Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the City Auditor to make the appropriation of revenue within the Utilities Agency Fund (Fund 341) for the Department of Public Utilities. The City of Columbus is participating in a green energy program called Eco Smart Choice (Ordinance 1967-2014) with American Municipal Power Ohio (AMP Ohio), an Ohio nonprofit corporation that functions as a wholesale power supplier and services provider for certain member municipalities that operate electric systems. Participation in Eco Smart Choice allows the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Power to offer its electric customers, including other City Departments and Divisions, a green energy option.
Customers will be given the option to have a certain percentage of energy they receive to be from green sources. Each month, Eco Smart Choice customers will pay a percentage of their power bill towards the use of green energy. This charge will appear as a separate line item on the customer bill and will be received and posted by the Department of Public Utilities, and the revenue will be deposited into the Utilities Agency Fund, Fund 341.
The Department of Public Utilities must remit the Eco Smart Choice payment to AMP Ohio each subsequent month. In order to properly receive, reconcile and remit payment, it is necessary to separate the incoming green energy revenue from the usual power revenue. This ordinance would, in perpetuity, appropriate the funds received into the Utilities Agency Fund (Fund 341) so that customers’ green energy participation revenue would be easily tracked and forwarded to, AMP Ohio.
FISCAL IMPACT
This ordinance authorizes the appropriation in perpetuity for all revenue received within Fund 341 for Eco Smart Choice participation. As this program is just in its beginning stages, it is undetermined as to the amount each year that will be received.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
The department requests emergency designation to make these fun...
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