HB2973 Engrossed LRB095 06413 MJR 26512 b

1     AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding
5 Section 16-131 as follows:
 
6     (220 ILCS 5/16-131 new)
7     Sec. 16-131. Commission consumer education program for
8 energy conservation.
9     (a) The Commission shall implement and maintain a consumer
10 education program for energy conservation to provide
11 residential and small commercial retail customers with
12 information to help them understand their options concerning
13 energy conservation.
14     (b) The Commission shall form a working group following the
15 enactment of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly.
16 This group shall consist of 5 representatives of the
17 investor-owned electric utilities in this State, 2 of which
18 shall be appointed by electric utilities serving over 1,000,000
19 retail customers in this State; 2 representatives of
20 alternative retail electric suppliers; 3 representatives of
21 organizations representing the interests of residential and
22 small commercial retail customers; and the Commission.
23     (c) By January 1, 2008, educational materials for small

 

 

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1 commercial customers and residential customers, the working
2 group appointed pursuant to this Section shall develop a
3 package of printed educational materials which meet the
4 requirements of subsection (d) and shall submit such package to
5 the Commission for approval, along with recommendations for
6 implementing this consumer education program for energy
7 conservation. Such materials shall consider the needs of
8 different types of consumers in this State, such as elderly,
9 low-income, multilingual, minority, rural and disabled
10 customers. The working group shall issue recommendations to the
11 Commission on how such education program can be implemented
12 through a variety of communication methods, including
13 specifically mass media, distribution of printed material,
14 public service announcements, and posting on the Internet.
15     (d) At a minimum, the materials constituting the consumer
16 education program submitted to the Commission by the working
17 group shall include concise explanations or descriptions of the
18 following:
19         (1) information about how customers may conserve
20     energy and
21         (2) additional information available from the
22     Commission upon request.
23     (e) Within 45 days following the submission required of the
24 working group by subsection (d) of this Section, the Commission
25 shall approve or disapprove the educational materials and
26 recommendations for program implementation. The Commission

 

 

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1 shall be deemed to have approved the educational program
2 materials and recommendations unless the Commission
3 disapproves of any such material or recommendation within 45
4 days following the date of receipt.
5     (f) Once approved by the Commission, materials comprising
6 the consumer education program contemplated by this Section
7 shall be distributed as follows:
8         (1) Electric utilities shall mail printed educational
9     materials specified by the working group and approved by
10     the Commission (a) to all residential and small commercial
11     retail customers within a reasonable period as determined
12     by the Commission; and (b) to all new residential and small
13     commercial retail customers at the time that such customers
14     begin taking services from the electric utility.
15         (2) Both electric utilities and alternative retail
16     electric suppliers shall provide such materials at no
17     charge to residential and small commercial retail
18     customers upon request.
19     (g) The costs of printing educational materials approved by
20 the Commission pursuant to this Section shall be payable solely
21 from funding as provided in this subsection (g). Each year the
22 General Assembly shall appropriate money to the Commission from
23 the General Revenue Fund for the expenses of the Commission
24 associated with this Section. The cost of the consumer
25 education program for energy conservation contemplated by this
26 Section shall not exceed the amount of such appropriation. In

 

 

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1 no event shall any electric utility, alternative retail
2 electric supplier or customer be liable for the costs of
3 printing consumer education program material in accordance
4 with this Section. The obligations associated with this
5 consumer education program shall not exceed the amounts
6 appropriated for this program pursuant to this Section.
7     (h) The Commission shall study the effectiveness of the
8 consumer education program for energy conservation. Such study
9 shall include a notice and an opportunity for participation and
10 comment by all interested and potentially affected parties.
11 Such study shall be completed by June 30th of each year and a
12 summary thereof, together with any legislative
13 recommendations, shall be included in the Commission's Annual
14 Report due in accordance with Section 4-304 of this Act.
 
15     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
16 becoming law.