SB0651 EnrolledLRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Home Energy
5Affordability and Transparency (HEAT) Act.
 
6    Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing
7Sections 16-115, 16-115A, 16-115B, 16-118, 16-119, 16-123,
819-110, 19-115, 19-120, 19-130, 19-135, and 20-110 and by
9adding Sections 16-115E and 19-116 as follows:
 
10    (220 ILCS 5/16-115)
11    Sec. 16-115. Certification of alternative retail electric
12suppliers.
13    (a) Any alternative retail electric supplier must obtain a
14certificate of service authority from the Commission in
15accordance with this Section before serving any retail customer
16or other user located in this State. An alternative retail
17electric supplier may request, and the Commission may grant, a
18certificate of service authority for the entire State or for a
19specified geographic area of the State.
20    (b) An alternative retail electric supplier seeking a
21certificate of service authority shall file with the Commission
22a verified application containing information showing that the

 

 

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1applicant meets the requirements of this Section. The
2alternative retail electric supplier shall publish notice of
3its application in the official State newspaper within 10 days
4following the date of its filing. No later than 45 days after
5the application is properly filed with the Commission, and such
6notice is published, the Commission shall issue its order
7granting or denying the application.
8    (c) An application for a certificate of service authority
9shall identify the area or areas in which the applicant intends
10to offer service and the types of services it intends to offer.
11Applicants that seek to serve residential or small commercial
12retail customers within a geographic area that is smaller than
13an electric utility's service area shall submit evidence
14demonstrating that the designation of this smaller area does
15not violate Section 16-115A. An applicant that seeks to serve
16residential or small commercial retail customers may state in
17its application for certification any limitations that will be
18imposed on the number of customers or maximum load to be
19served.
20    (d) The Commission shall grant the application for a
21certificate of service authority if it makes the findings set
22forth in this subsection based on the verified application and
23such other information as the applicant may submit:
24        (1) That the applicant possesses sufficient technical,
25    financial and managerial resources and abilities to
26    provide the service for which it seeks a certificate of

 

 

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1    service authority. In determining the level of technical,
2    financial and managerial resources and abilities which the
3    applicant must demonstrate, the Commission shall consider
4    (i) the characteristics, including the size and financial
5    sophistication, of the customers that the applicant seeks
6    to serve, and (ii) whether the applicant seeks to provide
7    electric power and energy using property, plant and
8    equipment which it owns, controls or operates;
9        (2) That the applicant will comply with all applicable
10    federal, State, regional and industry rules, policies,
11    practices and procedures for the use, operation, and
12    maintenance of the safety, integrity and reliability, of
13    the interconnected electric transmission system;
14        (3) That the applicant will only provide service to
15    retail customers in an electric utility's service area that
16    are eligible to take delivery services under this Act;
17        (4) That the applicant will comply with such
18    informational or reporting requirements as the Commission
19    may by rule establish and provide the information required
20    by Section 16-112. Any data related to contracts for the
21    purchase and sale of electric power and energy shall be
22    made available for review by the Staff of the Commission on
23    a confidential and proprietary basis and only to the extent
24    and for the purposes which the Commission determines are
25    reasonably necessary in order to carry out the purposes of
26    this Act;

 

 

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1        (5) That the applicant will procure renewable energy
2    resources in accordance with Section 16-115D of this Act,
3    and will source electricity from clean coal facilities, as
4    defined in Section 1-10 of the Illinois Power Agency Act,
5    in amounts at least equal to the percentages set forth in
6    subsections (c) and (d) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois
7    Power Agency Act. For purposes of this Section:
8            (i) (Blank);
9            (ii) (Blank);
10            (iii) the required sourcing of electricity
11        generated by clean coal facilities, other than the
12        initial clean coal facility, shall be limited to the
13        amount of electricity that can be procured or sourced
14        at a price at or below the benchmarks approved by the
15        Commission each year in accordance with item (1) of
16        subsection (c) and items (1) and (5) of subsection (d)
17        of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act;
18            (iv) all alternative retail electric suppliers
19        shall execute a sourcing agreement to source
20        electricity from the initial clean coal facility, on
21        the terms set forth in paragraphs (3) and (4) of
22        subsection (d) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power
23        Agency Act, except that in lieu of the requirements in
24        subparagraphs (A)(v), (B)(i), (C)(v), and (C)(vi) of
25        paragraph (3) of that subsection (d), the applicant
26        shall execute one or more of the following:

 

 

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1                (1) if the sourcing agreement is a power
2            purchase agreement, a contract with the initial
3            clean coal facility to purchase in each hour an
4            amount of electricity equal to all clean coal
5            energy made available from the initial clean coal
6            facility during such hour, which the utilities are
7            not required to procure under the terms of
8            subsection (d) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois
9            Power Agency Act, multiplied by a fraction, the
10            numerator of which is the alternative retail
11            electric supplier's retail market sales of
12            electricity (expressed in kilowatthours sold) in
13            the State during the prior calendar month and the
14            denominator of which is the total sales of
15            electricity (expressed in kilowatthours sold) in
16            the State by alternative retail electric suppliers
17            during such prior month that are subject to the
18            requirements of this paragraph (5) of subsection
19            (d) of this Section and subsection (d) of Section
20            1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act plus the
21            total sales of electricity (expressed in
22            kilowatthours sold) by utilities outside of their
23            service areas during such prior month, pursuant to
24            subsection (c) of Section 16-116 of this Act; or
25                (2) if the sourcing agreement is a contract for
26            differences, a contract with the initial clean

 

 

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1            coal facility in each hour with respect to an
2            amount of electricity equal to all clean coal
3            energy made available from the initial clean coal
4            facility during such hour, which the utilities are
5            not required to procure under the terms of
6            subsection (d) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois
7            Power Agency Act, multiplied by a fraction, the
8            numerator of which is the alternative retail
9            electric supplier's retail market sales of
10            electricity (expressed in kilowatthours sold) in
11            the State during the prior calendar month and the
12            denominator of which is the total sales of
13            electricity (expressed in kilowatthours sold) in
14            the State by alternative retail electric suppliers
15            during such prior month that are subject to the
16            requirements of this paragraph (5) of subsection
17            (d) of this Section and subsection (d) of Section
18            1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act plus the
19            total sales of electricity (expressed in
20            kilowatthours sold) by utilities outside of their
21            service areas during such prior month, pursuant to
22            subsection (c) of Section 16-116 of this Act;
23            (v) if, in any year after the first year of
24        commercial operation, the owner of the clean coal
25        facility fails to demonstrate to the Commission that
26        the initial clean coal facility captured and

 

 

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1        sequestered at least 50% of the total carbon emissions
2        that the facility would otherwise emit or that
3        sequestration of emissions from prior years has
4        failed, resulting in the release of carbon into the
5        atmosphere, the owner of the facility must offset
6        excess emissions. Any such carbon offsets must be
7        permanent, additional, verifiable, real, located
8        within the State of Illinois, and legally and
9        practicably enforceable. The costs of any such offsets
10        that are not recoverable shall not exceed $15 million
11        in any given year. No costs of any such purchases of
12        carbon offsets may be recovered from an alternative
13        retail electric supplier or its customers. All carbon
14        offsets purchased for this purpose and any carbon
15        emission credits associated with sequestration of
16        carbon from the facility must be permanently retired.
17        The initial clean coal facility shall not forfeit its
18        designation as a clean coal facility if the facility
19        fails to fully comply with the applicable carbon
20        sequestration requirements in any given year, provided
21        the requisite offsets are purchased. However, the
22        Attorney General, on behalf of the People of the State
23        of Illinois, may specifically enforce the facility's
24        sequestration requirement and the other terms of this
25        contract provision. Compliance with the sequestration
26        requirements and offset purchase requirements that

 

 

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1        apply to the initial clean coal facility shall be
2        reviewed annually by an independent expert retained by
3        the owner of the initial clean coal facility, with the
4        advance written approval of the Attorney General;
5            (vi) The Commission shall, after notice and
6        hearing, revoke the certification of any alternative
7        retail electric supplier that fails to execute a
8        sourcing agreement with the initial clean coal
9        facility as required by item (5) of subsection (d) of
10        this Section. The sourcing agreements with this
11        initial clean coal facility shall be subject to both
12        approval of the initial clean coal facility by the
13        General Assembly and satisfaction of the requirements
14        of item (4) of subsection (d) of Section 1-75 of the
15        Illinois Power Agency Act, and shall be executed within
16        90 days after any such approval by the General
17        Assembly. The Commission shall not accept an
18        application for certification from an alternative
19        retail electric supplier that has lost certification
20        under this subsection (d), or any corporate affiliate
21        thereof, for at least one year from the date of
22        revocation;
23        (6) With respect to an applicant that seeks to serve
24    residential or small commercial retail customers, that the
25    area to be served by the applicant and any limitations it
26    proposes on the number of customers or maximum amount of

 

 

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1    load to be served meet the provisions of Section 16-115A,
2    provided, that the Commission can extend the time for
3    considering such a certificate request by up to 90 days,
4    and can schedule hearings on such a request;
5        (7) That the applicant meets the requirements of
6    subsection (a) of Section 16-128; and
7        (8) That the applicant discloses whether the applicant
8    is the subject of any lawsuit filed in a court of law or
9    formal complaint filed with a regulatory agency alleging
10    fraud, deception, or unfair marketing practices or other
11    similar allegations and, if the applicant is the subject of
12    such lawsuit or formal complaint, the applicant shall
13    identify the name, case number, and jurisdiction of each
14    lawsuit or complaint. For the purpose of this item (8),
15    "formal complaint" includes only those complaints that
16    seek a binding determination from a State or federal
17    regulatory body;
18        (9) That the applicant shall continue to comply with
19    requirements for certification stated in this Section;
20        (10) That the applicant shall execute and maintain a
21    license or permit bond issued by a qualifying surety or
22    insurance company authorized to transact business in the
23    State of Illinois in favor of the People of the State of
24    Illinois. The amount of the bond shall equal $30,000 if the
25    applicant seeks to serve only nonresidential retail
26    customers with maximum electrical demands of one megawatt

 

 

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1    or more, $150,000 if the applicant seeks to serve only
2    non-residential retail customers with annual electrical
3    consumption greater than 15,000 kWh, or $500,000 if the
4    applicant seeks to serve all eligible customers.
5    Applicants shall be required to submit an additional
6    $500,000 bond if the applicant intends to market to
7    residential customers using in-person solicitations. The
8    bond shall be conditioned upon the full and faithful
9    performance of all duties and obligations of the applicant
10    as an alternative retail electric supplier and shall be
11    valid for a period of not less than one year. The cost of
12    the bond shall be paid by the applicant. The applicant
13    shall file a copy of this bond, with a notarized
14    verification page from the issuer, as part of its
15    application for certification under 83 Ill. Adm. Code 451;
16    and
17        (11) (8) That the applicant will comply with all other
18    applicable laws and regulations.
19    (d-3) The Commission may deny with prejudice an application
20in which the applicant fails to provide the Commission with
21information sufficient for the Commission to grant the
22application.
23    (d-5) (Blank).
24    (e) A retail customer that owns a cogeneration or
25self-generation facility and that seeks certification only to
26provide electric power and energy from such facility to retail

 

 

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1customers at separate locations which customers are both (i)
2owned by, or a subsidiary or other corporate affiliate of, such
3applicant and (ii) eligible for delivery services, shall be
4granted a certificate of service authority upon filing an
5application and notifying the Commission that it has entered
6into an agreement with the relevant electric utilities pursuant
7to Section 16-118. Provided, however, that if the retail
8customer owning such cogeneration or self-generation facility
9would not be charged a transition charge due to the exemption
10provided under subsection (f) of Section 16-108 prior to the
11certification, and the retail customers at separate locations
12are taking delivery services in conjunction with purchasing
13power and energy from the facility, the retail customer on
14whose premises the facility is located shall not thereafter be
15required to pay transition charges on the power and energy that
16such retail customer takes from the facility.
17    (f) The Commission shall have the authority to promulgate
18rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this
19Section. On or before May 1, 1999, the Commission shall adopt a
20rule or rules applicable to the certification of those
21alternative retail electric suppliers that seek to serve only
22nonresidential retail customers with maximum electrical
23demands of one megawatt or more which shall provide for (i)
24expedited and streamlined procedures for certification of such
25alternative retail electric suppliers and (ii) specific
26criteria which, if met by any such alternative retail electric

 

 

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1supplier, shall constitute the demonstration of technical,
2financial and managerial resources and abilities to provide
3service required by subsection (d) (1) of this Section, such as
4a requirement to post a bond or letter of credit, from a
5responsible surety or financial institution, of sufficient
6size for the nature and scope of the services to be provided;
7demonstration of adequate insurance for the scope and nature of
8the services to be provided; and experience in providing
9similar services in other jurisdictions.
10    (g) An alternative retail electric supplier may seek
11confidential treatment for the following information by filing
12an affidavit with the Commission so long as the affidavit meets
13the requirements in this subsection (g):
14        (1) the total annual kilowatt-hours delivered and sold
15    by an alternative retail electric supplier to retail
16    customers within each utility service territory and the
17    total annual kilowatt-hours delivered and sold by an
18    alternative retail electric supplier to retail customers
19    in all utility service territories in the preceding
20    calendar year as required by 83 Ill. Adm. Code 451.770;
21        (2) the total peak demand supplied by an alternative
22    retail electric supplier during the previous year in each
23    utility service territory as required by 83 Ill. Adm. Code
24    465.40;
25        (3) a good faith estimate of the amount an alternative
26    retail electric supplier expects to be obliged to pay the

 

 

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1    utility under single billing tariffs during the next 12
2    months and the amount of any bond or letter of credit used
3    to demonstrate an alternative retail electric supplier's
4    credit worthiness to provide single billing services
5    pursuant to 83 Ill. Adm. Code 451.510(a) and (b).
6    The affidavit must be filed contemporaneously with the
7information for which confidential treatment is sought and must
8clearly state that the affiant seeks confidential treatment
9pursuant to this subsection (g) and the information for which
10confidential treatment is sought must be clearly identified on
11the confidential version of the document filed with the
12Commission. The affidavit must be accompanied by a
13"confidential" and a "public" version of the document or
14documents containing the information for which confidential
15treatment is sought.
16    If the alternative retail electric supplier has met the
17affidavit requirements of this subsection (g), then the
18Commission shall afford confidential treatment to the
19information identified in the affidavit for a period of 2 years
20after the date the affidavit is received by the Commission.
21    Nothing in this subsection (g) prevents an alternative
22retail electric supplier from filing a petition with the
23Commission seeking confidential treatment for information
24beyond that identified in this subsection (g) or for
25information contained in other reports or documents filed with
26the Commission.

