Illinois 2023-2024 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB2786 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2786 Introduced , by Rep. Ann M. Williams SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 220 ILCS 5/1-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1-102 220 ILCS 5/4-304 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 4-304 220 ILCS 5/4-605 220 ILCS 5/13-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-102 220 ILCS 5/13-103 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-103 220 ILCS 5/13-900 220 ILCS 5/16-101A 220 ILCS 5/16-111.2 220 ILCS 5/16-128 Amends the Public Utilities Act. Changes references from "citizens" to "consumers" throughout the Act. LRB103 30267 AMQ 56695 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2786 Introduced , by Rep. Ann M. Williams SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 220 ILCS 5/1-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1-102 220 ILCS 5/4-304 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 4-304 220 ILCS 5/4-605 220 ILCS 5/13-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-102 220 ILCS 5/13-103 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-103 220 ILCS 5/13-900 220 ILCS 5/16-101A 220 ILCS 5/16-111.2 220 ILCS 5/16-128 220 ILCS 5/1-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1-102 220 ILCS 5/4-304 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 4-304 220 ILCS 5/4-605 220 ILCS 5/13-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-102 220 ILCS 5/13-103 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-103 220 ILCS 5/13-900 220 ILCS 5/16-101A 220 ILCS 5/16-111.2 220 ILCS 5/16-128 Amends the Public Utilities Act. Changes references from "citizens" to "consumers" throughout the Act. LRB103 30267 AMQ 56695 b LRB103 30267 AMQ 56695 b A BILL FOR
2	2	103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2786 Introduced , by Rep. Ann M. Williams SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
3	3	220 ILCS 5/1-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1-102 220 ILCS 5/4-304 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 4-304 220 ILCS 5/4-605 220 ILCS 5/13-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-102 220 ILCS 5/13-103 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-103 220 ILCS 5/13-900 220 ILCS 5/16-101A 220 ILCS 5/16-111.2 220 ILCS 5/16-128 220 ILCS 5/1-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1-102 220 ILCS 5/4-304 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 4-304 220 ILCS 5/4-605 220 ILCS 5/13-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-102 220 ILCS 5/13-103 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-103 220 ILCS 5/13-900 220 ILCS 5/16-101A 220 ILCS 5/16-111.2 220 ILCS 5/16-128
4	4	220 ILCS 5/1-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1-102
5	5	220 ILCS 5/4-304 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 4-304
6	6	220 ILCS 5/4-605
7	7	220 ILCS 5/13-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-102
8	8	220 ILCS 5/13-103 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-103
9	9	220 ILCS 5/13-900
10	10	220 ILCS 5/16-101A
11	11	220 ILCS 5/16-111.2
12	12	220 ILCS 5/16-128
13	13	Amends the Public Utilities Act. Changes references from "citizens" to "consumers" throughout the Act.
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16	16	A BILL FOR
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19	19	1 AN ACT concerning regulation.
20	20	2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
21	21	3 represented in the General Assembly:
22	22	4 Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing
23	23	5 Sections 1-102, 4-304, 4-605, 13-102, 13-103, 13-900, 16-101A,
24	24	6 16-111.2, and 16-128 as follows:
25	25	7 (220 ILCS 5/1-102) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1-102)
26	26	8 Sec. 1-102. Findings and Intent. The General Assembly
27	27	9 finds that the health, welfare and prosperity of all Illinois
28	28	10 consumers citizens require the provision of adequate,
29	29	11 efficient, reliable, environmentally safe and least-cost
30	30	12 public utility services at prices which accurately reflect the
31	31	13 long-term cost of such services and which are equitable to all
32	32	14 consumers citizens. It is therefore declared to be the policy
33	33	15 of the State that public utilities shall continue to be
34	34	16 regulated effectively and comprehensively. It is further
35	35	17 declared that the goals and objectives of such regulation
36	36	18 shall be to ensure
37	37	19 (a) Efficiency: the provision of reliable energy
38	38	20 services at the least possible cost to the consumers
39	39	21 citizens of the State; in such manner that:
40	40	22 (i) physical, human and financial resources are
41	41	23 allocated efficiently;
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45	45	103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2786 Introduced , by Rep. Ann M. Williams SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
46	46	220 ILCS 5/1-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1-102 220 ILCS 5/4-304 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 4-304 220 ILCS 5/4-605 220 ILCS 5/13-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-102 220 ILCS 5/13-103 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-103 220 ILCS 5/13-900 220 ILCS 5/16-101A 220 ILCS 5/16-111.2 220 ILCS 5/16-128 220 ILCS 5/1-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1-102 220 ILCS 5/4-304 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 4-304 220 ILCS 5/4-605 220 ILCS 5/13-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-102 220 ILCS 5/13-103 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-103 220 ILCS 5/13-900 220 ILCS 5/16-101A 220 ILCS 5/16-111.2 220 ILCS 5/16-128
47	47	220 ILCS 5/1-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1-102
48	48	220 ILCS 5/4-304 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 4-304
49	49	220 ILCS 5/4-605
50	50	220 ILCS 5/13-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-102
51	51	220 ILCS 5/13-103 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-103
52	52	220 ILCS 5/13-900
53	53	220 ILCS 5/16-101A
54	54	220 ILCS 5/16-111.2
55	55	220 ILCS 5/16-128
56	56	Amends the Public Utilities Act. Changes references from "citizens" to "consumers" throughout the Act.
