{"content":[{"text":"In many apartments, manufactured homes and other housing communities, the public","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.088303,"width":0.7802039999999999,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"utilities do not directly meter and bill individual residents for the utility services that","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.128916,"width":0.771981,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"they use. Instead, the utility services are provided through a master meter that registers","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.169671,"width":0.7935699999999999,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"aggregate usage for entire buildings or properties. A landlord, park operator,","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.210284,"width":0.6994100000000001,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"condominium owners association or other third party then “resells” the service of the","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.250897,"width":0.7777939999999999,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"public utility (or other provider) to tenants and residents.","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.291652,"width":0.5192920000000001,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"The resale of utility service often results in higher bills than what customers would pay","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.372879,"width":0.7967199999999999,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"if they were billed directly by the utility (or other provider). This problem was","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.413492,"width":0.7163729999999999,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"highlighted last fall in newspaper stories (that are attached to my testimony). It was","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.454247,"width":0.7624660000000001,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"reported in those news articles that reselling has inflated customers’ utility bills","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.49486,"width":0.726334,"height":0.023647999999999947}},{"text":"through added fees and charges by as much as 40 percent in some cases.","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.535473,"width":0.6621220000000001,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"This amendment (HC0448X2) is a step in the right direction for improving the current","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.616842,"width":0.789695,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"lack of consumer protection on this issue.","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.657455,"width":0.380824,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"I thank Representative Duffey for reaching","bbox":{"left":0.509804,"top":0.657455,"width":0.393405,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"out to OCC to ask for our additional recommendations for consumer protection.","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.69821,"width":0.7309270000000001,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"Therefore, I respectfully ask the Committee today to make additional amendments,","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.738823,"width":0.7597830000000001,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"beyond those in the Omnibus Amendment, to include more protections for Ohioans","bbox":{"left":0.117647,"top":0.779436,"width":0.7638769999999999,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"who purchase resold utility services.","bbox":{"left":0.11767,"top":0.820191,"width":0.333772,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"I also note my appreciation for Representatives","bbox":{"left":0.462774,"top":0.820191,"width":0.431829,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"Foley and Blair, among others, for their sponsorship of House Bill 422 to protect","bbox":{"left":0.11767,"top":0.860804,"width":0.7400230000000001,"height":0.023648000000000002}},{"text":"2","bbox":{"left":0.512745,"top":0.943742,"width":0.009804000000000035,"height":0.020212000000000008}}],"images_bbox":[],"images_bbox_not_text_overlap":[]}