 

 

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1    Nothing in this subsection (g) prevents the Commission, on
2its own motion, or any party from filing a formal petition with
3the Commission seeking to reconsider the conferring of
4confidential status on an item of information afforded
5confidential treatment pursuant to this subsection (g).
6    The Commission, on its own motion, may at any time initiate
7a docketed proceeding to investigate the continued
8applicability of this subsection (g) to the information
9contained in items (i), (ii), and (iii) of this subsection (g).
10If, at the end of such investigation, the Commission determines
11that a particular item of information should no longer be
12eligible for the affidavit-based process outlined in this
13subsection (g), the Commission may enter an order to remove
14that item from the list of items eligible for the process set
15forth in this subsection (g). Notwithstanding any such order,
16in the event the Commission makes such a determination, nothing
17in this subsection (g) prevents an alternative retail electric
18supplier desiring confidential treatment for such information
19from filing a formal petition with the Commission seeking
20confidential treatment for such information.
21(Source: P.A. 99-332, eff. 8-10-15.)
 
22    (220 ILCS 5/16-115A)
23    Sec. 16-115A. Obligations of alternative retail electric
24suppliers.
25    (a) An alternative retail electric supplier shall:

 

 

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1        (i) shall comply with the requirements imposed on
2    public utilities by Sections 8-201 through 8-207, 8-301,
3    8-505 and 8-507 of this Act, to the extent that these
4    Sections have application to the services being offered by
5    the alternative retail electric supplier; and
6        (ii) shall continue to comply with the requirements for
7    certification stated in subsection (d) of Section 16-115; .
8        (iii) by May 31, 2020 and every May 31 thereafter,
9    shall submit to the Commission and the Office of the
10    Attorney General the rates the retail electric supplier
11    charged to residential customers in the prior year,
12    including each distinct rate charged and whether the rate
13    was a fixed or variable rate, the basis for the variable
14    rate, and any fees charged in addition to the supply rate,
15    including monthly fees, flat fees, or other service
16    charges; and
17        (iv) shall make publicly available on its website,
18    without the need for a customer login, rate information for
19    all of its variable, time-of-use, and fixed rate contracts
20    currently available to residential customers, including,
21    but not limited to, fixed monthly charges, early
22    termination fees, and kilowatt-hour charges.
23    (b) An alternative retail electric supplier shall obtain
24verifiable authorization from a customer, in a form or manner
25approved by the Commission consistent with Section 2EE of the
26Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, before the

 

 

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1customer is switched from another supplier.
2    (c) No alternative retail electric supplier, or electric
3utility other than the electric utility in whose service area a
4customer is located, shall (i) enter into or employ any
5arrangements which have the effect of preventing a retail
6customer with a maximum electrical demand of less than one
7megawatt from having access to the services of the electric
8utility in whose service area the customer is located or (ii)
9charge retail customers for such access. This subsection shall
10not be construed to prevent an arms-length agreement between a
11supplier and a retail customer that sets a term of service,
12notice period for terminating service and provisions governing
13early termination through a tariff or contract as allowed by
14Section 16-119.
15    (d) An alternative retail electric supplier that is
16certified to serve residential or small commercial retail
17customers shall not:
18        (1) deny service to a customer or group of customers
19    nor establish any differences as to prices, terms,
20    conditions, services, products, facilities, or in any
21    other respect, whereby such denial or differences are based
22    upon race, gender or income, except as provided in Section
23    16-115E.
24        (2) deny service to a customer or group of customers
25    based on locality nor establish any unreasonable
26    difference as to prices, terms, conditions, services,

 

 

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1    products, or facilities as between localities.
2    (e) An alternative retail electric supplier shall comply
3with the following requirements with respect to the marketing,
4offering and provision of products or services to residential
5and small commercial retail customers:
6        (i) All Any marketing materials, including, but not
7    limited to, electronic marketing materials, in-person
8    solicitations, and telephone solicitations, which make
9    statements concerning prices, terms and conditions of
10    service shall contain information that adequately
11    discloses the prices, terms, and conditions of the products
12    or services that the alternative retail electric supplier
13    is offering or selling to the customer and shall disclose
14    the current utility electric supply price to compare
15    applicable at the time the alternative retail electric
16    supplier is offering or selling the products or services to
17    the customer and shall disclose the date on which the
18    utility electric supply price to compare became effective
19    and the date on which it will expire. The utility electric
20    supply price to compare shall be the sum of the electric
21    supply charge and the transmission services charge and
22    shall not include the purchased electricity adjustment.
23    The disclosure shall include a statement that the price to
24    compare does not include the purchased electricity
25    adjustment, and, if applicable, the range of the purchased
26    electricity adjustment. All marketing materials,

 

 

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1    including, but not limited to, electronic marketing
2    materials, in-person solicitations, and telephone
3    solicitations, shall include the following statement: .
4            "(Name of the alternative retail electric
5        supplier) is not the same entity as your electric
6        delivery company. You are not required to enroll with
7        (name of alternative retail electric supplier).
8        Beginning on (effective date), the electric supply
9        price to compare is (price in cents per kilowatt hour).
10        The electric utility electric supply price will expire
11        on (expiration date). The utility electric supply
12        price to compare does not include the purchased
13        electricity adjustment factor. For more information go
14        to the Illinois Commerce Commission's free website at
15        www.pluginillinois.org.".
16        If applicable, the statement shall also include the
17    following statement:
18            "The purchased electricity adjustment factor may
19        range between +.5 cents and -.5 cents per kilowatt
20        hour.".
21        This paragraph (i) does not apply to goodwill or
22    institutional advertising.
23        (ii) Before any customer is switched from another
24    supplier, the alternative retail electric supplier shall
25    give the customer written information that adequately
26    discloses, in plain language, the prices, terms and

 

 

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1    conditions of the products and services being offered and
2    sold to the customer. This written information shall be
3    provided in a language in which the customer subject to the
4    marketing or solicitation is able to understand and
5    communicate, and the alternative retail electric supplier
6    shall not switch a customer who is unable to understand and
7    communicate in a language in which the marketing or
8    solicitation was conducted. The alternative retail
9    electric supplier shall comply with Section 2N of the
10    Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
11        (iii) An alternative retail electric supplier shall
12    provide documentation to the Commission and to customers
13    that substantiates any claims made by the alternative
14    retail electric supplier regarding the technologies and
15    fuel types used to generate the electricity offered or sold
16    to customers.
17        (iv) The alternative retail electric supplier shall
18    provide to the customer (1) itemized billing statements
19    that describe the products and services provided to the
20    customer and their prices, and (2) an additional statement,
21    at least annually, that adequately discloses the average
22    monthly prices, and the terms and conditions, of the
23    products and services sold to the customer.
24        (v) All in-person and telephone solicitations shall be
25    conducted in, translated into, and provided in a language
26    in which the consumer subject to the marketing or

 

 

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1    solicitation is able to understand and communicate. An
2    alternative retail electric supplier shall terminate a
3    solicitation if the consumer subject to the marketing or
4    communication is unable to understand and communicate in
5    the language in which the marketing or solicitation is
6    being conducted. An alternative retail electric supplier
7    shall comply with Section 2N of the Consumer Fraud and
8    Deceptive Business Practices Act.
9        (vi) Each alternative retail electric supplier shall
10    conduct training for individual representatives engaged in
11    in-person solicitation and telemarketing to residential
12    customers on behalf of that alternative retail electric
13    supplier prior to conducting any such solicitations on the
14    alternative retail electric supplier's behalf. Each
15    alternative retail electric supplier shall submit a copy of
16    its training material to the Commission on an annual basis
17    and the Commission shall have the right to review and
18    require updates to the material. After initial training,
19    each alternative retail electric supplier shall be
20    required to conduct refresher training for its individual
21    representatives every 6 months.
22    (f) An alternative retail electric supplier may limit the
23overall size or availability of a service offering by
24specifying one or more of the following: a maximum number of
25customers, maximum amount of electric load to be served, time
26period during which the offering will be available, or other

 

 

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1comparable limitation, but not including the geographic
2locations of customers within the area which the alternative
3retail electric supplier is certificated to serve. The
4alternative retail electric supplier shall file the terms and
5conditions of such service offering including the applicable
6limitations with the Commission prior to making the service
7offering available to customers.
8    (g) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as
9preventing an alternative retail electric supplier, which is an
10affiliate of, or which contracts with, (i) an industry or trade
11organization or association, (ii) a membership organization or
12association that exists for a purpose other than the purchase
13of electricity, or (iii) another organization that meets
14criteria established in a rule adopted by the Commission, from
15offering through the organization or association services at
16prices, terms and conditions that are available solely to the
17members of the organization or association.
18(Source: P.A. 90-561, eff. 12-16-97.)
 
19    (220 ILCS 5/16-115B)
20    Sec. 16-115B. Commission oversight of services provided by
21alternative retail electric suppliers.
22    (a) The Commission shall have jurisdiction in accordance
23with the provisions of Article X of this Act to entertain and
24dispose of any complaint against any alternative retail
25electric supplier alleging (i) that the alternative retail

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 22 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1electric supplier has violated or is in nonconformance with any
2applicable provisions of Section 16-115 through Section
316-115A; (ii) that an alternative retail electric supplier
4serving retail customers having maximum demands of less than
5one megawatt has failed to provide service in accordance with
6the terms of its contract or contracts with such customer or
7customers; (iii) that the alternative retail electric supplier
8has violated or is in non-conformance with the delivery
9services tariff of, or any of its agreements relating to
10delivery services with, the electric utility, municipal
11system, or electric cooperative providing delivery services;
12or (iv) that the alternative retail electric supplier has
13violated or failed to comply with the requirements of Sections
148-201 through 8-207, 8-301, 8-505, or 8-507 of this Act as made
15applicable to alternative retail electric suppliers.
16    (b) The Commission shall have authority, after notice and
17hearing held on complaint or on the Commission's own motion:
18        (1) To order an alternative retail electric supplier to
19    cease and desist, or correct, any violation of or
20    non-conformance with the provisions of Section 16-115 or
21    16-115A;
22        (2) To impose financial penalties for violations of or
23    non-conformances with the provisions of Section 16-115 or
24    16-115A, not to exceed (i) $10,000 per occurrence or (ii)
25    $30,000 per day for those violations or non-conformances
26    which continue after the Commission issues a cease and

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 23 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1    desist order; and
2        (3) To alter, modify, revoke or suspend the certificate
3    of service authority of an alternative retail electric
4    supplier for substantial or repeated violations of or
5    non-conformances with the provisions of Section 16-115 or
6    16-115A.
7    (c) In addition to other powers and authority granted to it
8under this Act, the Commission may require an alternative
9retail electric supplier to enter into a compliance plan. If
10the Commission comes into possession of information causing it
11to conclude that an alternative retail electric supplier is
12violating this Act or the Commission's rules, the Commission
13may, after notice and hearing, enter an order directing the
14alternative retail electric supplier to implement practices,
15procedures, oversight, or other measures or refrain from
16practices, conduct, or activities that the Commission finds is
17necessary or reasonable to ensure the alternative retail
18electric supplier's compliance with this Act and the
19Commission's rules. Failure by an alternative retail electric
20supplier to implement or comply with a Commission-ordered
21compliance plan is a violation of this Section. The Commission,
22in its discretion, may order a compliance plan under such
23circumstances as it considers warranted and is not required to
24order a compliance plan prior to taking other enforcement
25action against an alternative retail electric supplier.
26Nothing in this subsection (c) shall be interpreted to limit

 

 

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1the authority or right of the Attorney General.
2(Source: P.A. 90-561, eff. 12-16-97.)
 
