture; or material and parts for incorporation into any such tangible personal property for use or consumption in production; and of tangible personal property for such use or consumption in the conditioning or holding of products produced by and for such use, consumption, or sale by persons engaged in farming, agriculture, horticulture, or floriculture, except where such property is incorporated into real property;
(18) Sales of drugs for a human being that may be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription; insulin as recognized in the official United States pharmacopoeia; urine and blood testing materials when used by diabetics or persons with hypoglycemia to test for glucose or acetone; hypodermic syringes and needles when used by diabetics for insulin injections; epoetin alfa when purchased for use in the treatment of persons with medical disease; hospital beds when purchased by hospitals, nursing homes, or other medical facilities; and medical oxygen and medical oxygen-dispensing equipment when purchased by hospitals, nursing homes, or other medical facilities;
(19) Sales of prosthetic devices, durable medical equipment for home use, or mobility enhancing equipment, when made pursuant to a prescription and when such devices or equipment are for use by a human being.
(20) Sales of emergency and fire protection vehicles and equipment to nonprofit organizations for use solely in providing fire protection and emergency services, including trauma care and emergency medical services, for political subdivisions of the state;
(21) Sales of tangible personal property manufactured in this state, if sold by the manufacturer in this state to a retailer for use in the retail business of the retailer outside of this state and if possession is taken from the manufacturer by the purchaser within this state for the sole purpose of immediately removing the same from this state in a vehicle owned by the purchaser;
(22) Sales of services provided by the state or any of its political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities, institutions, or authorities, or by governmental entities of the state or any of its political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities, institutions, or authorities;
(23) Sales of motor vehicles to nonresidents of this state under the circumstances described in division (B) of section 5739.029 of the Revised Code;
(24) Sales to persons engaged in the preparation of eggs for sale of tangible personal property used or consumed directly in such preparation, including such tangible personal property used for cleaning, sanitizing, preserving, grading, sorting, and classifying by size; packages, including material and parts for packages, and machinery, equipment, and material for use in packaging eggs for sale; and handling and transportation equipment and parts therefor, except motor vehicles licensed to operate on public highways, used in intraplant or interplant transfers or shipment of eggs in the process of preparation for sale, when the plant or plants within or between which such transfers or shipments occur are operated by the same person. "Packages" includes containers, cases, baskets, flats, fillers, filler flats, cartons, closure materials, labels, and labeling materials, and "packaging" means placing therein.
(25)(a) Sales of water to a consumer for residential use, except the sale of bottled water, distilled water, mineral water, carbonated water, or ice;
(b) Sales of water by a nonprofit corporation engaged exclusively in the treatment, distribution, and sale of water to consumers, if such water is delivered to consumers through pipes or tubing.
(26) Fees charged for inspection or reinspection of motor vehicles under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code;
(27) Sales to persons licensed to conduct a food service operation pursuant to section 3717.43 of the Revised Code, of tangible personal property primarily used directly for the following:
(a) To prepare food for human consumption for sale;
(b) To preserve food that has been or will be prepared for human consumption for sale by the food service operator, not including tangible personal property used to display food for selection by the consumer;
(c) To clean tangible personal property used to prepare or serve food for human consumption for sale.
(28) Sales of animals by nonprofit animal adoption services or county humane societies;
(29) Sales of services to a corporation described in division (A) of section 5709.72 of the Revised Code, and sales of tangible personal property that qualifies for exemption from taxation under section 5709.72 of the Revised Code;
(30) Sales and installation of agricultural land tile, as defined in division (B)(5)(a) of section 5739.01 of the Revised Code;
(31) Sales and erection or installation of portable grain bins, as defined in division (B)(5)(b) of section 5739.01 of the Revised Code;
(32) The sale, lease, repair, and maintenance of, parts for, or items attached to or incorporated in, motor vehicles that are primarily used for transporting tangible personal property belonging to others by a person engaged in highway transportation for hire, except for packages and packaging used for the transportation of tangible personal property;
(33) Sales to the state headquarters of any veterans' organization in this state that is either incorporated and issued a charter by the congress of the United States or is recognized by the United States veterans administration, for use by the headquarters;
(34) Sales to a telecommunications service vendor, mobile telecommunications service vendor, or satellite broadcasting service vendor of tangible personal property and services used directly and primarily in transmitting, receiving, switching, or recording any interactive, one- or two-way electromagnetic communications, including voice, image, data, and information, through the use of any medium, including, but not limited to, poles, wires, cables, switching equipment, computers, and record storage devices and media, and component parts for the tangible personal property. The exemption provided in this division shall be in lieu of all other exemptions under division (B)(42)(a) of this section to which the vendor may otherwise be entitled, based upon the use of the thing purchased in providing the telecommunications, mobile telecommunications, or satellite broadcasting service.