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58	58	LRB103 30267 AMQ 56695 b
59	59	A BILL FOR
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65	65	220 ILCS 5/1-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1-102
66	66	220 ILCS 5/4-304 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 4-304
67	67	220 ILCS 5/4-605
68	68	220 ILCS 5/13-102 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-102
69	69	220 ILCS 5/13-103 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-103
70	70	220 ILCS 5/13-900
71	71	220 ILCS 5/16-101A
72	72	220 ILCS 5/16-111.2
73	73	220 ILCS 5/16-128
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92	92	1 (ii) all supply and demand options are considered
93	93	2 and evaluated using comparable terms and methods in
94	94	3 order to determine how utilities shall meet their
95	95	4 customers' demands for public utility services at the
96	96	5 least cost;
97	97	6 (iii) utilities are allowed a sufficient return on
98	98	7 investment so as to enable them to attract capital in
99	99	8 financial markets at competitive rates;
100	100	9 (iv) tariff rates for the sale of various public
101	101	10 utility services are authorized such that they
102	102	11 accurately reflect the cost of delivering those
103	103	12 services and allow utilities to recover the total
104	104	13 costs prudently and reasonably incurred;
105	105	14 (v) variation in costs by customer class and time
106	106	15 of use is taken into consideration in authorizing
107	107	16 rates for each class.
108	108	17 (b) Environmental Quality: the protection of the
109	109	18 environment from the adverse external costs of public
110	110	19 utility services so that
111	111	20 (i) environmental costs of proposed actions having
112	112	21 a significant impact on the environment and the
113	113	22 environmental impact of the alternatives are
114	114	23 identified, documented and considered in the
115	115	24 regulatory process;
116	116	25 (ii) the prudently and reasonably incurred costs
117	117	26 of environmental controls are recovered.
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128	128	1 (c) Reliability: the ability of utilities to provide
129	129	2 consumers with public utility services under varying
130	130	3 demand conditions in such manner that suppliers of public
131	131	4 utility services are able to provide service at varying
132	132	5 levels of economic reliability giving appropriate
133	133	6 consideration to the costs likely to be incurred as a
134	134	7 result of service interruptions, and to the costs of
135	135	8 increasing or maintaining current levels of reliability
136	136	9 consistent with commitments to consumers.
137	137	10 (d) Equity: the fair treatment of consumers and
138	138	11 investors in order that
139	139	12 (i) the public health, safety and welfare shall be
140	140	13 protected;
141	141	14 (ii) the application of rates is based on public
142	142	15 understandability and acceptance of the reasonableness
143	143	16 of the rate structure and level;
144	144	17 (iii) the cost of supplying public utility
145	145	18 services is allocated to those who cause the costs to
146	146	19 be incurred;
147	147	20 (iv) if factors other than cost of service are
148	148	21 considered in regulatory decisions, the rationale for
149	149	22 these actions is set forth;
150	150	23 (v) regulation allows for orderly transition
151	151	24 periods to accommodate changes in public utility
152	152	25 service markets;
153	153	26 (vi) regulation does not result in undue or
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164	164	1 sustained adverse impact on utility earnings;
165	165	2 (vii) the impacts of regulatory actions on all
166	166	3 sectors of the State are carefully weighed;
167	167	4 (viii) the rates for utility services are
168	168	5 affordable and therefore preserve the availability of
169	169	6 such services to all consumers citizens.
170	170	7 It is further declared to be the policy of the State that
171	171	8 this Act shall not apply in relation to motor carriers and rail
172	172	9 carriers as defined in the Illinois Commercial Transportation
173	173	10 Law, or to the Commission in the regulation of such carriers.
174	174	11 Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit, restrict,
175	175	12 or mitigate in any way the power and authority of the State's
176	176	13 Attorneys or the Attorney General under the Consumer Fraud and
177	177	14 Deceptive Business Practices Act.
178	178	15 (Source: P.A. 92-22, eff. 6-30-01.)
179	179	16 (220 ILCS 5/4-304) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 4-304)
180	180	17 Sec. 4-304. Beginning in 1986, the Commission shall
181	181	18 prepare an annual report which shall be filed by January 31 of
182	182	19 each year with the Joint Committee on Legislative Support
183	183	20 Services of the General Assembly and the Governor and which
184	184	21 shall be publicly available. Such report shall include:
185	185	22 (1) A general review of agency activities and changes,
186	186	23 including:
187	187	24 (a) a review of significant decisions and other
188	188	25 regulatory actions for the preceding year, and pending
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199	199	1 cases, and an analysis of the impact of such decisions
200	200	2 and actions, and potential impact of any significant
201	201	3 pending cases;
202	202	4 (b) for each significant decision, regulatory
203	203	5 action and pending case, a description of the
204	204	6 positions advocated by major parties, including
205	205	7 Commission staff, and for each such decision rendered
206	206	8 or action taken, the position adopted by the
207	207	9 Commission and reason therefor;
208	208	10 (c) a description of the Commission's budget,
209	209	11 caseload, and staff levels, including specifically:
210	210	12 (i) a breakdown by type of case of the cases
211	211	13 resolved and filed during the year and of pending
212	212	14 cases;
213	213	15 (ii) a description of the allocation of the
214	214	16 Commission's budget, identifying amounts budgeted
215	215	17 for each significant regulatory function or
216	216	18 activity and for each department, bureau, section,
217	217	19 division or office of the Commission and its
218	218	20 employees;
219	219	21 (iii) a description of current employee
220	220	22 levels, identifying any change occurring during
221	221	23 the year in the number of employees, personnel
222	222	24 policies and practices or compensation levels; and
223	223	25 identifying the number and type of employees
224	224	26 assigned to each Commission regulatory function
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235	235	1 and to each department, bureau, section, division
236	236	2 or office of the Commission;
237	237	3 (d) a description of any significant changes in
238	238	4 Commission policies, programs or practices with
239	239	5 respect to agency organization and administration,
240	240	6 hearings and procedures or substantive regulatory
241	241	7 activity.
242	242	8 (2) A discussion and analysis of the state of each
243	243	9 utility industry regulated by the Commission and
244	244	10 significant changes, trends and developments therein,
245	245	11 including the number and types of firms offering each
246	246	12 utility service, existing, new and prospective
247	247	13 technologies, variations in the quality, availability and
248	248	14 price for utility services in different geographic areas
249	249	15 of the State, and any other industry factors or
250	250	16 circumstances which may affect the public interest or the
251	251	17 regulation of such industries.