3    (220 ILCS 5/16-115E new)
4    Sec. 16-115E. Alternative retail electric supplier utility
5assistance recipient.
6    (a) Beginning January 1, 2020, an alternative retail
7electric supplier shall not knowingly submit an enrollment to
8change a customer's electric supplier if the electric utility's
9records indicate that the customer either received financial
10assistance in the previous 12 months from the Low Income Home
11Energy Assistance Program or, at the time of enrollment is
12participating in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan, unless
13(1) the customer's change in electric supplier is pursuant to a
14government aggregation program adopted in accordance with
15Section 1-92 of the Illinois Power Agency Act, or (2) the
16customer's change in electric supplier is pursuant to a
17Commission-approved savings guarantee plan as described in
18subsection (b).
19    (b) Beginning January 1, 2020, an alternative retail
20electric supplier may apply to the Commission to offer a
21savings guarantee plan to recipients of Low Income Home Energy
22Assistance Program funding or Percentage of Income Payment Plan
23funding. The Commission shall initiate a public, docketed
24proceeding to consider whether or not to approve an alternative
25retail electric supplier's application to offer a savings

 

 

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1guarantee plan. At a minimum, the savings guarantee plan shall
2charge customers for electric supply at an amount that is less
3than the amount charged by the electric utility.
4    (c) An agreement entered into between an alternative retail
5electric supplier and a customer in violation of this Section
6is void and unenforceable. Before the electric utility executes
7a change in a customer's electric supplier, other than a change
8pursuant to a government aggregation program adopted in
9accordance with Section 1-92 of the Illinois Power Agency Act
10or a Commission-approved savings guarantee plan as described in
11subsection (b), the electric utility shall confirm at the time
12of the request whether its records indicate that the customer
13either has received financial assistance from the Low Income
14Home Energy Assistance Program in the previous 12 months or, at
15the time of enrollment, is participating in the Percentage of
16Income Payment Plan; and if so, shall reject such change
17request. Absent willful or wanton misconduct, no electric
18utility shall be held liable for any error in acting or failing
19to act pursuant to this Section.
 
20    (220 ILCS 5/16-118)
21    Sec. 16-118. Services provided by electric utilities to
22alternative retail electric suppliers.
23    (a) It is in the best interest of Illinois energy consumers
24to promote fair and open competition in the provision of
25electric power and energy and to prevent anticompetitive

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 26 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1practices in the provision of electric power and energy.
2Therefore, to the extent an electric utility provides electric
3power and energy or delivery services to alternative retail
4electric suppliers and such services are not subject to the
5jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and
6are not competitive services, they shall be provided through
7tariffs that are filed with the Commission, pursuant to Article
8IX of this Act. Each electric utility shall permit alternative
9retail electric suppliers to interconnect facilities to those
10owned by the utility provided they meet established standards
11for such interconnection, and may provide standby or other
12services to alternative retail electric suppliers. The
13alternative retail electric supplier shall sign a contract
14setting forth the prices, terms and conditions for
15interconnection with the electric utility and the prices, terms
16and conditions for services provided by the electric utility to
17the alternative retail electric supplier in connection with the
18delivery by the electric utility of electric power and energy
19supplied by the alternative retail electric supplier.
20    (b) An electric utility shall file a tariff pursuant to
21Article IX of the Act that would allow alternative retail
22electric suppliers or electric utilities other than the
23electric utility in whose service area retail customers are
24located to issue single bills to the retail customers for both
25the services provided by such alternative retail electric
26supplier or other electric utility and the delivery services

 

 

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1provided by the electric utility to such customers. The tariff
2filed pursuant to this subsection shall (i) require partial
3payments made by retail customers to be credited first to the
4electric utility's tariffed services, (ii) impose commercially
5reasonable terms with respect to credit and collection,
6including requests for deposits, (iii) retain the electric
7utility's right to disconnect the retail customers, if it does
8not receive payment for its tariffed services, in the same
9manner that it would be permitted to if it had billed for the
10services itself, and (iv) require the alternative retail
11electric supplier or other electric utility that elects the
12billing option provided by this tariff to include on each bill
13to retail customers an identification of the electric utility
14providing the delivery services and a listing of the charges
15applicable to such services. The tariff filed pursuant to this
16subsection may also include other just and reasonable terms and
17conditions. In addition, an electric utility, an alternative
18retail electric supplier or electric utility other than the
19electric utility in whose service area the customer is located,
20and a customer served by such alternative retail electric
21supplier or other electric utility, may enter into an agreement
22pursuant to which the alternative retail electric supplier or
23other electric utility pays the charges specified in Section
2416-108, or other customer-related charges, including taxes and
25fees, in lieu of such charges being recovered by the electric
26utility directly from the customer.

 

 

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1    (c) An electric utility with more than 100,000 customers
2shall file a tariff pursuant to Article IX of this Act that
3provides alternative retail electric suppliers, and electric
4utilities other than the electric utility in whose service area
5the retail customers are located, with the option to have the
6electric utility purchase their receivables for power and
7energy service provided to residential retail customers and
8non-residential retail customers with a non-coincident peak
9demand of less than 400 kilowatts. Receivables for power and
10energy service of alternative retail electric suppliers or
11electric utilities other than the electric utility in whose
12service area the retail customers are located shall be
13purchased by the electric utility at a just and reasonable
14discount rate to be reviewed and approved by the Commission
15after notice and hearing. The discount rate shall be based on
16the electric utility's historical bad debt and any reasonable
17start-up costs and administrative costs associated with the
18electric utility's purchase of receivables. The discounted
19rate for purchase of receivables shall be included in the
20tariff filed pursuant to this subsection (c). The discount rate
21filed pursuant to this subsection (c) shall be subject to
22periodic Commission review. The electric utility retains the
23right to impose the same terms on retail customers with respect
24to credit and collection, including requests for deposits, and
25retain the electric utility's right to disconnect the retail
26customers, if it does not receive payment for its tariffed

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 29 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1services or purchased receivables, in the same manner that it
2would be permitted to if the retail customers purchased power
3and energy from the electric utility. The tariff filed pursuant
4to this subsection (c) shall permit the electric utility to
5recover from retail customers any uncollected receivables that
6may arise as a result of the purchase of receivables under this
7subsection (c), may also include other just and reasonable
8terms and conditions, and shall provide for the prudently
9incurred costs associated with the provision of this service
10pursuant to this subsection (c). Nothing in this subsection (c)
11permits the double recovery of bad debt expenses from
12customers.
13    (d) An electric utility with more than 100,000 customers
14shall file a tariff pursuant to Article IX of this Act that
15would provide alternative retail electric suppliers or
16electric utilities other than the electric utility in whose
17service area retail customers are located with the option to
18have the electric utility produce and provide single bills to
19the retail customers for both the electric power and energy
20service provided by the alternative retail electric supplier or
21other electric utility and the delivery services provided by
22the electric utility to the customers. The tariffs filed
23pursuant to this subsection shall require the electric utility
24to collect and remit customer payments for electric power and
25energy service provided by alternative retail electric
26suppliers or electric utilities other than the electric utility

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 30 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1in whose service area retail customers are located. The tariff
2filed pursuant to this subsection shall require the electric
3utility to include on each bill to retail customers an
4identification of the alternative retail electric supplier or
5other electric utility that elects the billing option. The
6tariff filed pursuant to this subsection (d) may also include
7other just and reasonable terms and conditions and shall
8provide for the recovery of prudently incurred costs associated
9with the provision of service pursuant to this subsection (d).
10The costs associated with the provision of service pursuant to
11this Section shall be subject to periodic Commission review.
12    (e) An electric utility with more than 100,000 customers in
13this State shall file a tariff pursuant to Article IX of this
14Act that provides alternative retail electric suppliers, and
15electric utilities other than the electric utility in whose
16service area the retail customers are located, with the option
17to have the electric utility purchase 2 billing cycles worth of
18uncollectible receivables for power and energy service
19provided to residential retail customers and to
20non-residential retail customers with a non-coincident peak
21demand of less than 400 kilowatts upon returning that customer
22to that electric utility for delivery and energy service after
23that alternative retail electric supplier, or an electric
24utility other than the electric utility in whose service area
25the retail customer is located, has made reasonable collection
26efforts on that account. Uncollectible receivables for power

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 31 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1and energy service of alternative retail electric suppliers, or
2electric utilities other than the electric utility in whose
3service area the retail customers are located, shall be
4purchased by the electric utility at a just and reasonable
5discount rate to be reviewed and approved by the Commission,
6after notice and hearing. The discount rate shall be based on
7the electric utility's historical bad debt for receivables that
8are outstanding for a similar length of time and any reasonable
9start-up costs and administrative costs associated with the
10electric utility's purchase of receivables. The discounted
11rate for purchase of uncollectible receivables shall be
12included in the tariff filed pursuant to this subsection (e).
13The electric utility retains the right to impose the same terms
14on these retail customers with respect to credit and
15collection, including requests for deposits, and retains the
16right to disconnect these retail customers, if it does not
17receive payment for its tariffed services or purchased
18receivables, in the same manner that it would be permitted to
19if the retail customers had purchased power and energy from the
20electric utility. The tariff filed pursuant to this subsection
21(e) shall permit the electric utility to recover from retail
22customers any uncollectable receivables that may arise as a
23result of the purchase of uncollectible receivables under this
24subsection (e), may also include other just and reasonable
25terms and conditions, and shall provide for the prudently
26incurred costs associated with the provision of this service

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 32 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1pursuant to this subsection (e). Nothing in this subsection (e)
2permits the double recovery of utility bad debt expenses from
3customers. The electric utility may file a joint tariff for
4this subsection (e) and subsection (c) of this Section.
5    (f) Every alternative retail electric supplier or electric
6utility other than the electric utility in whose service area
7retail customers are located that issues single bills to the
8retail customers for the services provided by the alternative
9retail electric supplier or other electric utility to the
10customers shall include on the single bills issued to
11residential customers the current utility electric supply
12price to compare that would apply to the customer for the
13billing period if the customer obtained supply from the
14utility. The current utility electric supply price shall be the
15sum of the electric supply charge and the transmission services
16charge and shall disclose that the price does not include the
17monthly purchased electricity adjustment.
18    (g) Every electric utility that provides delivery and
19supply services shall include on each bill issued to
20residential customers who obtain supply from an alternative
21retail electric supplier the current utility electric supply
22price to compare that would apply to the customer for the
23billing period if the customer obtained supply from the
24utility. The current utility electric supply price to compare
25shall be the sum of the electric supply charge and the
26transmission services charge and shall disclose that the price

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 33 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1does not include the monthly purchased electricity adjustment.
2(Source: P.A. 95-700, eff. 11-9-07.)
 
3    (220 ILCS 5/16-119)
4    Sec. 16-119. Switching suppliers. An electric utility or an
5alternative retail electric supplier may establish a term of
6service, notice period for terminating service and provisions
7governing early termination through a tariff or contract. A
8customer may change its supplier subject to tariff or contract
9terms and conditions. Any notice provisions; or provision for a
10fee, charge or penalty with early termination of a contract;
11shall be conspicuously disclosed in any tariff or contract. Any
12tariff filed or contract renewed or entered into on and after
13the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General
14Assembly that contains an early termination clause shall
15disclose the amount of the early termination fee or penalty,
16provided that any early termination fee or penalty shall not
17exceed $50 total for residential customers and $150 for small
18commercial retail customers as defined in Section 16-102 of
19this Act, regardless of whether or not the tariff or contract
20is a multiyear tariff or contract. Beginning January 1, 2020,
21residential and small commercial retail customers shall have a
22right to terminate their contracts with alternative retail
23electric suppliers at any time without any termination fees or
24penalties. A customer shall remain responsible for any unpaid
25charges owed to an electric utility or alternative retail

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 34 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1electric supplier at the time it switches to another provider.
2    The caps on early termination fees and penalties under this
3Section shall apply only to early termination fees and
4penalties for early termination of electric service. The caps
5shall not apply to charges or fees for devices, equipment, or
6other services provided by the utility or alternative retail
7electric supplier.
8(Source: P.A. 99-103, eff. 7-22-15; 99-107, eff. 7-22-15.)
 
9    (220 ILCS 5/16-123)
10    Sec. 16-123. Establishment of customer information centers
11for electric utilities and alternative retail electric
12suppliers.
13    (a) All electric utilities and alternative retail electric
14suppliers shall be required to maintain a customer call center
15where customers can reach a representative and receive current
16information. Customers shall periodically be notified on how to
17reach the call center. The Commission shall have the authority
18to establish reporting requirements for such centers.
19    (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, an electric
20utility may:
21        (1) disclose the current utility electric supply price
22    to a retail customer who takes electric power and energy
23    supply service from an alternative retail electric
24    supplier;
25        (2) disclose the supply price the customer is paying as

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 35 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1    reflected on the customer's bill, if known;
2        (3) furnish to a retail customer a list of frequently
3    asked questions to be used by the retail customer in
4    evaluating electric power and energy supply rate offers by
5    alternative retail electric suppliers; this list may
6    include, but is not limited to, the following:
7            (A) length of the contract;
8            (B) the price per kilowatt hour, and whether the
9        contract price is fixed or variable, and if variable,
10        the circumstances under which the price may change;
11            (C) whether penalties or early termination fees
12        apply if the customer terminates the contract before
13        the expiration of its term; and
14            (D) whether the customer may be subject to any
15        other adjustments, penalties, surcharges, or costs
16        beyond the electric power and energy supply rate; and
17        (4) provide to a retail customer education information
18    published by the Office of Retail Market Development and
19    the Office of the Attorney General regarding the selection
20    and evaluation of electric power and energy supply rate
21    offers by alternative retail electric suppliers.
22(Source: P.A. 90-561, eff. 12-16-97.)
 