(35)(a) Sales where the purpose of the consumer is to use or consume the things transferred in making retail sales and consisting of newspaper inserts, catalogues, coupons, flyers, gift certificates, or other advertising material that prices and describes tangible personal property offered for retail sale.
(b) Sales to direct marketing vendors of preliminary materials such as photographs, artwork, and typesetting that will be used in printing advertising material; of printed matter that offers free merchandise or chances to win sweepstake prizes and that is mailed to potential customers with advertising material described in division (B)(35)(a) of this section; and of equipment such as telephones, computers, facsimile machines, and similar tangible personal property primarily used to accept orders for direct marketing retail sales.
(c) Sales of automatic food vending machines that preserve food with a shelf life of forty-five days or less by refrigeration and dispense it to the consumer.
For purposes of division (B)(35) of this section, "direct marketing" means the method of selling where consumers order tangible personal property by United States mail, delivery service, or telecommunication and the vendor delivers or ships the tangible personal property sold to the consumer from a warehouse, catalogue distribution center, or similar fulfillment facility by means of the United States mail, delivery service, or common carrier.
(36) Sales to a person engaged in the business of horticulture or producing livestock of materials to be incorporated into a horticulture structure or livestock structure;
(37) Sales of personal computers, computer monitors, computer keyboards, modems, and other peripheral computer equipment to an individual who is licensed or certified to teach in an elementary or a secondary school in this state for use by that individual in preparation for teaching elementary or secondary school students;
(38) Sales to a professional racing team of any of the following:
(a) Motor racing vehicles;
(b) Repair services for motor racing vehicles;
(c) Items of property that are attached to or incorporated in motor racing vehicles, including engines, chassis, and all other components of the vehicles, and all spare, replacement, and rebuilt parts or components of the vehicles; except not including tires, consumable fluids, paint, and accessories consisting of instrumentation sensors and related items added to the vehicle to collect and transmit data by means of telemetry and other forms of communication.
(39) Sales of used manufactured homes and used mobile homes, as defined in section 5739.0210 of the Revised Code, made on or after January 1, 2000;
(40) Sales of tangible personal property and services to a provider of electricity used or consumed directly and primarily in generating, transmitting, or distributing electricity for use by others, including property that is or is to be incorporated into and will become a part of the consumer's production, transmission, or distribution system and that retains its classification as tangible personal property after incorporation; fuel or power used in the production, transmission, or distribution of electricity; energy conversion equipment as defined in section 5727.01 of the Revised Code; and tangible personal property and services used in the repair and maintenance of the production, transmission, or distribution system, including only those motor vehicles as are specially designed and equipped for such use. The exemption provided in this division shall be in lieu of all other exemptions in division (B)(42)(a) of this section to which a provider of electricity may otherwise be entitled based on the use of the tangible personal property or service purchased in generating, transmitting, or distributing electricity.
(41) Sales to a person providing services under division (B)(3)(r) of section 5739.01 of the Revised Code of tangible personal property and services used directly and primarily in providing taxable services under that section.