252	252	18 (3) A specific discussion of the energy planning
253	253	19 responsibilities and activities of the Commission and
254	254	20 energy utilities, including:
255	255	21 (a) the extent to which conservation,
256	256	22 cogeneration, renewable energy technologies and
257	257	23 improvements in energy efficiency are being utilized
258	258	24 by energy consumers, the extent to which additional
259	259	25 potential exists for the economical utilization of
260	260	26 such supplies, and a description of existing and
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271	271	1 proposed programs and policies designed to promote and
272	272	2 encourage such utilization;
273	273	3 (b) a description of each energy plan filed with
274	274	4 the Commission pursuant to the provisions of this Act,
275	275	5 and a copy, or detailed summary of the most recent
276	276	6 energy plans adopted by the Commission;
277	277	7 (c) a discussion of the powers by which the
278	278	8 Commission is implementing the planning
279	279	9 responsibilities of Article VIII, including a
280	280	10 description of the staff and budget assigned to such
281	281	11 function, the procedures by which Commission staff
282	282	12 reviews and analyzes energy plans submitted by the
283	283	13 utilities, the Department of Natural Resources, and
284	284	14 any other person or party; and
285	285	15 (d) a summary of the adoption of solar
286	286	16 photovoltaic systems by residential and small business
287	287	17 consumers in Illinois and a description of any and all
288	288	18 barriers to residential and small business consumers'
289	289	19 financing, installation, and valuation of energy
290	290	20 produced by solar photovoltaic systems; electric
291	291	21 utilities, alternative retail electric suppliers, and
292	292	22 installers of distributed generation shall provide all
293	293	23 information requested by the Commission or its staff
294	294	24 necessary to complete the analysis required by this
295	295	25 paragraph (d).
296	296	26 (4) A discussion of the extent to which utility
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307	307	1 services are available to all Illinois consumers citizens
308	308	2 including:
309	309	3 (a) the percentage and number of persons or
310	310	4 households requiring each such service who are not
311	311	5 receiving such service, and the reasons therefor,
312	312	6 including specifically the number of such persons or
313	313	7 households who are unable to afford such service;
314	314	8 (b) a critical analysis of existing programs
315	315	9 designed to promote and preserve the availability and
316	316	10 affordability of utility services; and
317	317	11 (c) an analysis of the financial impact on
318	318	12 utilities and other ratepayers of the inability of
319	319	13 some customers or potential customers to afford
320	320	14 utility service, including the number of service
321	321	15 disconnections and reconnections, and cost thereof and
322	322	16 the dollar amount of uncollectible accounts recovered
323	323	17 through rates.
324	324	18 (5) A detailed description of the means by which the
325	325	19 Commission is implementing its new statutory
326	326	20 responsibilities under this Act, and the status of such
327	327	21 implementation, including specifically:
328	328	22 (a) Commission reorganization resulting from the
329	329	23 addition of an Executive Director and administrative
330	330	24 law judge qualifications and review;
331	331	25 (b) Commission responsibilities for construction
332	332	26 and rate supervision, including construction cost
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343	343	1 audits, management audits, excess capacity
344	344	2 adjustments, phase-ins of new plant and the means and
345	345	3 capability for monitoring and reevaluating existing or
346	346	4 future construction projects;
347	347	5 (c) promulgation and application of rules
348	348	6 concerning ex parte communications, circulation of
349	349	7 recommended orders and transcription of closed
350	350	8 meetings.
351	351	9 (6) A description of all appeals taken from Commission
352	352	10 orders, findings or decisions and the status and outcome
353	353	11 of such appeals.
354	354	12 (7) A description of the status of all studies and
355	355	13 investigations required by this Act, including those
356	356	14 ordered pursuant to Sections 9-244 and 13-301 and all such
357	357	15 subsequently ordered studies or investigations.
358	358	16 (8) A discussion of new or potential developments in
359	359	17 federal legislation, and federal agency and judicial
360	360	18 decisions relevant to State regulation of utility
361	361	19 services.
362	362	20 (9) All recommendations for appropriate legislative
363	363	21 action by the General Assembly.
364	364	22 The Commission may include such other information as it
365	365	23 deems to be necessary or beneficial in describing or
366	366	24 explaining its activities or regulatory responsibilities. The
367	367	25 report required by this Section shall be adopted by a vote of
368	368	26 the full Commission prior to filing.
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379	379	1 (Source: P.A. 100-840, eff. 8-13-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)
380	380	2 (220 ILCS 5/4-605)
381	381	3 Sec. 4-605. Reliability mitigation plan findings. The
382	382	4 General Assembly finds that reducing carbon dioxide and
383	383	5 copollutant emissions in a manner that does not threaten
384	384	6 electric reliability and resource adequacy is essential to the
385	385	7 health and safety of all Illinois consumers citizens.
386	386	8 Therefore, the Commission shall review reliability mitigation
387	387	9 plans filed pursuant to Section 9.15 of the Environmental
388	388	10 Protection Act to ensure adequate, reliable, affordable,
389	389	11 efficient, and environmentally sustainable electric service is
390	390	12 available to ratepayers by approving reliability mitigation
391	391	13 plans that permit the Illinois Pollution Control Board to
392	392	14 enforce emission reductions in a manner that preserves
393	393	15 reliability and resource adequacy in wholesale and retail
394	394	16 electricity markets.
395	395	17 (Source: P.A. 102-662, eff. 9-15-21.)