23    (220 ILCS 5/19-110)
24    Sec. 19-110. Certification of alternative gas suppliers.
25    (a) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 36 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve
2residential or small commercial customers and only to the
3extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to
4residential or small commercial customers.
5    (b) An alternative gas supplier must obtain a certificate
6of service authority from the Commission in accordance with
7this Section before serving any customer or other user located
8in this State. An alternative gas supplier may request, and the
9Commission may grant, a certificate of service authority for
10the entire State or for a specified geographic area of the
11State. A person, corporation, or other entity acting as an
12alternative gas supplier on the effective date of this
13amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly shall have 180 days
14from the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd
15General Assembly to comply with the requirements of this
16Section in order to continue to operate as an alternative gas
17supplier.
18    (c) An alternative gas supplier seeking a certificate of
19service authority shall file with the Commission a verified
20application containing information showing that the applicant
21meets the requirements of this Section. The alternative gas
22supplier shall publish notice of its application in the
23official State newspaper within 10 days following the date of
24its filing. No later than 45 days after the application is
25properly filed with the Commission, and such notice is
26published, the Commission shall issue its order granting or

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 37 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1denying the application.
2    (d) An application for a certificate of service authority
3shall identify the area or areas in which the applicant intends
4to offer service and the types of services it intends to offer.
5Applicants that seek to serve residential or small commercial
6customers within a geographic area that is smaller than a gas
7utility's service area shall submit evidence demonstrating
8that the designation of this smaller area does not violate
9Section 19-115. An applicant may state in its application for
10certification any limitations that will be imposed on the
11number of customers or maximum load to be served. The applicant
12shall submit as part of its application a statement indicating:
13        (1) Whether the applicant has been denied a natural gas
14    supplier license in any state in the United States.
15        (2) Whether the applicant has had a natural gas
16    supplier license suspended or revoked by any state in the
17    United States.
18        (3) Where, if any, other natural gas supplier license
19    applications are pending in the United States.
20        (4) Whether the applicant is the subject of any
21    lawsuits filed in a court of law or formal complaints filed
22    with a regulatory agency alleging fraud, deception or
23    unfair marketing practices, or other similar allegations,
24    identifying the name, case number, and jurisdiction of each
25    such lawsuit or complaint.
26    For the purposes of this subsection (d), formal complaints

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 38 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1include only those complaints that seek a binding determination
2from a state or federal regulatory body.
3    (e) The Commission shall grant the application for a
4certificate of service authority if it makes the findings set
5forth in this subsection based on the verified application and
6such other information as the applicant may submit.
7        (1) That the applicant possesses sufficient technical,
8    financial, and managerial resources and abilities to
9    provide the service for which it seeks a certificate of
10    service authority. In determining the level of technical,
11    financial, and managerial resources and abilities which
12    the applicant must demonstrate, the Commission shall
13    consider:
14            (A) the characteristics, including the size and
15        financial sophistication of the customers that the
16        applicant seeks to serve;
17            (B) whether the applicant seeks to provide gas
18        using property, plant, and equipment that it owns,
19        controls, or operates; and
20            (C) the applicant's commitment of resources to the
21        management of sales and marketing staff, through
22        affirmative managerial policies, independent audits,
23        technology, hands-on field monitoring and training,
24        and, in the case of applicants who will have sales
25        personnel or sales agents within the State of Illinois,
26        the applicant's managerial presence within the State.

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 39 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1        (2) That the applicant will comply with all applicable
2    federal, State, regional, and industry rules, policies,
3    practices, and procedures for the use, operation, and
4    maintenance of the safety, integrity, and reliability of
5    the gas transmission system.
6        (3) That the applicant will comply with such
7    informational or reporting requirements as the Commission
8    may by rule establish.
9        (4) That the area to be served by the applicant and any
10    limitations it proposes on the number of customers or
11    maximum amount of load to be served meet the provisions of
12    Section 19-115, provided, that if the applicant seeks to
13    serve an area smaller than the service area of a gas
14    utility or proposes other limitations on the number of
15    customers or maximum amount of load to be served, the
16    Commission can extend the time for considering such a
17    certificate request by up to 90 days, and can schedule
18    hearings on such a request.
19        (5) That the applicant shall continue to comply with
20    requirements for certification stated in this Section.
21        (6) That the applicant shall execute and maintain a
22    license or permit bond issued by a qualifying surety or
23    insurance company authorized to transact business in the
24    State of Illinois in favor of the People of the State of
25    Illinois. The amount of the bond shall equal $150,000 if
26    the applicant seeks to serve only nonresidential retail

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 40 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1    customers or $500,000 if the applicant seeks to serve all
2    eligible customers. Applicants shall be required to submit
3    an additional $500,000 bond if the applicant intends to
4    market to residential customers using in-person
5    solicitations. The bond shall be conditioned upon the full
6    and faithful performance of all duties and obligations of
7    the applicant as an alternative retail gas supplier and
8    shall be valid for a period of not less than one year. The
9    cost of the bond shall be paid by the applicant. The
10    applicant shall file a copy of this bond, with a notarized
11    verification page from the issuer, as part of its
12    application for certification under 83 Ill. Adm. Code 551.
13        (7) (5) That the applicant and the applicant's sales
14    agents will comply with all other applicable laws and
15    rules.
16    (e-5) The Commission may deny with prejudice an application
17in which the applicant fails to provide the Commission with
18information sufficient for the Commission to grant the
19application.
20    (f) The Commission can extend the time for considering such
21a certificate request by up to 90 days, and can schedule
22hearings on such a request if:
23        (1) a party to the application proceeding has formally
24    requested that the Commission hold hearings in a pleading
25    that alleges that one or more of the allegations or
26    certifications in the application is false or misleading;

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 41 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1    or
2        (2) other facts or circumstances exist that will
3    necessitate additional time or evidence in order to
4    determine whether a certificate should be issued.
5    (g) The Commission shall have the authority to promulgate
6rules to carry out the provisions of this Section. Within 30
7days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
892nd General Assembly, the Commission shall adopt an emergency
9rule or rules applicable to the certification of those gas
10suppliers that seek to serve residential customers. Within 180
11days of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd
12General Assembly, the Commission shall adopt rules that specify
13criteria which, if met by any such alternative gas supplier,
14shall constitute the demonstration of technical, financial,
15and managerial resources and abilities to provide service
16required by item (1) of subsection (e) of this Section, such as
17a requirement to post a bond or letter of credit, from a
18responsible surety or financial institution, of sufficient
19size for the nature and scope of the services to be provided,
20demonstration of adequate insurance for the scope and nature of
21the services to be provided, and experience in providing
22similar services in other jurisdictions.
23    (h) The Commission may deny with prejudice any application
24that repeatedly fails to include the attachments,
25documentation, and affidavits required by the application form
26or that repeatedly fails to provide any other information

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 42 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1required by this Section.
2    (i) An alternative gas supplier may seek confidential
3treatment for the reporting to the Commission of its total
4annual dekatherms delivered and sold by it to residential and
5small commercial customers by utility service territory during
6the preceding year via the filing of an affidavit with the
7Commission so long as the affidavit meets the requirements of
8this subsection (i). The affidavit must be filed
9contemporaneously with the information for which confidential
10treatment is sought and must clearly state that the affiant
11seeks confidential treatment pursuant to this subsection (i)
12and the information for which confidential treatment is sought
13must be clearly identified on the confidential version of the
14document filed with the Commission. The affidavit must be
15accompanied by both a "confidential" and a "public" version of
16the document or documents containing the information for which
17confidential treatment is sought.
18    If the alternative gas supplier has met the affidavit
19requirements of this subsection (i), then the Commission shall
20afford confidential treatment to the information identified in
21the affidavit for a period of 2 years after the date the
22affidavit is received by the Commission.
23    Nothing in this subsection (i) prevents an alternative gas
24supplier from filing a petition with the Commission seeking
25confidential treatment for information beyond that identified
26in this subsection (i) or for information contained in other

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 43 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1reports or documents filed with the Commission.
2    Nothing in this subsection (i) prevents the Commission, on
3its own motion, or any party from filing a formal petition with
4the Commission seeking to reconsider the conferring of
5confidential status pursuant to this subsection (i).
6    The Commission, on its own motion, may at any time initiate
7a docketed proceeding to investigate the continued
8applicability of this affidavit-based process for seeking
9confidential treatment. If, at the end of such investigation,
10the Commission determines that this affidavit-based process
11for seeking confidential treatment for the information is no
12longer necessary, the Commission may enter an order to that
13effect. Notwithstanding any such order, in the event the
14Commission makes such a determination, nothing in this
15subsection (i) prevents an alternative gas supplier desiring
16confidential treatment for such information from filing a
17formal petition with the Commission seeking confidential
18treatment for such information.
19(Source: P.A. 99-332, eff. 8-10-15.)
 
20    (220 ILCS 5/19-115)
21    Sec. 19-115. Obligations of alternative gas suppliers.
22    (a) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to
23alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve
24residential or small commercial customers and only to the
25extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to

 

 

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1residential or small commercial customers.
2    (b) An alternative gas supplier shall:
3        (1) shall comply with the requirements imposed on
4    public utilities by Sections 8-201 through 8-207, 8-301,
5    8-505 and 8-507 of this Act, to the extent that these
6    Sections have application to the services being offered by
7    the alternative gas supplier;
8        (2) shall continue to comply with the requirements for
9    certification stated in Section 19-110;
10        (3) shall comply with complaint procedures established
11    by the Commission;
12        (4) except as provided in subsection (h) of this
13    Section, shall file with the Chief Clerk of the Commission,
14    within 20 business days after the effective date of this
15    amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, a copy of bill
16    formats, standard customer contract and customer complaint
17    and resolution procedures, and the name and telephone
18    number of the company representative whom Commission
19    employees may contact to resolve customer complaints and
20    other matters. In the case of a gas supplier that engages
21    in door-to-door solicitation, the company shall file with
22    the Commission the consumer information disclosure
23    required by item (3) of subsection (c) of Section 2DDD of
24    the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and
25    shall file updated information within 10 business days
26    after changes in any of the documents or information

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 45 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1    required to be filed by this item (4); and
2        (5) shall maintain a customer call center where
3    customers can reach a representative and receive current
4    information. At least once every 6 months, each alternative
5    gas supplier shall provide written information to
6    customers explaining how to contact the call center. The
7    average answer time for calls placed to the call center
8    shall not exceed 60 seconds where a representative or
9    automated system is ready to render assistance and/or
10    accept information to process calls. The abandon rate for
11    calls placed to the call center shall not exceed 10%. Each
12    alternative gas supplier shall maintain records of the call
13    center's telephone answer time performance and abandon
14    call rate. These records shall be kept for a minimum of 2
15    years and shall be made available to Commission personnel
16    upon request. In the event that answer times and/or abandon
17    rates exceed the limits established above, the reporting
18    alternative gas supplier may provide the Commission or its
19    personnel with explanatory details. At a minimum, these
20    records shall contain the following information in monthly
21    increments:
22            (A) total number of calls received;
23            (B) number of calls answered;
24            (C) average answer time;
25            (D) number of abandoned calls; and
26            (E) abandon call rate.

