Adjustments to baselines.

(A) The public utilities commission may reduce either baseline described in section 4928.643 of the Revised Code to adjust for new economic growth in the electric distribution utility's certified territory or in the electric services company's service area in this state. (B) To facilitate the competitiveness of mercantile customers located in this state that are registered as self-assessing purchasers under division (C) of section 5727.81 of the Revised Code, the commission shall reduce both baselines described in section 4928.643 of the Revised Code to exclude the load and usage of those self-assessing purchasers. Upon the effective date of this reduction, both of the following shall apply: (1) Any electric distribution utility or electric services company serving such a self-assessing purchaser shall be relieved of the amount of compliance with section 4928.64 of the Revised Code that would be required but for the baseline reduction. (2) Such a self-assessing purchaser shall be exempt from any bypassable charge imposed under division (E) of section 4928.64 of the Revised Code.