396	396	18 (220 ILCS 5/13-102) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-102)
397	397	19 (Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
398	398	20 Sec. 13-102. Findings. With respect to telecommunications
399	399	21 services, as herein defined, the General Assembly finds that:
400	400	22 (a) universally available and widely affordable
401	401	23 telecommunications services are essential to the health,
402	402	24 welfare and prosperity of all Illinois consumers citizens;
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413	413	1 (b) federal regulatory and judicial rulings in the
414	414	2 1980s caused a restructuring of the telecommunications
415	415	3 industry and opened some aspects of the industry to
416	416	4 competitive entry, thereby necessitating revision of State
417	417	5 telecommunications regulatory policies and practices;
418	418	6 (c) revisions in telecommunications regulatory
419	419	7 policies and practices in Illinois beginning in the
420	420	8 mid-1980s brought the benefits of competition to consumers
421	421	9 in many telecommunications markets, but not in local
422	422	10 exchange telecommunications service markets;
423	423	11 (d) the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996
424	424	12 established the goal of opening all telecommunications
425	425	13 service markets to competition and accords to the states
426	426	14 the responsibility to establish and enforce policies
427	427	15 necessary to attain that goal;
428	428	16 (e) it is in the immediate interest of the People of
429	429	17 the State of Illinois for the State to exercise its rights
430	430	18 within the new framework of federal telecommunications
431	431	19 policy to ensure that the economic benefits of competition
432	432	20 in all telecommunications service markets are realized as
433	433	21 effectively as possible;
434	434	22 (f) the competitive offering of all telecommunications
435	435	23 services will increase innovation and efficiency in the
436	436	24 provision of telecommunications services and may lead to
437	437	25 reduced prices for consumers, increased investment in
438	438	26 communications infrastructure, the creation of new jobs,
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449	449	1 and the attraction of new businesses to Illinois;
450	450	2 (g) protection of the public interest requires changes
451	451	3 in the regulation of telecommunications carriers and
452	452	4 services to ensure, to the maximum feasible extent, the
453	453	5 reasonable and timely development of effective competition
454	454	6 in all telecommunications service markets;
455	455	7 (h) Illinois residents rely on today's modern wired
456	456	8 and wireless Internet Protocol (IP) networks and services
457	457	9 to improve their lives by connecting them to school and
458	458	10 college degrees, work and job opportunities, family and
459	459	11 friends, information, and entertainment, as well as
460	460	12 emergency responders and public safety officials; Illinois
461	461	13 businesses rely on these modern IP networks and services
462	462	14 to compete in a global marketplace by expanding their
463	463	15 customer base, managing inventory and operations more
464	464	16 efficiently, and offering customers specialized and
465	465	17 personalized products and services; without question,
466	466	18 Illinois residents and our State's economy rely profoundly
467	467	19 on the modern wired and wireless IP networks and services
468	468	20 in our State;
469	469	21 (i) the transition from 20th century traditional
470	470	22 circuit switched and other legacy telephone services to
471	471	23 modern 21st century next generation Internet Protocol (IP)
472	472	24 services is taking place at an extraordinary pace as
473	473	25 Illinois consumers are upgrading to home communications
474	474	26 service using IP technology, including high speed
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485	485	1 Internet, Voice over Internet Protocol, and wireless
486	486	2 service;
487	487	3 (j) this rapid transition to IP-based communications
488	488	4 has dramatically transformed the way people communicate
489	489	5 and has provided significant benefits to consumers in the
490	490	6 form of innovative functionalities resulting from the
491	491	7 seamless convergence of voice, video, and text, benefits
492	492	8 realized by the General Assembly when it chose to
493	493	9 transition its own telecommunications system to an all IP
494	494	10 communications network in 2016;
495	495	11 (k) the benefits of the transition to IP-based
496	496	12 networks and services were also recognized by the General
497	497	13 Assembly in 2015 through the enactment of legislation
498	498	14 requiring that every 9-1-1 emergency system in Illinois
499	499	15 provide Next Generation 9-1-1 service by July 1, 2020, and
500	500	16 requiring that the Next Generation 9-1-1 network must be
501	501	17 an IP-based platform; and
502	502	18 (l) completing the transition to all IP-based networks
503	503	19 and technologies is in the public interest because it will
504	504	20 promote continued innovation, consumer benefits, increased
505	505	21 efficiencies, and increased investment in IP-based
506	506	22 networks and services.
507	507	23 (Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
508	508	24 (220 ILCS 5/13-103) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-103)
509	509	25 (Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
510	510
511	511
512	512
513	513
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520	520	1 Sec. 13-103. Policy. Consistent with its findings, the
521	521	2 General Assembly declares that it is the policy of the State of
522	522	3 Illinois that:
523	523	4 (a) telecommunications services should be available to
524	524	5 all Illinois consumers citizens at just, reasonable, and
525	525	6 affordable rates and that such services should be provided
526	526	7 as widely and economically as possible in sufficient
527	527	8 variety, quality, quantity and reliability to satisfy the
528	528	9 public interest;
529	529	10 (b) consistent with the protection of consumers of
530	530	11 telecommunications services and the furtherance of other
531	531	12 public interest goals, competition in all
532	532	13 telecommunications service markets should be pursued as a
533	533	14 substitute for regulation in determining the variety,
534	534	15 quality and price of telecommunications services and that
535	535	16 the economic burdens of regulation should be reduced to
536	536	17 the extent possible consistent with the furtherance of
537	537	18 market competition and protection of the public interest;
538	538	19 (c) all necessary and appropriate modifications to
539	539	20 State regulation of telecommunications carriers and
540	540	21 services should be implemented without unnecessary
541	541	22 disruption to the telecommunications infrastructure system
542	542	23 or to consumers of telecommunications services and that it
543	543	24 is necessary and appropriate to establish rules to
544	544	25 encourage and ensure orderly transitions in the
545	545	26 development of markets for all telecommunications
546	546
547	547
548	548
549	549
550	550
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556	556	1 services;
557	557	2 (d) the consumers of telecommunications services and
558	558	3 facilities provided by persons or companies subject to
559	559	4 regulation pursuant to this Act and Article should be
560	560	5 required to pay only reasonable and non-discriminatory
561	561	6 rates or charges and that in no case should rates or
562	562	7 charges for non-competitive telecommunications services
563	563	8 include any portion of the cost of providing competitive
564	564	9 telecommunications services, as defined in Section 13-209,
565	565	10 or the cost of any nonregulated activities;
566	566	11 (e) the regulatory policies and procedures provided in
567	567	12 this Article are established in recognition of the
568	568	13 changing nature of the telecommunications industry and
569	569	14 therefore should be subject to systematic legislative
570	570	15 review to ensure that the public benefits intended to
571	571	16 result from such policies and procedures are fully
572	572	17 realized;
573	573	18 (f) development of and prudent investment in advanced
574	574	19 telecommunications services and networks that foster
575	575	20 economic development of the State should be encouraged
576	576	21 through the implementation and enforcement of policies
577	577	22 that promote effective and sustained competition in all
578	578	23 telecommunications service markets; and
579	579	24 (g) completion of the transition to modern IP-based
580	580	25 networks should be encouraged through relief from the
581	581	26 outdated regulations that require continued investment in
582	582
583	583
584	584
585	585
586	586
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588	588
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592	592	1 legacy circuit switched networks from which Illinois
593	593	2 consumers have largely transitioned, while at the same
594	594	3 time ensuring that consumers have access to available
595	595	4 alternative services that provide quality voice service
596	596	5 and access to emergency communications.