(42) Sales where the purpose of the purchaser is to do any of the following:
(a) To incorporate the thing transferred as a material or a part into tangible personal property to be produced for sale by manufacturing, assembling, processing, or refining; or to use or consume the thing transferred directly in producing tangible personal property for sale by mining, including, without limitation, the extraction from the earth of all substances that are classed geologically as minerals, production of crude oil and natural gas, farming, agriculture, horticulture, or floriculture, or directly in the rendition of a public utility service, except that the sales tax levied by this section shall be collected upon all meals, drinks, and food for human consumption sold when transporting persons. Persons engaged in rendering farming, agricultural, horticultural, or floricultural services, and services in the exploration for, and production of, crude oil and natural gas, for others are deemed engaged directly in farming, agriculture, horticulture, and floriculture, or exploration for, and production of, crude oil and natural gas. This paragraph does not exempt from "retail sale" or "sales at retail" the sale of tangible personal property that is to be incorporated into a structure or improvement to real property.
(b) To hold the thing transferred as security for the performance of an obligation of the vendor;
(c) To resell, hold, use, or consume the thing transferred as evidence of a contract of insurance;
(d) To use or consume the thing directly in commercial fishing;
(e) To incorporate the thing transferred as a material or a part into, or to use or consume the thing transferred directly in the production of, magazines distributed as controlled circulation publications;
(f) To use or consume the thing transferred in the production and preparation in suitable condition for market and sale of printed, imprinted, overprinted, lithographic, multilithic, blueprinted, photostatic, or other productions or reproductions of written or graphic matter;
(g) To use the thing transferred, as described in section 5739.011 of the Revised Code, primarily in a manufacturing operation to produce tangible personal property for sale;
(h) To use the benefit of a warranty, maintenance or service contract, or similar agreement, as described in division (B)(7) of section 5739.01 of the Revised Code, to repair or maintain tangible personal property, if all of the property that is the subject of the warranty, contract, or agreement would not be subject to the tax imposed by this section;
(i) To use the thing transferred as qualified research and development equipment;
(j) To use or consume the thing transferred primarily in storing, transporting, mailing, or otherwise handling purchased sales inventory in a warehouse, distribution center, or similar facility when the inventory is primarily distributed outside this state to retail stores of the person who owns or controls the warehouse, distribution center, or similar facility, to retail stores of an affiliated group of which that person is a member, or by means of direct marketing. This division does not apply to motor vehicles registered for operation on the public highways. As used in this division, "affiliated group" has the same meaning as in division (B)(3)(e) of section 5739.01 of the Revised Code and "direct marketing" has the same meaning as in division (B)(35) of this section.
(k) To use or consume the thing transferred to fulfill a contractual obligation incurred by a warrantor pursuant to a warranty provided as a part of the price of the tangible personal property sold or by a vendor of a warranty, maintenance or service contract, or similar agreement the provision of which is defined as a sale under division (B)(7) of section 5739.01 of the Revised Code;
(l) To use or consume the thing transferred in the production of a newspaper for distribution to the public;
(m) To use tangible personal property to perform a service listed in division (B)(3) of section 5739.01 of the Revised Code, if the property is or is to be permanently transferred to the consumer of the service as an integral part of the performance of the service;
(n) To use or consume the thing transferred in acquiring, formatting, editing, storing, and disseminating data or information by electronic publishing.
As used in division (B)(42) of this section, "thing" includes all transactions included in divisions (B)(3)(a), (b), and (e) of section 5739.01 of the Revised Code.
(43) Sales conducted through a coin operated device that activates vacuum equipment or equipment that dispenses water, whether or not in combination with soap or other cleaning agents or wax, to the consumer for the consumer's use on the premises in washing, cleaning, or waxing a motor vehicle, provided no other personal property or personal service is provided as part of the transaction.
(44) Sales of replacement and modification parts for engines, airframes, instruments, and interiors in, and paint for, aircraft used primarily in a fractional aircraft ownership program, and sales of services for the repair, modification, and maintenance of such aircraft, and machinery, equipment, and supplies primarily used to provide those services.