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 46 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1        Alternative gas suppliers that do not have electronic
2    answering capability that meets these requirements shall
3    notify the Manager of the Commission's Consumer Services
4    Division or its successor within 30 days following the
5    effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General
6    Assembly and work with Staff to develop individualized
7    reporting requirements as to the call volume and
8    responsiveness of the call center.
9        On or before March 1 of every year, each entity shall
10    file a report with the Chief Clerk of the Commission for
11    the preceding calendar year on its answer time and abandon
12    call rate for its call center. A copy of the report shall
13    be sent to the Manager of the Consumer Services Division or
14    its successor; .
15        (6) by January 1, 2020 and every January 1 thereafter,
16    shall submit to the Commission and the Office of the
17    Attorney General the rates the alternative gas supplier
18    charged to residential customers in the prior year,
19    including each distinct rate charged and whether the rate
20    was a fixed or variable rate, the basis for the variable
21    rate, and any fees charged in addition to the supply rate,
22    including monthly fees, flat fees, or other service
23    charges; and
24        (7) shall make publicly available on its website,
25    without the need for a customer login, rate information for
26    all of its variable, time-of-use, and fixed rate contracts

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 47 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1    currently available to residential customers, including
2    but not limited to, fixed monthly charges, early
3    termination fees, and per therm charges.
4    (c) An alternative gas supplier shall not submit or execute
5a change in a customer's selection of a natural gas provider
6unless and until (i) the alternative gas supplier first
7discloses all material terms and conditions of the offer,
8including price, to the customer; (ii) the alternative gas
9supplier has obtained the customer's express agreement to
10accept the offer after the disclosure of all material terms and
11conditions of the offer; and (iii) the alternative gas supplier
12has confirmed the request for a change in accordance with one
13of the following procedures:
14        (1) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the
15    customer's written or electronically signed authorization
16    in a form that meets the following requirements:
17            (A) An alternative gas supplier shall obtain any
18        necessary written or electronically signed
19        authorization from a customer for a change in natural
20        gas service by using a letter of agency as specified in
21        this Section. Any letter of agency that does not
22        conform with this Section is invalid.
23            (B) The letter of agency shall be a separate
24        document (or an easily separable document containing
25        only the authorization language described in item (E)
26        of this paragraph (1)) whose sole purpose is to

 

 

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1        authorize a natural gas provider change. The letter of
2        agency must be signed and dated by the customer
3        requesting the natural gas provider change.
4            (C) The letter of agency shall not be combined with
5        inducements of any kind on the same document.
6            (D) Notwithstanding items (A) and (B) of this
7        paragraph (1), the letter of agency may be combined
8        with checks that contain only the required letter of
9        agency language prescribed in item (E) of this
10        paragraph (1) and the necessary information to make the
11        check a negotiable instrument. The letter of agency
12        check shall not contain any promotional language or
13        material. The letter of agency check shall contain in
14        easily readable, bold face type on the face of the
15        check a notice that the consumer is authorizing a
16        natural gas provider change by signing the check. The
17        letter of agency language also shall be placed near the
18        signature line on the back of the check.
19            (E) At a minimum, the letter of agency must be
20        printed with a print of sufficient size to be clearly
21        legible and must contain clear and unambiguous
22        language that confirms:
23                (i) the customer's billing name and address;
24                (ii) the decision to change the natural gas
25            provider from the current provider to the
26            prospective alternative gas supplier;

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 49 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1                (iii) the terms, conditions, and nature of the
2            service to be provided to the customer, including,
3            but not limited to, the rates for the service
4            contracted for by the customer; and
5                (iv) that the customer understands that any
6            natural gas provider selection the customer
7            chooses may involve a charge to the customer for
8            changing the customer's natural gas provider.
9            (F) Letters of agency shall not suggest or require
10        that a customer take some action in order to retain the
11        customer's current natural gas provider.
12            (G) If any portion of a letter of agency is
13        translated into another language, then all portions of
14        the letter of agency must be translated into that
15        language.
16        (2) An appropriately qualified independent third party
17    has obtained, in accordance with the procedures set forth
18    in this paragraph (2), the customer's oral authorization to
19    change natural gas providers that confirms and includes
20    appropriate verification data. The independent third party
21    must (i) not be owned, managed, controlled, or directed by
22    the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas
23    supplier's marketing agent; (ii) not have any financial
24    incentive to confirm provider change requests for the
25    alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's
26    marketing agent; and (iii) operate in a location physically

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 50 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1    separate from the alternative gas supplier or the
2    alternative gas supplier's marketing agent. Automated
3    third-party verification systems and 3-way conference
4    calls may be used for verification purposes so long as the
5    other requirements of this paragraph (2) are satisfied. An
6    alternative gas supplier or alternative gas supplier's
7    sales representative initiating a 3-way conference call or
8    a call through an automated verification system must drop
9    off the call once the 3-way connection has been
10    established. All third-party verification methods shall
11    elicit, at a minimum, the following information:
12            (A) the identity of the customer;
13            (B) confirmation that the person on the call is
14        authorized to make the provider change;
15            (C) confirmation that the person on the call wants
16        to make the provider change;
17            (D) the names of the providers affected by the
18        change;
19            (E) the service address of the service to be
20        switched; and
21            (F) the price of the service to be provided and the
22        material terms and conditions of the service being
23        offered, including whether any early termination fees
24        apply.
25        Third-party verifiers may not market the alternative
26    gas supplier's services by providing additional

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 51 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1    information. All third-party verifications shall be
2    conducted in the same language that was used in the
3    underlying sales transaction and shall be recorded in their
4    entirety. Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall
5    maintain and preserve audio records of verification of
6    customer authorization for a minimum period of 2 years
7    after obtaining the verification. Automated systems must
8    provide customers with an option to speak with a live
9    person at any time during the call.
10        (3) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the
11    customer's authorization via an automated verification
12    system to change natural gas service via telephone. An
13    automated verification system is an electronic system
14    that, through pre-recorded prompts, elicits voice
15    responses, touchtone responses, or both, from the customer
16    and records both the prompts and the customer's responses.
17    Such authorization must elicit the information in
18    paragraph (2)(A) through (F) of this subsection (c).
19    Alternative gas suppliers electing to confirm sales
20    electronically through an automated verification system
21    shall establish one or more toll-free telephone numbers
22    exclusively for that purpose. Calls to the number or
23    numbers shall connect a customer to a voice response unit,
24    or similar mechanism, that makes a date-stamped,
25    time-stamped recording of the required information
26    regarding the alternative gas supplier change.

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 52 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1        The alternative gas supplier shall not use such
2    electronic authorization systems to market its services.
3        (4) When a consumer initiates the call to the
4    prospective alternative gas supplier, in order to enroll
5    the consumer as a customer, the prospective alternative gas
6    supplier must, with the consent of the customer, make a
7    date-stamped, time-stamped audio recording that elicits,
8    at a minimum, the following information:
9            (A) the identity of the customer;
10            (B) confirmation that the person on the call is
11        authorized to make the provider change;
12            (C) confirmation that the person on the call wants
13        to make the provider change;
14            (D) the names of the providers affected by the
15        change;
16            (E) the service address of the service to be
17        switched; and
18            (F) the price of the service to be supplied and the
19        material terms and conditions of the service being
20        offered, including whether any early termination fees
21        apply.
22        Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall maintain
23    and preserve the audio records containing the information
24    set forth above for a minimum period of 2 years.
25        (5) In the event that a customer enrolls for service
26    from an alternative gas supplier via an Internet website,

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 53 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1    the alternative gas supplier shall obtain an
2    electronically signed letter of agency in accordance with
3    paragraph (1) of this subsection (c) and any customer
4    information shall be protected in accordance with all
5    applicable statutes and regulations. In addition, an
6    alternative gas supplier shall provide the following when
7    marketing via an Internet website:
8            (A) The Internet enrollment website shall, at a
9        minimum, include:
10                (i) a copy of the alternative gas supplier's
11            customer contract that clearly and conspicuously
12            discloses all terms and conditions; and
13                (ii) a conspicuous prompt for the customer to
14            print or save a copy of the contract.
15            (B) Any electronic version of the contract shall be
16        identified by version number, in order to ensure the
17        ability to verify the particular contract to which the
18        customer assents.
19            (C) Throughout the duration of the alternative gas
20        supplier's contract with a customer, the alternative
21        gas supplier shall retain and, within 3 business days
22        of the customer's request, provide to the customer an
23        e-mail, paper, or facsimile of the terms and conditions
24        of the numbered contract version to which the customer
25        assents.
26            (D) The alternative gas supplier shall provide a

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 54 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1        mechanism by which both the submission and receipt of
2        the electronic letter of agency are recorded by time
3        and date.
4            (E) After the customer completes the electronic
5        letter of agency, the alternative gas supplier shall
6        disclose conspicuously through its website that the
7        customer has been enrolled, and the alternative gas
8        supplier shall provide the customer an enrollment
9        confirmation number.
10        (6) When a customer is solicited in person by the
11    alternative gas supplier's sales agent, the alternative
12    gas supplier may only obtain the customer's authorization
13    to change natural gas service through the method provided
14    for in paragraph (2) of this subsection (c).
15    Alternative gas suppliers must be in compliance with this
16subsection (c) within 90 days after the effective date of this
17amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly.
18    (d) Complaints may be filed with the Commission under this
19Section by a customer whose natural gas service has been
20provided by an alternative gas supplier in a manner not in
21compliance with subsection (c) of this Section. If, after
22notice and hearing, the Commission finds that an alternative
23gas supplier has violated subsection (c), then the Commission
24may in its discretion do any one or more of the following:
25        (1) Require the violating alternative gas supplier to
26    refund the customer charges collected in excess of those

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 55 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1    that would have been charged by the customer's authorized
2    natural gas provider.
3        (2) Require the violating alternative gas supplier to
4    pay to the customer's authorized natural gas provider the
5    amount the authorized natural gas provider would have
6    collected for natural gas service. The Commission is
7    authorized to reduce this payment by any amount already
8    paid by the violating alternative gas supplier to the
9    customer's authorized natural gas provider.
10        (3) Require the violating alternative gas supplier to
11    pay a fine of up to $1,000 into the Public Utility Fund for
12    each repeated and intentional violation of this Section.
13        (4) Issue a cease and desist order.
14        (5) For a pattern of violation of this Section or for
15    intentionally violating a cease and desist order, revoke
16    the violating alternative gas supplier's certificate of
17    service authority.
18    (e) No alternative gas supplier shall:
19        (1) enter into or employ any arrangements which have
20    the effect of preventing any customer from having access to
21    the services of the gas utility in whose service area the
22    customer is located;
23        (2) charge customers for such access;
24        (3) bill for goods or services not authorized by the
25    customer; or
26        (4) bill for a disputed amount where the alternative

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 56 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1    gas supplier has been provided notice of such dispute. The
2    supplier shall attempt to resolve a dispute with the
3    customer. When the dispute is not resolved to the
4    customer's satisfaction, the supplier shall inform the
5    customer of the right to file an informal complaint with
6    the Commission and provide contact information. While the
7    pending dispute is active at the Commission, an alternative
8    gas supplier may bill only for the undisputed amount until
9    the Commission has taken final action on the complaint.
10    (f) An alternative gas supplier that is certified to serve
11residential or small commercial customers shall not:
12        (1) deny service to a customer or group of customers
13    nor establish any differences as to prices, terms,
14    conditions, services, products, facilities, or in any
15    other respect, whereby such denial or differences are based
16    upon race, gender, or income, except as provided in Section
17    19-116;
18        (2) deny service based on locality, nor establish any
19    unreasonable difference as to prices, terms, conditions,
20    services, products, or facilities as between localities;
21        (3) include in any agreement a provision that obligates
22    a customer to the terms of the agreement if the customer
23    (i) moves outside the State of Illinois; (ii) moves to a
24    location without a transportation service program; or
25    (iii) moves to a location where the customer will not
26    require natural gas service, provided that nothing in this

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 57 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1    subsection precludes an alternative gas supplier from
2    taking any action otherwise available to it to collect a
3    debt that arises out of service provided to the customer
4    before the customer moved; or
5        (4) assign the agreement to any alternative natural gas
6    supplier, unless:
7            (A) the supplier is an alternative gas supplier
8        certified by the Commission;
9            (B) the rates, terms, and conditions of the
10        agreement being assigned do not change during the
11        remainder of the time covered by the agreement;
12            (C) the customer is given no less than 30 days
13        prior written notice of the assignment and contact
14        information for the new supplier; and
15            (D) the supplier assigning the contract provides
16        contact information that a customer can use to resolve
17        a dispute.
18    (g) An alternative gas supplier shall comply with the
19following requirements with respect to the marketing,
20offering, and provision of products or services:
21        (1) All Any marketing materials, including, but not
22    limited to, electronic marketing materials, in-person
23    solicitations, and telephone solicitations, which make
24    statements concerning prices, terms, and conditions of
25    service shall contain information that adequately
26    discloses the prices, terms, and conditions of the products

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 58 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1    or services and shall disclose the utility gas supply cost
2    rates per therm price available from the Illinois Commerce
3    Commission website applicable at the time the alternative
4    gas supplier is offering or selling the products or
5    services to the customer and shall disclose the date on
6    which the utility gas supply cost rates per therm became
7    effective and the date on which they will expire. All
8    marketing materials, including, but not limited to,
9    electronic marketing materials, in-person solicitations,
10    and telephone solicitations, shall include the following
11    statement: .
12            "(Name of the alternative gas supplier) is not the
13        same entity as your gas delivery company. You are not
14        required to enroll with (name of alternative gas
15        supplier). Beginning on (effective date), the utility
16        gas supply cost rate per therm is (cost). The utility
17        gas supply cost will expire on (expiration date). For
18        more information go to the Illinois Commerce
19        Commission's free website at
20        www.icc.illinois.gov/ags/consumereducation.aspx.".
21        This paragraph (1) does not apply to goodwill or
22    institutional advertising.
23        (2) Before any customer is switched from another
24    supplier, the alternative gas supplier shall give the
25    customer written information that clearly and
26    conspicuously discloses, in plain language, the prices,