597	597	6 (Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
598	598	7 (220 ILCS 5/13-900)
599	599	8 (Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
600	600	9 Sec. 13-900. Authority to serve as 9-1-1 system provider;
601	601	10 rules.
602	602	11 (a) The General Assembly finds that it is necessary to
603	603	12 require the certification of 9-1-1 system providers to ensure
604	604	13 the safety of the lives and property of Illinoisans and
605	605	14 Illinois businesses, and to otherwise protect and promote the
606	606	15 public safety, health, and welfare of the consumers citizens
607	607	16 of this State and their property.
608	608	17 (b) For purposes of this Section:
609	609	18 "9-1-1 system" has the same meaning as that term is
610	610	19 defined in Section 2.19 of the Emergency Telephone System
611	611	20 Act.
612	612	21 "9-1-1 system provider" means any person, corporation,
613	613	22 limited liability company, partnership, sole
614	614	23 proprietorship, or entity of any description whatever that
615	615	24 acts as a system provider within the meaning of Section
616	616	25 2.18 of the Emergency Telephone System Act.
617	617
618	618
619	619
620	620
621	621
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623	623
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626	626	HB2786 - 17 - LRB103 30267 AMQ 56695 b
627	627	1 "Emergency Telephone System Board" has the same
628	628	2 meaning as that term is defined in Sections 2.11 and 15.4
629	629	3 of the Emergency Telephone System Act.
630	630	4 "Public safety agency personnel" means personnel
631	631	5 employed by a public safety agency, as that term is
632	632	6 defined in Section 2.02 of the Emergency Telephone System
633	633	7 Act, whose responsibilities include responding to requests
634	634	8 for emergency services.
635	635	9 (c) Except as otherwise provided in this Section,
636	636	10 beginning July 1, 2010, it is unlawful for any 9-1-1 system
637	637	11 provider to offer or provide or seek to offer or provide to any
638	638	12 emergency telephone system board or 9-1-1 system, or agent,
639	639	13 representative, or designee thereof, any network and database
640	640	14 service used or intended to be used by any emergency telephone
641	641	15 system board or 9-1-1 system for the purpose of answering,
642	642	16 transferring, or relaying requests for emergency services, or
643	643	17 dispatching public safety agency personnel in response to
644	644	18 requests for emergency services, unless the 9-1-1 system
645	645	19 provider has applied for and received a Certificate of 9-1-1
646	646	20 System Provider Authority from the Commission. The Commission
647	647	21 shall approve an application for a Certificate of 9-1-1 System
648	648	22 Provider Authority upon a showing by the applicant, and a
649	649	23 finding by the Commission, after notice and hearing, that the
650	650	24 applicant possesses sufficient technical, financial, and
651	651	25 managerial resources and abilities to provide network service
652	652	26 and database services that it seeks authority to provide in
653	653
654	654
655	655
656	656
657	657
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659	659
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663	663	1 its application for service authority, in a safe, continuous,
664	664	2 and uninterrupted manner.
665	665	3 (d) No incumbent local exchange carrier that provides, as
666	666	4 of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th
667	667	5 General Assembly, any 9-1-1 network and 9-1-1 database service
668	668	6 used or intended to be used by any Emergency Telephone System
669	669	7 Board or 9-1-1 system, shall be required to obtain a
670	670	8 Certificate of 9-1-1 System Provider Authority under this
671	671	9 Section. No entity that possesses, as of the effective date of
672	672	10 this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, a
673	673	11 Certificate of Service Authority and provides 9-1-1 network
674	674	12 and 9-1-1 database services to any incumbent local exchange
675	675	13 carrier as of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
676	676	14 96th General Assembly shall be required to obtain a
677	677	15 Certificate of 9-1-1 System Provider Authority under this
678	678	16 Section.
679	679	17 (e) Any and all enforcement authority granted to the
680	680	18 Commission under this Section shall apply exclusively to 9-1-1
681	681	19 system providers granted a Certificate of Service Authority
682	682	20 under this Section and shall not apply to incumbent local
683	683	21 exchange carriers that are providing 9-1-1 service as of the
684	684	22 effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General
685	685	23 Assembly.
686	686	24 (Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)
687	687	25 (220 ILCS 5/16-101A)
688	688
689	689
690	690
691	691
692	692
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694	694
695	695
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698	698	1 Sec. 16-101A. Legislative findings.
699	699	2 (a) The consumers citizens and businesses of the State of
700	700	3 Illinois have been well-served by a comprehensive electrical
701	701	4 utility system which has provided safe, reliable, and
702	702	5 affordable service. The electrical utility system in the State
703	703	6 of Illinois has historically been subject to State and federal
704	704	7 regulation, aimed at assuring the consumers citizens and
705	705	8 businesses of the State of safe, reliable, and affordable
706	706	9 service, while at the same time assuring the utility system of
707	707	10 a return on its investment.