(45) Sales of telecommunications service that is used directly and primarily to perform the functions of a call center. As used in this division, "call center" means any physical location where telephone calls are placed or received in high volume for the purpose of making sales, marketing, customer service, technical support, or other specialized business activity, and that employs at least fifty individuals that engage in call center activities on a full-time basis, or sufficient individuals to fill fifty full-time equivalent positions.
(46) Sales by a telecommunications service vendor of 900 service to a subscriber. This division does not apply to information services, as defined in division (FF) of section 5739.01 of the Revised Code.
(47) Sales of value-added non-voice data service. This division does not apply to any similar service that is not otherwise a telecommunications service.
(48)(a) Sales of machinery, equipment, and software to a qualified direct selling entity for use in a warehouse or distribution center primarily for storing, transporting, or otherwise handling inventory that is held for sale to independent salespersons who operate as direct sellers and that is held primarily for distribution outside this state;
(b) As used in division (B)(48)(a) of this section:
(i) "Direct seller" means a person selling consumer products to individuals for personal or household use and not from a fixed retail location, including selling such product at in-home product demonstrations, parties, and other one-on-one selling.
(ii) "Qualified direct selling entity" means an entity selling to direct sellers at the time the entity enters into a tax credit agreement with the tax credit authority pursuant to section 122.17 of the Revised Code, provided that the agreement was entered into on or after January 1, 2007. Neither contingencies relevant to the granting of, nor later developments with respect to, the tax credit shall impair the status of the qualified direct selling entity under division (B)(48) of this section after execution of the tax credit agreement by the tax credit authority.
(c) Division (B)(48) of this section is limited to machinery, equipment, and software first stored, used, or consumed in this state within the period commencing June 24, 2008, and ending on the date that is five years after that date.
(49) Sales of materials, parts, equipment, or engines used in the repair or maintenance of aircraft or avionics systems of such aircraft, and sales of repair, remodeling, replacement, or maintenance services in this state performed on aircraft or on an aircraft's avionics, engine, or component materials or parts. As used in division (B)(49) of this section, "aircraft" means aircraft of more than six thousand pounds maximum certified takeoff weight or used exclusively in general aviation.
(50) Sales of full flight simulators that are used for pilot or flight-crew training, sales of repair or replacement parts or components, and sales of repair or maintenance services for such full flight simulators. "Full flight simulator" means a replica of a specific type, or make, model, and series of aircraft cockpit. It includes the assemblage of equipment and computer programs necessary to represent aircraft operations in ground and flight conditions, a visual system providing an out-of-the-cockpit view, and a system that provides cues at least equivalent to those of a three-degree-of-freedom motion system, and has the full range of capabilities of the systems installed in the device as described in appendices A and B of part 60 of chapter 1 of title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(C) For the purpose of the proper administration of this chapter, and to prevent the evasion of the tax, it is presumed that all sales made in this state are subject to the tax until the contrary is established.
(D) The levy of this tax on retail sales of recreation and sports club service shall not prevent a municipal corporation from levying any tax on recreation and sports club dues or on any income generated by recreation and sports club dues.
(E) The tax collected by the vendor from the consumer under this chapter is not part of the price, but is a tax collection for the benefit of the state, and of counties levying an additional sales tax pursuant to section 5739.021 or 5739.026 of the Revised Code and of transit authorities levying an additional sales tax pursuant to section 5739.023 of the Revised Code. Except for the discount authorized under section 5739.12 of the Revised Code and the effects of any rounding pursuant to section 5703.055 of the Revised Code, no person other than the state or such a county or transit authority shall derive any benefit from the collection or payment of the tax levied by this section or section 5739.021, 5739.023, or 5739.026 of the Revised Code.
SECTION 2. That existing sections 717.25, 1710.01, 1710.02, 1710.06, 1710.07, 4928.01, 4928.64, 5709.53, 5713.30, 5713.34, 5727.01, 5727.02, 5727.06, 5727.11, 5727.111, 5727.15, 5727.30, and 5739.02 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. This act is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety. The reason for such necessity is that the immediate construction of facilities to which this act applies is necessary to ensure the state's alternative energy resource benchmarks are achieved. Therefore, this act shall go into immediate effect.