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 59 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1    terms, and conditions of the products and services being
2    offered and sold to the customer. This written information
3    shall be provided in a language in which the customer
4    subject to the marketing or solicitation is able to
5    understand and communicate, and the alternative gas
6    supplier shall not switch a customer who is unable to
7    understand and communicate in a language in which the
8    marketing or solicitation was conducted. The alternative
9    gas supplier shall comply with Section 2N of the Consumer
10    Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Nothing in this
11    paragraph (2) may be read to relieve an alternative gas
12    supplier from the duties imposed on it by item (3) of
13    subsection (c) of Section 2DDD of the Consumer Fraud and
14    Deceptive Business Practices Act.
15        (3) The alternative gas supplier shall provide to the
16    customer:
17            (A) accurate, timely, and itemized billing
18        statements that describe the products and services
19        provided to the customer and their prices and that
20        specify the gas consumption amount and any service
21        charges and taxes; provided that this item (g)(3)(A)
22        does not apply to small commercial customers;
23            (B) billing statements that clearly and
24        conspicuously discloses the name and contact
25        information for the alternative gas supplier;
26            (C) an additional statement, at least annually,

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 60 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1        that adequately discloses the average monthly prices,
2        and the terms and conditions, of the products and
3        services sold to the customer; provided that this item
4        (g)(3)(C) does not apply to small commercial
5        customers;
6            (D) refunds of any deposits with interest within 30
7        days after the date that the customer changes gas
8        suppliers or discontinues service if the customer has
9        satisfied all of his or her outstanding financial
10        obligations to the alternative gas supplier at an
11        interest rate set by the Commission which shall be the
12        same as that required of gas utilities; and
13            (E) refunds, in a timely fashion, of all undisputed
14        overpayments upon the oral or written request of the
15        customer.
16        (4) An alternative gas supplier and its sales agents
17    shall refrain from any direct marketing or soliciting to
18    consumers on the gas utility's "Do Not Contact List", which
19    the alternative gas supplier shall obtain on the 15th
20    calendar day of the month from the gas utility in whose
21    service area the consumer is provided with gas service. If
22    the 15th calendar day is a non-business day, then the
23    alternative gas supplier shall obtain the list on the next
24    business day following the 15th calendar day of that month.
25        (5) Early Termination.
26            (A) Any agreement that contains an early

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 61 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1        termination clause shall disclose the amount of the
2        early termination fee, provided that any early
3        termination fee or penalty shall not exceed $50 total,
4        regardless of whether or not the agreement is a
5        multiyear agreement.
6            (B) In any agreement that contains an early
7        termination clause, an alternative gas supplier shall
8        provide the customer the opportunity to terminate the
9        agreement without any termination fee or penalty
10        within 10 business days after the date of the first
11        bill issued to the customer for products or services
12        provided by the alternative gas supplier. The
13        agreement shall disclose the opportunity and provide a
14        toll-free phone number that the customer may call in
15        order to terminate the agreement. Beginning January 1,
16        2020, residential and small commercial customers shall
17        have a right to terminate their agreements with
18        alternative gas suppliers at any time without any
19        termination fees or penalties.
20        (6) Within 2 business days after electronic receipt of
21    a customer switch from the alternative gas supplier and
22    confirmation of eligibility, the gas utility shall provide
23    the customer written notice confirming the switch. The gas
24    utility shall not switch the service until 10 business days
25    after the date on the notice to the customer.
26        (7) The alternative gas supplier shall provide each

 

 

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1    customer the opportunity to rescind its agreement without
2    penalty within 10 business days after the date on the gas
3    utility notice to the customer. The alternative gas
4    supplier shall disclose all of the following:
5            (A) that the gas utility shall send a notice
6        confirming the switch;
7            (B) that from the date the utility issues the
8        notice confirming the switch, the customer shall have
9        10 business days to rescind the switch without penalty;
10            (C) that the customer shall contact the gas utility
11        or the alternative gas supplier to rescind the switch;
12        and
13            (D) the contact information for the gas utility.
14        The alternative gas supplier disclosure shall be
15    included in its sales solicitations, contracts, and all
16    applicable sales verification scripts.
17        (8) All in-person and telephone solicitations shall be
18    conducted in, translated into, and provided in a language
19    in which the consumer subject to the marketing or
20    solicitation is able to understand and communicate. An
21    alternative gas supplier shall terminate a solicitation if
22    the consumer subject to the marketing or communication is
23    unable to understand and communicate in the language in
24    which the marketing or solicitation is being conducted. An
25    alternative gas supplier shall comply with Section 2N of
26    the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

 

 

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1    (h) An alternative gas supplier may limit the overall size
2or availability of a service offering by specifying one or more
3of the following:
4        (1) a maximum number of customers and maximum amount of
5    gas load to be served;
6        (2) time period during which the offering will be
7    available; or
8        (3) other comparable limitation, but not including the
9    geographic locations of customers within the area which the
10    alternative gas supplier is certificated to serve.
11    The alternative gas supplier shall file the terms and
12conditions of such service offering including the applicable
13limitations with the Commission prior to making the service
14offering available to customers.
15    (i) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as
16preventing an alternative gas supplier that is an affiliate of,
17or which contracts with, (i) an industry or trade organization
18or association, (ii) a membership organization or association
19that exists for a purpose other than the purchase of gas, or
20(iii) another organization that meets criteria established in a
21rule adopted by the Commission from offering through the
22organization or association services at prices, terms and
23conditions that are available solely to the members of the
24organization or association.
25(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09.)
 

 

 

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1    (220 ILCS 5/19-116 new)
2    Sec. 19-116. Alternative gas supplier utility assistance
3recipient.
4    (a) Beginning January 1, 2020, an alternative gas supplier
5shall not knowingly submit an enrollment to change a customer's
6natural gas supplier if the gas utility's records indicate that
7the customer received financial assistance in the previous 12
8months from either the Low Income Home Energy Assistance
9Program or, at the time of enrollment is participating in the
10Percentage of Income Payment Plan, unless the customer's change
11in gas supplier is pursuant to a Commission-approved savings
12guarantee plan as described in subsection (b).
13    (b) Beginning January 1, 2020, an alternative gas supplier
14may apply to the Commission to offer a savings guarantee plan
15to recipients of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
16funding or Percentage of Income Payment Plan funding. The
17Commission shall initiate a public, docketed proceeding to
18consider whether or not to approve an alternative gas
19supplier's application to offer a savings guarantee plan. At a
20minimum, the savings guarantee plan shall charge customers for
21natural gas supply at an amount that is less than the amount
22charged by the gas utility.
23    (c) An agreement entered into between an alternative gas
24supplier and a customer in violation of this Section is void
25and unenforceable. Before the gas utility executes a change in
26a customer's natural gas supplier, other than a change pursuant

 

 

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1to a Commission-approved savings guarantee plan as described in
2subsection (b), the gas utility shall confirm at the time of
3the request whether its records indicate that the customer has
4either received financial assistance from the Low Income Home
5Energy Assistance Program within the previous 12 months, or, at
6the time of enrollment is participating in the Percentage of
7Income Payment Plan; and if so, shall reject such change
8request. Absent willful or wanton misconduct, no gas utility
9shall be held liable for any error in acting or failing to act
10pursuant to this Section.
 
11    (220 ILCS 5/19-120)
12    Sec. 19-120. Commission oversight of services provided by
13gas suppliers.
14    (a) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to
15alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve
16residential or small commercial customers and only to the
17extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to
18residential or small commercial customers.
19    (b) The Commission shall have jurisdiction in accordance
20with the provisions of Article X of this Act either to
21investigate on its own motion in order to determine whether or
22to entertain and dispose of any complaint against any
23alternative gas supplier alleging that:
24        (1) the alternative gas supplier has violated or is in
25    nonconformance with any applicable provisions of Section

 

 

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1    19-110, 19-111, 19-112, or Section 19-115;
2        (2) an alternative gas supplier has failed to provide
3    service in accordance with the terms of its contract or
4    contracts with a customer or customers;
5        (3) the alternative gas supplier has violated or is in
6    nonconformance with the transportation services tariff of,
7    or any of its agreements relating to transportation
8    services with, the gas utility or municipal system
9    providing transportation services; or
10        (4) the alternative gas supplier has violated or failed
11    to comply with the requirements of Sections 8-201 through
12    8-207, 8-301, 8-505, or 8-507 of this Act as made
13    applicable to alternative gas suppliers.
14    (c) The Commission shall have authority after notice and
15hearing held on complaint or on the Commission's own motion to
16order any or all of the following remedies, penalties, or forms
17of relief:
18        (1) order an alternative gas supplier to cease and
19    desist, or correct, any violation of or nonconformance with
20    the provisions of Section 19-110, 19-111, 19-112, or
21    19-115;
22        (2) impose financial penalties for violations of or
23    nonconformances with the provisions of Section 19-110,
24    19-111, 19-112, or 19-115, not to exceed (i) $10,000 per
25    occurrence or (ii) $30,000 per day for those violations or
26    nonconformances which continue after the Commission issues

 

 

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1    a cease-and-desist order; and
2        (3) alter, modify, revoke, or suspend the certificate
3    of service authority of an alternative gas supplier for
4    substantial or repeated violations of or nonconformances
5    with the provisions of Section 19-110, 19-111, 19-112, or
6    19-115.
7    (d) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit,
8restrict, or mitigate in any way the power and authority of the
9State's Attorneys or the Attorney General under the Consumer
10Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
11    (e) In addition to other powers and authority granted to it
12under this Act, the Commission may require an alternative gas
13supplier to enter into a compliance plan. If the Commission
14comes into possession of information causing it to conclude
15that an alternative gas supplier is violating this Act or the
16Commission's rules, the Commission may, after notice and
17hearing, enter an order directing the alternative gas supplier
18to implement practices, procedures, oversight, or other
19measures or refrain from practices, conduct, or activities as
20the Commission finds is necessary or reasonable to ensure the
21alternative gas supplier's compliance with this Act and the
22Commission's rules. Failure by an alternative gas supplier to
23implement or comply with a Commission-ordered compliance plan
24is a violation of this Section. The Commission, in its
25discretion, may order a compliance plan under such
26circumstances as it considers warranted and is not required to

 

 

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1order a compliance plan prior to taking other enforcement
2action against an alternative retail gas supplier. Nothing in
3this subsection (e) shall be interpreted to limit the authority
4or right of the Attorney General.
5(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09.)
 
6    (220 ILCS 5/19-130)
7    Sec. 19-130. Commission study and report. The Commission's
8Office of Retail Market Development shall prepare an annual
9report regarding the development of competitive retail natural
10gas markets in Illinois. The Office shall monitor existing
11competitive conditions in Illinois, identify barriers to
12retail competition for all customer classes, and actively
13explore and propose to the Commission and to the General
14Assembly solutions to overcome identified barriers. Solutions
15proposed by the Office to promote retail competition must also
16promote safe, reliable, and affordable natural gas service.
17    On or before October 1 of each year, beginning in 2015, the
18Director shall submit a report to the Commission, the General
19Assembly, and the Governor, that includes, at a minimum, the
20following information:
21        (1) an analysis of the status and development of the
22    retail natural gas market in the State of Illinois; and
23        (2) a discussion of any identified barriers to the
24    development of competitive retail natural gas markets in
25    Illinois and proposed solutions to overcome identified

 

 

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1    barriers; and
2        (3) any other information the Office considers
3    significant in assessing the development of natural gas
4    markets in the State of Illinois.
5    Beginning in 2021, the report shall also include the
6information submitted to the Commission pursuant to paragraph
7(6) of subsection (b) of Section 19-115.
8(Source: P.A. 97-223, eff. 1-1-12; 98-1121, eff. 8-26-14.)
 
9    (220 ILCS 5/19-135)
10    Sec. 19-135. Single billing.
11    (a) It is the intent of the General Assembly that in any
12service area where customers are able to choose their natural
13gas supplier, a single billing option shall be offered to
14customers for both the services provided by the alternative gas
15supplier and the delivery services provided by the gas utility.
16A gas utility shall file a tariff pursuant to Article IX of
17this Act that allows alternative gas suppliers to issue single
18bills to residential and small commercial customers for both
19the services provided by the alternative gas supplier and the
20delivery services provided by the gas utility to customers;
21provided that if a form of single billing is being offered in a
22gas utility's service area on the effective date of this
23amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, that form of
24single billing shall remain in effect unless and until
25otherwise ordered by the Commission.

 

 

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1    (b) Every alternative gas supplier that issues a single
2bill for delivery and supply shall include on the single bill
3issued to a residential customer the current utility gas supply
4cost rate per therm that would apply to the customer for the
5billing period if the customer obtained supply from the
6utility, including all fixed or monthly supply charges and
7other charges, credits, or rates that are part of the gas
8supply price.
9    (c) Every gas utility that offers supply choice and
10provides delivery and alternative gas supply service on a
11single bill to its residential customers shall include on the
12bill of each residential customer who purchases supply services
13from an alternative gas supplier the current utility gas supply
14cost rate per therm that would apply to the customer for the
15billing period if the customer obtained supply from the
16utility, including all fixed or monthly supply charges and
17other charges, credits, or rates that are part of the gas
18supply price.
19(Source: P.A. 92-852, eff. 8-26-02.)
 