708	708	11 (b) Competitive forces are affecting the market for
709	709	12 electricity as a result of recent federal regulatory and
710	710	13 statutory changes and the activities of other states.
711	711	14 Competition in the electric services market may create
712	712	15 opportunities for new products and services for customers and
713	713	16 lower costs for users of electricity. Long-standing regulatory
714	714	17 relationships need to be altered to accommodate the
715	715	18 competition that could fundamentally alter the structure of
716	716	19 the electric services market.
717	717	20 (c) With the advent of increasing competition in this
718	718	21 industry, the State has a continued interest in assuring that
719	719	22 the safety, reliability, and affordability of electrical power
720	720	23 is not sacrificed to competitive pressures, and to that end,
721	721	24 intends to implement safeguards to assure that the industry
722	722	25 continues to operate the electrical system in a manner that
723	723	26 will serve the public's interest. Under the existing
724	724
725	725
726	726
727	727
728	728
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730	730
731	731
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734	734	1 regulatory framework, the industry has been encouraged to
735	735	2 undertake certain investments in its physical plant and
736	736	3 personnel to enhance its efficient operation, the cost of
737	737	4 which it has been permitted to pass on to consumers. The State
738	738	5 has an interest in providing the existing utilities a
739	739	6 reasonable opportunity to obtain a return on certain
740	740	7 investments on which they depended in undertaking those
741	741	8 commitments in the first instance while, at the same time, not
742	742	9 permitting new entrants into the industry to take unreasonable
743	743	10 advantage of the investments made by the formerly regulated
744	744	11 industry.
745	745	12 (d) A competitive wholesale and retail market must benefit
746	746	13 all Illinois consumers citizens. The Illinois Commerce
747	747	14 Commission should act to promote the development of an
748	748	15 effectively competitive electricity market that operates
749	749	16 efficiently and is equitable to all consumers. Consumer
750	750	17 protections must be in place to ensure that all customers
751	751	18 continue to receive safe, reliable, affordable, and
752	752	19 environmentally safe electric service.
753	753	20 (e) All consumers must benefit in an equitable and timely
754	754	21 fashion from the lower costs for electricity that result from
755	755	22 retail and wholesale competition and receive sufficient
756	756	23 information to make informed choices among suppliers and
757	757	24 services. The use of renewable resources and energy efficiency
758	758	25 resources should be encouraged in competitive markets.
759	759	26 (f) The efficiency of electric markets depends both upon
760	760
761	761
762	762
763	763
764	764
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766	766
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770	770	1 the competitiveness of supply and upon the
771	771	2 price-responsiveness of the demand for service. Therefore, to
772	772	3 ensure the lowest total cost of service and to enhance the
773	773	4 reliability of service, all classes of the electricity
774	774	5 customers of electric utilities should have access to and be
775	775	6 able to voluntarily use real-time pricing and other
776	776	7 price-response and demand-response mechanisms.
777	777	8 (g) Including cost-effective renewable resources and
778	778	9 demand-response resources in a diverse electricity supply
779	779	10 portfolio will reduce long-term direct and indirect costs to
780	780	11 consumers by decreasing environmental impacts and by avoiding
781	781	12 or delaying the need for new generation, transmission, and
782	782	13 distribution infrastructure. It serves the public interest to
783	783	14 allow electric utilities to recover costs for reasonably and
784	784	15 prudently incurred expenses for electricity generated by
785	785	16 renewable resources and demand-response resources.
786	786	17 (h) Including electricity generated by clean coal
787	787	18 facilities, as defined under Section 1-10 of the Illinois
788	788	19 Power Agency Act, in a diverse electricity procurement
789	789	20 portfolio will reduce the need to purchase, directly or
790	790	21 indirectly, carbon dioxide emission credits and will decrease
791	791	22 environmental impacts. It serves the public interest to allow
792	792	23 electric utilities to recover costs for reasonably and
793	793	24 prudently incurred expenses for sourcing electricity generated
794	794	25 by clean coal facilities.
795	795	26 (Source: P.A. 94-977, eff. 6-30-06; 95-481, eff. 8-28-07;
796	796
797	797
798	798
799	799
800	800
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802	802
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805	805	HB2786 - 22 - LRB103 30267 AMQ 56695 b
806	806	1 95-1027, eff. 6-1-09.)
807	807	2 (220 ILCS 5/16-111.2)
808	808	3 Sec. 16-111.2. Provisions related to proposed utility
809	809	4 transactions.
810	810	5 (a) The General Assembly finds:
811	811	6 (1) A transaction as described in paragraph (3) of
812	812	7 this subsection (a) will contribute to improved
813	813	8 reliability of the electric supply system in Illinois
814	814	9 which is one of the key purposes of the Illinois Electric
815	815	10 Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997.
816	816	11 (2) A transaction as described in paragraph (3) of
817	817	12 this subsection (a) is likely to promote additional
818	818	13 investment in the existing generating assets and in the
819	819	14 development of additional generation capacity in Illinois,
820	820	15 and such change in ownership is in the public interest,
821	821	16 consistent with the intent of the Illinois Electric
822	822	17 Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997 and
823	823	18 beneficial for the consumers citizens of this State.
824	824	19 (3) As of the date on which this amendatory Act of 1999
825	825	20 becomes law, an electric utility providing service to more
826	826	21 than 1,000,000 customers in this State has proposed to
827	827	22 sell or transfer to a single buyer 5 or more generating
828	828	23 plants with a total net dependable capacity of 5000
829	829	24 megawatts or more pursuant to subsection (g) of Section
830	830	25 16-111.
831	831
832	832
833	833
834	834
835	835
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837	837
838	838
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841	841	1 (4) Such electric utility anticipates receiving a sale
842	842	2 price or consideration as a result of such transaction
843	843	3 exceeding 200% of the book value of these plants.
