(A) For all cases involving applications for an increase in rates pursuant to section 4909.18 of the Revised Code the public utilities commission shall hold public hearings in each municipal corporation in the affected service area having a population in excess of one hundred thousand persons, provided that, at least one public hearing shall be held in each affected service area. At least one such hearing shall be held after 5:00 p.m. Notice of such hearing shall be published by the commission once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the service area. Said notice shall state prominently the total amount of the revenue increase requested in the application for the increase. The first publication of the notice shall be made in its entirety and may be made in a preprinted insert in the newspaper. The second publication may be abbreviated if all of the following apply:

1. (1) The abbreviated notice is at least half the size of the notice in the first publication.
2. (2) At the same time the abbreviated notice is published, the notice in the first publication is posted in its entirety on the newspaper's web site, if the newspaper has a web site, and the commission's web site.
3. (3) The abbreviated notice contains a statement of the web site posting or postings, as applicable, and instructions for accessing the posting or postings.