20    (220 ILCS 5/20-110)
21    Sec. 20-110. Office of Retail Market Development. Within 90
22days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
2394th General Assembly, subject to appropriation, the
24Commission shall establish an Office of Retail Market
25Development and employ on its staff a Director of Retail Market

 

 

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1Development to oversee the Office. The Director shall have
2authority to employ or otherwise retain at least 2
3professionals dedicated to the task of actively seeking out
4ways to promote retail competition in Illinois to benefit all
5Illinois consumers.
6    The Office shall actively seek input from all interested
7parties and shall develop a thorough understanding and critical
8analyses of the tools and techniques used to promote retail
9competition in other states.
10    The Office shall monitor existing competitive conditions
11in Illinois, identify barriers to retail competition for all
12customer classes, and actively explore and propose to the
13Commission and to the General Assembly solutions to overcome
14identified barriers. The Director may include municipal
15aggregation of customers and creating and designing customer
16choice programs as tools for retail market development.
17Solutions proposed by the Office to promote retail competition
18must also promote safe, reliable, and affordable electric
19service.
20    On or before July 31 June 30 of each year, the Director
21shall submit a report to the Commission, the General Assembly,
22and the Governor, that details specific accomplishments
23achieved by the Office in the prior 12 months in promoting
24retail electric competition and that suggests administrative
25and legislative action necessary to promote further
26improvements in retail electric competition. On or before July

 

 

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131, 2021 and each year thereafter, the report shall include the
2information submitted to the Commission pursuant to paragraph
3(iii) of subsection (a) of Section 16-115A.
4(Source: P.A. 94-1095, eff. 2-2-07.)
 
5    Section 10. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business
6Practices Act is amended by changing Sections 2EE and 2DDD as
7follows:
 
8    (815 ILCS 505/2EE)
9    Sec. 2EE. Alternative retail electric supplier Electric
10service provider selection.
11    (a) An alternative retail electric supplier electric
12service provider shall not submit or execute a change in a
13consumer's subscriber's selection of a provider of electric
14service unless and until:
15        (i) the alternative retail electric supplier provider
16    first discloses all material terms and conditions of the
17    offer to the consumer subscriber;
18        (ii) if the consumer is a small commercial retail
19    customer as that term is defined in subsection (c) of this
20    Section or a residential consumer, the alternative retail
21    electric supplier discloses the utility electric supply
22    price to compare, which shall be the sum of the electric
23    supply charge and the transmission services charge, and
24    shall not include the purchased electricity adjustment,

 

 

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1    applicable at the time the offer is made to the consumer;
2        (iii) if the consumer is a small commercial retail
3    customer as that term is defined in subsection (c) of this
4    Section or a residential consumer, the alternative retail
5    electric provider discloses the following statement:
6            "(Name of the alternative retail electric
7        supplier) is not the same entity as your electric
8        delivery company. You are not required to enroll with
9        (name of alternative retail electric supplier). As of
10        (effective date), the electric supply price to compare
11        is currently (price in cents per kilowatt hour). The
12        electric utility electric supply price will expire on
13        (expiration date). The utility electric supply price
14        to compare does not include the purchased electricity
15        adjustment factor. For more information go to the
16        Illinois Commerce Commission's free website at
17        www.pluginillinois.org.".
18        If applicable, the statement shall include the
19    following statement:
20            "The purchased electricity adjustment factor may
21        range between +.5 cents and -.5 cents per kilowatt
22        hour.";
23        (iv) the alternative retail electric supplier has
24    obtained the consumer's express agreement to accept the
25    offer after the disclosure of all material terms and
26    conditions of the offer; and

 

 

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1        (v) the alternative retail electric supplier has
2    confirmed the request for a change in accordance with one
3    of the following procedures: (ii) the provider has obtained
4    the subscriber's express agreement to accept the offer
5    after the disclosure of all material terms and conditions
6    of the offer; and (iii) the provider has confirmed the
7    request for a change in accordance with one of the
8    following procedures:
9            (A) (a) The new alternative retail electric
10        supplier electric service provider has obtained the
11        consumer's subscriber's written or electronically
12        signed authorization in a form that meets the following
13        requirements:
14                (1) An alternative retail electric supplier
15            electric service provider shall obtain any
16            necessary written or electronically signed
17            authorization from a consumer subscriber for a
18            change in electric service by using a letter of
19            agency as specified in this Section. Any letter of
20            agency that does not conform with this Section is
21            invalid.
22                (2) The letter of agency shall be a separate
23            document (an easily separable document containing
24            only the authorization language described in
25            subparagraph (5) (a)(5) of this Section) whose
26            sole purpose is to authorize an electric service

 

 

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1            provider change. The letter of agency must be
2            signed and dated by the consumer subscriber
3            requesting the electric service provider change.
4                (3) The letter of agency shall not be combined
5            with inducements of any kind on the same document.
6                (4) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (1) (a)(1)
7            and (2) (a)(2) of this Section, the letter of
8            agency may be combined with checks that contain
9            only the required letter of agency language
10            prescribed in subparagraph (5) (a)(5) of this
11            Section and the necessary information to make the
12            check a negotiable instrument. The letter of
13            agency check shall not contain any promotional
14            language or material. The letter of agency check
15            shall contain in easily readable, bold-face type
16            on the face of the check, a notice that the
17            consumer is authorizing an electric service
18            provider change by signing the check. The letter of
19            agency language also shall be placed near the
20            signature line on the back of the check.
21                (5) At a minimum, the letter of agency must be
22            printed with a print of sufficient size to be
23            clearly legible, and must contain clear and
24            unambiguous language that confirms:
25                    (i) The consumer's subscriber's billing
26                name and address;

 

 

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1                    (ii) The decision to change the electric
2                service provider from the current provider to
3                the prospective provider;
4                    (iii) The terms, conditions, and nature of
5                the service to be provided to the consumer
6                subscriber must be clearly and conspicuously
7                disclosed, in writing, and an alternative
8                retail electric supplier electric service
9                provider must directly establish the rates for
10                the service contracted for by the consumer
11                subscriber; and
12                    (iv) That the consumer subscriber
13                understand that any alternative retail
14                electric supplier electric service provider
15                selection the consumer subscriber chooses may
16                involve a charge to the consumer subscriber for
17                changing the consumer's subscriber's electric
18                service provider.
19                (6) Letters of agency shall not suggest or
20            require that a consumer subscriber take some
21            action in order to retain the consumer's
22            subscriber's current electric service provider.
23                (7) If any portion of a letter of agency is
24            translated into another language, then all
25            portions of the letter of agency must be translated
26            into that language.

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 77 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1            (B) (b) An appropriately qualified independent
2        third party has obtained, in accordance with the
3        procedures set forth in this subsection (b), the
4        consumer's subscriber's oral authorization to change
5        electric suppliers that confirms and includes
6        appropriate verification data. The independent third
7        party (i) must not be owned, managed, controlled, or
8        directed by the supplier or the supplier's marketing
9        agent; (ii) must not have any financial incentive to
10        confirm supplier change requests for the supplier or
11        the supplier's marketing agent; and (iii) must operate
12        in a location physically separate from the supplier or
13        the supplier's marketing agent.
14            Automated third-party verification systems and
15        3-way conference calls may be used for verification
16        purposes so long as the other requirements of this
17        subsection (b) are satisfied.
18            A supplier or supplier's sales representative
19        initiating a 3-way conference call or a call through an
20        automated verification system must drop off the call
21        once the 3-way connection has been established.
22            All third-party verification methods shall elicit,
23        at a minimum, the following information: (i) the
24        identity of the consumer subscriber; (ii) confirmation
25        that the person on the call is the account holder, has
26        been specifically and explicitly authorized by the

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 78 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1        account holder, or possesses lawful authority
2        authorized to make the supplier change; (iii)
3        confirmation that the person on the call wants to make
4        the supplier change; (iv) the names of the suppliers
5        affected by the change; (v) the service address of the
6        supply to be switched; and (vi) the price of the
7        service to be supplied and the material terms and
8        conditions of the service being offered, including
9        whether any early termination fees apply. Third-party
10        verifiers may not market the supplier's services by
11        providing additional information, including
12        information regarding procedures to block or otherwise
13        freeze an account against further changes.
14            All third-party verifications shall be conducted
15        in the same language that was used in the underlying
16        sales transaction and shall be recorded in their
17        entirety. Submitting suppliers shall maintain and
18        preserve audio records of verification of subscriber
19        authorization for a minimum period of 2 years after
20        obtaining the verification. Automated systems must
21        provide consumers with an option to speak with a live
22        person at any time during the call. Each disclosure
23        made during the third-party verification must be made
24        individually to obtain clear acknowledgment of each
25        disclosure. The alternative retail electric supplier
26        must be in a location where he or she cannot hear the

 

 

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1        customer while the third-party verification is
2        conducted. The alternative retail electric supplier
3        shall not contact the customer after the third-party
4        verification for a period of 24 hours unless the
5        customer initiates the contact.
6            (C) (c) When a consumer subscriber initiates the
7        call to the prospective alternative retail electric
8        supplier electric supplier, in order to enroll the
9        consumer subscriber as a customer, the prospective
10        alternative retail electric supplier must, with the
11        consent of the customer, make a date-stamped,
12        time-stamped audio recording that elicits, at a
13        minimum, the following information:
14                (1) the identity of the customer subscriber;
15                (2) confirmation that the person on the call is
16            authorized to make the supplier change;
17                (3) confirmation that the person on the call
18            wants to make the supplier change;
19                (4) the names of the suppliers affected by the
20            change;
21                (5) the service address of the supply to be
22            switched; and
23                (6) the price of the service to be supplied and
24            the material terms and conditions of the service
25            being offered, including whether any early
26            termination fees apply.

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 80 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1            Submitting suppliers shall maintain and preserve
2        the audio records containing the information set forth
3        above for a minimum period of 2 years.
4    (b)(1) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
5utilize the name of a public utility in any manner that is
6deceptive or misleading, including, but not limited to implying
7or otherwise leading a consumer to believe that an alternative
8retail electric supplier is soliciting on behalf of or is an
9agent of a utility. An alternative retail electric supplier
10shall not utilize the name, or any other identifying insignia,
11graphics, or wording that has been used at any time to
12represent a public utility company or its services, to
13identify, label, or define any of its electric power and energy
14service offers. An alternative retail electric supplier may
15state the name of a public electric utility in order to
16accurately describe the electric utility service territories
17in which the supplier is currently offering an electric power
18and energy service. An alternative retail electric supplier
19that is the affiliate of an Illinois public utility and that
20was doing business in Illinois providing alternative retail
21electric service on January 1, 2016 may continue to use that
22public utility's name, logo, identifying insignia, graphics,
23or wording in its business operations occurring outside the
24service territory of the public utility with which it is
25affiliated.
26    (2) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not state

 

 

SB0651 Enrolled- 81 -LRB101 04244 JRG 49252 b

1or otherwise imply that the alternative retail electric
2supplier is employed by, representing, endorsed by, or acting
3on behalf of a utility or utility program, a consumer group or
4consumer group program, or a governmental body, unless the
5alternative retail electric supplier has entered into a
6contractual arrangement with the governmental body and has been
7authorized by the governmental body to make the statements.
8    (c) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
9submit or execute a change in a consumer's selection of a
10provider of electric service unless the alternative retail
11electric supplier complies with the following requirements of
12this subsection (c). It is a violation of this Section for an
13alternative retail electric supplier to fail to comply with
14this subsection (c). The requirements of this subsection (c)
15shall only apply to residential and small commercial retail
16customers. For purposes of this subsection (c) only, "small
17commercial retail customer" has the meaning given to that term
18in Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act.
19        (1) During a solicitation an alternative retail
20    electric supplier shall state that he or represents an
21    independent seller of electric power and energy service
22    certified by the Illinois Commerce Commission and that he
23    or she is not employed by, representing, endorsed by, or
24    acting on behalf of, a utility, or a utility program, a
25    consumer group or consumer group program, or a governmental
26    body, unless the alternative retail electric supplier has

 

 

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1    entered into a contractual arrangement with the
2    governmental body and has been authorized with the
3    governmental body to make the statements.
4        (2) Alternative retail electric suppliers who engage
5    in in-person solicitation for the purpose of selling
6    electric power and energy service offered by the
7    alternative retail electric supplier shall display
8    identification on an outer garment. This identification
9    shall be visible at all times and prominently display the
10    following: (i) the alternative retail electric supplier
11    agent's full name in reasonable size font; (ii) an agent
12    identification number; (iii) a photograph of the
13    alternative retail electric supplier agent; and (iv) the
14    trade name and logo of the alternative retail electric
15    supplier the agent is representing. If the agent is selling
16    electric power and energy services from multiple
17    alternative retail electric suppliers to the consumer, the
18    identification shall display the trade name and logo of the
19    agent, broker, or consultant entity as that entity is
20    defined in Section 16-115C of the Public Utilities Act. An
21    alternative retail electric supplier shall leave the
22    premises at the consumer's, owner's, or occupant's
23    request. A copy of the Uniform Disclosure Statement
24    described in 83 Ill. Adm. Code 412.115 and 412.Appendix A
25    is to be left with the consumer, at the conclusion of the
26    visit unless the consumer refuses to accept a copy. An

 

 