844	844	4 (5) Such electric utility has presented to the
845	845	5 Governor and the leaders of the General Assembly a written
846	846	6 commitment in which such electric utility agrees to expend
847	847	7 $2,000,000,000 outside the corporate limits of any
848	848	8 municipality with 1,000,000 or more inhabitants within
849	849	9 such electric utility's service area, over a 6-year period
850	850	10 beginning with this calendar year on projects, programs
851	851	11 and improvements within its service area relating to
852	852	12 transmission and distribution including, without
853	853	13 limitation, infrastructure expansion, repair and
854	854	14 replacement, capital investments, operations and
855	855	15 maintenance, and vegetation management.
856	856	16 (6) Such electric utility has committed that, if the
857	857	17 sale or transfer contemplated by paragraph (3) of this
858	858	18 subsection is consummated on or before December 31, 1999,
859	859	19 the electric utility shall make contributions totaling
860	860	20 $250,000,000 to entities within this State for, among
861	861	21 other purposes, environmental and clean coal initiatives
862	862	22 pursuant to Section 16-111.1, which commitment includes a
863	863	23 contribution of $25,000,000 to the Board of Trustees of
864	864	24 Southern Illinois University for the purpose of funding
865	865	25 programs or projects related to clean coal.
866	866	26 (b) That, in light of the findings in paragraphs (1) and
867	867
868	868
869	869
870	870
871	871
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873	873
874	874
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877	877	1 (2) of subsection (a) and, in this instance, the circumstances
878	878	2 described in paragraphs (3) through (6) of subsection (a) and
879	879	3 otherwise, the General Assembly hereby finds that allowing the
880	880	4 generating facilities being acquired to be eligible facilities
881	881	5 under the provisions of the National Energy Policy Act of 1992
882	882	6 that apply to exempt wholesale generators (A) will benefit
883	883	7 consumers; (B) is in the public interest; and (C) does not
884	884	8 violate the law of this State.
885	885	9 (c) Nothing in this Section shall have any effect on the
886	886	10 authority of the Commission under subsection (g) of Section
887	887	11 16-111 of this Act.
888	888	12 (Source: P.A. 91-50, eff. 6-30-99.)
889	889	13 (220 ILCS 5/16-128)
890	890	14 Sec. 16-128. Provisions related to utility employees.
891	891	15 (a) The General Assembly finds:
892	892	16 (1) The reliability and safety of the electric system
893	893	17 has depended and depends on a workforce of skilled and
894	894	18 dedicated employees, equipped with technical training and
895	895	19 experience.
896	896	20 (2) The integrity and reliability of the system also
897	897	21 requires the industry's commitment to invest in regular
898	898	22 inspection and maintenance, to assure that it can
899	899	23 withstand the demands of heavy service requirements and
900	900	24 emergency situations.
901	901	25 (3) It is in the State's interest to protect the
902	902
903	903
904	904
905	905
906	906
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908	908
909	909
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911	911	HB2786 - 25 - LRB103 30267 AMQ 56695 b
912	912	1 interests of utility employees who have and continue to
913	913	2 dedicate themselves to assuring reliable service to the
914	914	3 consumers citizens of this State, and who might otherwise
915	915	4 be economically displaced in a restructured industry.
916	916	5 The General Assembly further finds that it is necessary to
917	917	6 assure that employees of electric utilities and employees of
918	918	7 contractors or subcontractors performing work on behalf of an
919	919	8 electric utility operating in the deregulated industry have
920	920	9 the requisite skills, knowledge, training, experience, and
921	921	10 competence to provide reliable and safe electrical service
922	922	11 under this Act.
923	923	12 The General Assembly also finds that it is necessary to
924	924	13 assure that employees of alternative retail electric suppliers
925	925	14 and employees of contractors or subcontractors performing work
926	926	15 on behalf of an alternative retail electric supplier operating
927	927	16 in the deregulated industry have the requisite skills,
928	928	17 knowledge, training, experience, and competence to provide
929	929	18 reliable and safe electrical service under this Act.
930	930	19 To ensure that these findings and prerequisites for
931	931	20 reliable and safe electrical service continue to prevail, each
932	932	21 alternative retail electric supplier, electric utility, and
933	933	22 contractors and subcontractors performing work on behalf of an
934	934	23 electric utility or alternative retail electric supplier must
935	935	24 demonstrate the competence of their respective employees to
936	936	25 work on the distribution system.
937	937	26 The knowledge, skill, training, experience, and competence
938	938
939	939
940	940
941	941
942	942
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944	944
945	945
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948	948	1 levels to be demonstrated shall be consistent with those
949	949	2 required of or by the electric utilities in this State as of
950	950	3 January 1, 2007, with respect to their employees and employees
951	951	4 of contractors or subcontractors performing work on their
952	952	5 behalf. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit an electric
953	953	6 utility from establishing knowledge, skill, training,
954	954	7 experience, and competence levels greater than those required
955	955	8 as of January 1, 2007.
956	956	9 An adequate demonstration of requisite knowledge, skill,
957	957	10 training, experience, and competence shall include, at a
958	958	11 minimum, completion or current participation and ultimate
959	959	12 completion by the employee of an accredited or otherwise
960	960	13 recognized apprenticeship program for the particular craft,
961	961	14 trade or skill, or specified and several years of employment
962	962	15 performing a particular work function that is utilized by an
963	963	16 electric utility.
964	964	17 Notwithstanding any law, tariff, Commission rule, order,
965	965	18 or decision to the contrary, the Commission shall have an
966	966	19 affirmative statutory obligation to ensure that an electric
967	967	20 utility is employing employees, contractors, and
968	968	21 subcontractors with employees who meet the requirements of
969	969	22 subsection (a) of this Section when installing, constructing,
970	970	23 operating, and maintaining generation, transmission, or
971	971	24 distribution facilities and equipment within this State
972	972	25 pursuant to any provision in this Act or any Commission order,
973	973	26 rule, or decision.
