In order to supply competitive retail electric service (CRES), all providers are required to become certified by the PUCO.
The information one must file differs depending on the type of CRES that the applicant will provide.
Competitive retail electric service (CRES) provider definitions.
- Aggregation - combining the electric load of multiple retail customers through an agreement with the customers or formation of a governmental aggregation pursuant to section 4928.20 of the Ohio Revised Code for the purpose of purchasing retail electric generation service on an aggregated basis.
- Aggregator - a person who contracts with customers to combine the customers' electric load for the purpose of purchasing retail electric generation service on an aggregated basis. The term does not include a governmental aggregator.
- Governmental aggregator - the legislative authority of a municipal corporation, the board of township trustees of a township or a board of county commissioners of a county that aggregates the citizens of a municipal corporation, township or unincorporated areas of a county in accordance with Section 4928.20 of the Ohio Revised Code for the purpose of purchasing retail electric generation service on an aggregated basis.
- Power broker - a person, certified by the commission, who provides power brokerage.
- Power Brokerage - means assuming the contractual and legal responsibility for the Sale and/or arrangement for the supply of electric generation service to a retail customer in this state without taking title to the electric power supplied.
- Power marketer - a person who assumes the contractual and legal responsibility for the sale and provision of retail electric generation service to a retail customer who had title to the electric power provided at some point during the transaction.
CRES certification applications
Provided below are the PUCO's official filing instructions and certification application forms. To avoid delays in obtaining a certificate, each applicant should carefully review and understand the PUCO's competitive retail electric service rules in their entirety before applying for certification. A renewal application shall be filed between 30 and 90 days prior to the expiration date printed on the certificate. Applications can also be completed and filed in the PUCO Community.
CRES abandonment applications
A certified retail electric service provider may apply to the PUCO to cease being a competitive retail electric service provider in this state. Pursuant to Chapter 4901:1-24-12 of the Ohio Administrative Code, abandonment applications, in addition to other mandated requirements, are to be filed on Commission-approved forms, at least 90 days prior to the effective date that the competitive retail electric service provider will abandon operations. Abandonment applications can also be completed and filed in the PUCO Community.