974	974
975	975
976	976
977	977
978	978
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980	980
981	981
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983	983	HB2786 - 27 - LRB103 30267 AMQ 56695 b
984	984	1 For purposes of this Section, "distribution facilities and
985	985	2 equipment" means any and all of the facilities and equipment,
986	986	3 including, but not limited to, substations, distribution
987	987	4 feeder circuits, switches, meters, protective equipment,
988	988	5 primary circuits, distribution transformers, line extensions
989	989	6 and service extensions both above or below ground, conduit,
990	990	7 risers, elbows, transformer pads, junction boxes, manholes,
991	991	8 pedestals, conductors, and all associated fittings that
992	992	9 connect the transmission or distribution system to either the
993	993	10 weatherhead on the retail customer's building or other
994	994	11 structure for above ground service or to the terminals on the
995	995	12 meter base of the retail customer's building or other
996	996	13 structure for below ground service.
997	997	14 To implement this requirement for alternative retail
998	998	15 electric suppliers, the Commission, in determining that an
999	999	16 applicant meets the standards for certification as an
1000	1000	17 alternative retail electric supplier, shall require the
1001	1001	18 applicant to demonstrate (i) that the applicant is licensed to
1002	1002	19 do business, and bonded, in the State of Illinois; and (ii)
1003	1003	20 that the employees of the applicant that will be installing,
1004	1004	21 operating, and maintaining generation, transmission, or
1005	1005	22 distribution facilities within this State, or any entity with
1006	1006	23 which the applicant has contracted to perform those functions
1007	1007	24 within this State, have the requisite knowledge, skills,
1008	1008	25 training, experience, and competence to perform those
1009	1009	26 functions in a safe and responsible manner in order to provide
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1020	1020	1 safe and reliable service, in accordance with the criteria
1021	1021	2 stated above.
1022	1022	3 (b) The General Assembly finds, based on experience in
1023	1023	4 other industries that have undergone similar transitions, that
1024	1024	5 the introduction of competition into the State's electric
1025	1025	6 utility industry may result in workforce reductions by
1026	1026	7 electric utilities which may adversely affect persons who have
1027	1027	8 been employed by this State's electric utilities in functions
1028	1028	9 important to the public convenience and welfare. The General
1029	1029	10 Assembly further finds that the impacts on employees and their
1030	1030	11 communities of any necessary reductions in the utility
1031	1031	12 workforce directly caused by this restructuring of the
1032	1032	13 electric industry shall be mitigated to the extent practicable
1033	1033	14 through such means as offers of voluntary severance,
1034	1034	15 retraining, early retirement, outplacement and related
1035	1035	16 benefits. Therefore, before any such reduction in the
1036	1036	17 workforce during the transition period, an electric utility
1037	1037	18 shall present to its employees or their representatives a
1038	1038	19 workforce reduction plan outlining the means by which the
1039	1039	20 electric utility intends to mitigate the impact of such
1040	1040	21 workforce reduction on its employees.
1041	1041	22 (c) In the event of a sale, purchase, or any other transfer
1042	1042	23 of ownership during the mandatory transition period of one or
1043	1043	24 more Illinois divisions or business units, and/or generating
1044	1044	25 stations or generating units, of an electric utility, the
1045	1045	26 electric utility's contract and/or agreements with the
1046	1046
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1056	1056	1 acquiring entity or persons shall require that the entity or
1057	1057	2 persons hire a sufficient number of non-supervisory employees
1058	1058	3 to operate and maintain the station, division or unit by
1059	1059	4 initially making offers of employment to the non-supervisory
1060	1060	5 workforce of the electric utility's division, business unit,
1061	1061	6 generating station and/or generating unit at no less than the
1062	1062	7 wage rates, and substantially equivalent fringe benefits and
1063	1063	8 terms and conditions of employment that are in effect at the
1064	1064	9 time of transfer of ownership of said division, business unit,
1065	1065	10 generating station, and/or generating units; and said wage
1066	1066	11 rates and substantially equivalent fringe benefits and terms
1067	1067	12 and conditions of employment shall continue for at least 30
1068	1068	13 months from the time of said transfer of ownership unless the
1069	1069	14 parties mutually agree to different terms and conditions of
1070	1070	15 employment within that 30-month period. The utility shall
1071	1071	16 offer a transition plan to those employees who are not offered
1072	1072	17 jobs by the acquiring entity because that entity has a need for
1073	1073	18 fewer workers. If there is litigation concerning the sale, or
1074	1074	19 other transfer of ownership of the electric utility's
1075	1075	20 divisions, business units, generating station, or generating
1076	1076	21 units, the 30-month period will begin on the date the
1077	1077	22 acquiring entity or persons take control or management of the
1078	1078	23 divisions, business units, generating station or generating
1079	1079	24 units of the electric utility.
1080	1080	25 (d) If a utility transfers ownership during the mandatory
1081	1081	26 transition period of one or more Illinois divisions, business
1082	1082
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1092	1092	1 units, generating stations or generating units of an electric
1093	1093	2 utility to a majority-owned subsidiary, that subsidiary shall
1094	1094	3 continue to employ the utility's employees who were employed
1095	1095	4 by the utility at such division, business unit or generating
1096	1096	5 station at the time of the transfer under the same terms and
1097	1097	6 conditions of employment as those employees enjoyed at the
1098	1098	7 time of the transfer. If ownership of the subsidiary is
1099	1099	8 subsequently sold or transferred to a third party during the
1100	1100	9 transition period, the transition provisions outlined in
1101	1101	10 subsection (c) shall apply.
1102	1102	11 (e) The plant transfer provisions set forth above shall
1103	1103	12 not apply to any generating station which was the subject of a
1104	1104	13 sales agreement entered into before January 1, 1997.
1105	1105	14 (Source: P.A. 97-616, eff. 10-26-11; 97-646, eff. 12-30-11.)
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