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1    alternative retail electric supplier may provide the
2    Uniform Disclosure Statement electronically instead of in
3    paper form to a consumer upon that customer's request. The
4    alternative retail electric supplier shall also offer to
5    the consumer, at the time of the initiation of the
6    solicitation, a business card or other material that lists
7    the agent's name, identification number and title, and the
8    alternative retail electric supplier's name and contact
9    information, including phone number. The alternative
10    retail electric supplier shall not conduct any in-person
11    solicitations of consumers at any building or premises
12    where any sign, notice, or declaration of any description
13    whatsoever is posted that prohibits sales, marketing, or
14    solicitations. The alternative retail electric supplier
15    shall obtain consent to enter multi-unit residential
16    dwellings. Consent obtained to enter a multi-unit dwelling
17    from one prospective customer or occupant of the dwelling
18    shall not constitute consent to market to any other
19    prospective consumers without separate consent.
20        (3) An alternative retail electric supplier who
21    contacts consumers by telephone for the purpose of selling
22    electric power and energy service shall provide the agent's
23    name and identification number. Any telemarketing
24    solicitations that lead to a telephone enrollment of a
25    consumer must be recorded and retained for a minimum of 2
26    years. All telemarketing calls of consumers that do not

 

 

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1    lead to a telephone enrollment, but last at least 2
2    minutes, shall be recorded and retained for a minimum of 6
3    months.
4        (4) During an inbound enrollment call, an alternative
5    retail electric supplier shall state that he or she
6    represents an independent seller of electric power and
7    energy service certified by the Illinois Commerce
8    Commission. All inbound enrollment calls that lead to an
9    enrollment shall be recorded, and the recordings shall be
10    retained for a minimum of 2 years. An inbound enrollment
11    call that does not lead to an enrollment, but lasts at
12    least 2 minutes, shall be retained for a minimum of 6
13    months. The alternative retail electric supplier shall
14    send the Uniform Disclosure Statement and contract to the
15    customer within 3 business days after the electric
16    utility's confirmation to the alternative retail electric
17    supplier of an accepted enrollment.
18        (5) If a direct mail solicitation to a consumer
19    includes a written letter of agency, it shall include the
20    Uniform Disclosure Statement described in 83 Ill. Adm. Code
21    412.115 and 412.Appendix A. The Uniform Disclosure
22    Statement shall be provided on a separate page from the
23    other marketing materials included in the direct mail
24    solicitation. If a written letter of agency is being used
25    to authorize a consumer's enrollment, the written letter of
26    agency shall comply with this Section. A copy of the

 

 

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1    contract must be sent to consumer within 3 business days
2    after the electric utility's confirmation to the
3    alternative retail electric supplier of an accepted
4    enrollment.
5        (6) Online Solicitation.
6            (A) Each alternative retail electric supplier
7        offering electric power and energy service to
8        consumers online shall clearly and conspicuously make
9        all disclosures for any services offered through
10        online enrollment before requiring the consumer to
11        enter any personal information other than zip code,
12        electric utility service territory, or type of service
13        sought.
14            (B) Notwithstanding any requirements in this
15        Section to the contrary, an alternative retail
16        electric supplier may secure consent from the consumer
17        to obtain customer-specific billing and usage
18        information for the sole purpose of determining and
19        pricing a product through a letter of agency or method
20        approved through an Illinois Commerce Commission
21        docket before making all disclosure for services
22        offered through online enrollment. It is a violation of
23        this Act for an alternative retail electric supplier to
24        use a consumer's utility account number to execute or
25        change a consumer's enrollment unless the consumer
26        expressly consents to that enrollment as required by

 

 

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1        law.
2            (C) The enrollment website of the alternative
3        retail electric supplier shall, at a minimum, include:
4        (i) disclosure of all material terms and conditions of
5        the offer; (ii) a statement that electronic acceptance
6        of the terms and conditions is an agreement to initiate
7        service and begin enrollment; (iii) a statement that
8        the consumer shall review the contract or contact the
9        current supplier to learn if any early termination fees
10        are applicable; and (iv) an email address and toll-free
11        phone number of the alternative retail electric
12        supplier where the customer can express a decision to
13        rescind the contract.
14        (7)(A) Beginning January 1, 2020, an alternative
15    retail electric supplier shall not sell or offer to sell
16    any products or services to a consumer pursuant to a
17    contract in which the contract automatically renews,
18    unless an alternative retail electric supplier provides to
19    the consumer at the outset of the offer, in addition to
20    other disclosures required by law, a separate written
21    statement titled "Automatic Contract Renewal" that clearly
22    and conspicuously discloses in bold lettering in at least
23    12-point font the terms and conditions of the automatic
24    contract renewal provision, including: (i) the estimated
25    bill cycle on which the initial contract term expires and a
26    statement that it could be later based on when the utility

 

 

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1    accepts the initial enrollment; (ii) the estimated bill
2    cycle on which the new contract term begins and a statement
3    that it will immediately follow the last billing cycle of
4    the current term; (iii) the procedure to terminate the
5    contract before the new contract term applies; and (iv) the
6    cancellation procedure. If the alternative retail electric
7    supplier sells or offers to sell the products or services
8    to a consumer during an in-person solicitation or
9    telemarketing solicitation, the disclosures described in
10    this subparagraph (A) shall also be made to the consumer
11    verbally during the solicitation. Nothing in this
12    subparagraph (A) shall be construed to apply to contracts
13    entered into before January 1, 2020.
14            (B) At least 30 days before, but not more than 60
15        days prior, to the end of the initial contract term, in
16        any and all contracts that automatically renew after
17        the initial term, the alternative retail electric
18        supplier shall send, in addition to other disclosures
19        required by law, a separate written notice of the
20        contract renewal to the consumer that clearly and
21        conspicuously discloses the following:
22                (i) a statement printed or visible from the
23            outside of the envelope or in the subject line of
24            the email, if the customer has agreed to receive
25            official documents by email, that states "Contract
26            Renewal Notice";

 

 

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1                (ii) a statement in bold lettering, in at least
2            12-point font, that the contract will
3            automatically renew unless the customer cancels
4            it;
5                (iii) the billing cycle in which service under
6            the current term will expire;
7                (iv) the billing cycle in which service under
8            the new term will begin;
9                (v) the process and options available to the
10            consumer to reject the new contract terms;
11                (vi) the cancellation process if the
12            consumer's contract automatically renews before
13            the consumer rejects the new contract terms;
14                (vii) the terms and conditions of the new
15            contract term;
16                (viii) for a fixed rate contract, a
17            side-by-side comparison of the current price and
18            the new price; for a variable rate contract or
19            time-of-use product in which the first month's
20            renewal price can be determined, a side-by-side
21            comparison of the current price and the price for
22            the first month of the new variable or time-of-use
23            price; or for a variable or time-of-use contract
24            based on a publicly available index, a
25            side-by-side comparison of the current formula and
26            the new formula; and

 

 

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1                (ix) the phone number and email address to
2            submit a consumer inquiry or complaint to the
3            Illinois Commerce Commission and the Office of the
4            Attorney General.
5            (C) An alternative retail electric supplier shall
6        not automatically renew a consumer's enrollment after
7        the current term of the contract expires when the
8        current term of the contract provides that the consumer
9        will be charged a fixed rate and the renewed contract
10        provides that the consumer will be charged a variable
11        rate, unless: (i) the alternative retail electric
12        supplier complies with subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
13        (ii) the customer expressly consents to the contract
14        renewal in writing or by electronic signature at least
15        30 days, but no more than 60 days, before the contract
16        expires.
17            (D) This paragraph (7) does not apply to customers
18        enrolled in a municipal aggregation program pursuant
19        to Section 1-92 of the Illinois Power Agency Act.
20        (8) All in-person and telephone solicitations shall be
21    conducted in, translated into, and provided in a language
22    in which the consumer subject to the marketing or
23    solicitation is able to understand and communicate. An
24    alternative retail electric supplier shall terminate a
25    solicitation if the consumer subject to the marketing or
26    communication is unable to understand and communicate in

 

 

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1    the language in which the marketing or solicitation is
2    being conducted. An alternative retail electric supplier
3    shall comply with Section 2N of this Act.
4        (9) Beginning January 1, 2020, consumers shall have the
5    right to terminate their contract with the alternative
6    retail electric supplier at any time without any
7    termination fees or penalties.
8        (10) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
9    submit a change to a customer's electric service provider
10    in violation of Section 16-115E of the Public Utilities
11    Act.
12    (c) (d) Complaints may be filed with the Illinois Commerce
13Commission under this Section by a consumer subscriber whose
14electric service has been provided by an alternative retail
15electric supplier electric service supplier in a manner not in
16compliance with this Section or by the Illinois Commerce
17Commission on its own motion when it appears to the Commission
18that an alternative retail electric supplier has provided
19service in a manner not in compliance with this Section. If,
20after notice and hearing, the Commission finds that an
21alternative retail electric supplier electric service provider
22has violated this Section, the Commission may in its discretion
23do any one or more of the following:
24        (1) Require the violating alternative retail electric
25    supplier electric service provider to refund to the
26    consumer subscriber charges collected in excess of those

 

 

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1    that would have been charged by the consumer's subscriber's
2    authorized electric service provider.
3        (2) Require the violating alternative retail electric
4    supplier electric service provider to pay to the consumer's
5    subscriber's authorized electric service provider supplier
6    the amount the authorized electric service provider
7    electric supplier would have collected for the electric
8    service. The Commission is authorized to reduce this
9    payment by any amount already paid by the violating
10    alternative retail electric supplier electric supplier to
11    the consumer's subscriber's authorized provider for
12    electric service.
13        (3) Require the violating alternative retail electric
14    supplier subscriber to pay a fine of up to $1,000 into the
15    Public Utility Fund for each repeated and intentional
16    violation of this Section.
17        (4) Issue a cease and desist order.
18        (5) For a pattern of violation of this Section or for
19    intentionally violating a cease and desist order, revoke
20    the violating alternative retail electric supplier's
21    provider's certificate of service authority.
22    (d) (e) For purposes of this Section:
23    "Electric , "electric service provider" shall have the
24meaning given that phrase in Section 6.5 of the Attorney
25General Act.
26    "Alternative retail electric supplier" has the meaning

 

 

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1given to that term in Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities
2Act.
3(Source: P.A. 95-700, eff. 11-9-07.)
 
4    (815 ILCS 505/2DDD)
5    Sec. 2DDD. Alternative gas suppliers.
6    (a) Definitions.
7        (1) "Alternative gas supplier" has the same meaning as
8    in Section 19-105 of the Public Utilities Act.
9        (2) "Gas utility" has the same meaning as in Section
10    19-105 of the Public Utilities Act.
11    (b) It is an unfair or deceptive act or practice within the
12meaning of Section 2 of this Act for any person to violate any
13provision of this Section.
14    (c) Solicitation.
15        (1) An alternative gas supplier shall not utilize the
16    name of a public utility in any manner that is deceptive or
17    misleading, including, but not limited to, implying or
18    otherwise leading a customer to believe that an alternative
19    gas supplier is soliciting on behalf of or is an agent of a
20    utility. An alternative gas supplier shall not utilize the
21    name, or any other identifying insignia, graphics, or
22    wording, that has been used at any time to represent a
23    public utility company or its services or to identify,
24    label, or define any of its natural gas supply offers and
25    shall not misrepresent the affiliation of any alternative

 

 

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1    supplier with the gas utility, governmental bodies, or
2    consumer groups.
3        (2) If any sales solicitation, agreement, contract, or
4    verification is translated into another language and
5    provided to a customer, all of the documents must be
6    provided to the customer in that other language.
7        (2.3) An alternative gas supplier shall state that it
8    represents an independent seller of gas certified by the
9    Illinois Commerce Commission and that he or she is not
10    employed by, representing, endorsed by, or acting on behalf
11    of a utility, or a utility program.
12        (2.5) All in-person and telephone solicitations shall
13    be conducted in, translated into, and provided in a
14    language in which the consumer subject to the marketing or
15    solicitation is able to understand and communicate. An
16    alternative gas supplier shall terminate a solicitation if
17    the consumer subject to the marketing or communication is
18    unable to understand and communicate in the language in
19    which the marketing or solicitation is being conducted. An
20    alternative gas supplier shall comply with Section 2N of
21    this Act.
22        (3) An alternative gas supplier shall clearly and
23    conspicuously disclose the following information to all
24    customers:
25            (A) the prices, terms, and conditions of the
26        products and services being sold to the customer;

 

 

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1            (B) where the solicitation occurs in person,
2        including through door-to-door solicitation, the
3        salesperson's name;
4            (C) the alternative gas supplier's contact
5        information, including the address, phone number, and
6        website;
7            (D) contact information for the Illinois Commerce
8        Commission, including the toll-free number for
9        consumer complaints and website;
10            (E) a statement of the customer's right to rescind
11        the offer within 10 business days of the date on the
12        utility's notice confirming the customer's decision to
13        switch suppliers, as well as phone numbers for the
14        supplier and utility that the consumer may use to
15        rescind the contract; and
16            (F) the amount of the early termination fee, if
17        any; and .
18            (G) the utility gas supply cost rates per therm
19        price available from the Illinois Commerce Commission
20        website applicable at the time the alternative gas
21        supplier is offering or selling the products or
22        services to the customer and shall disclose the
23        following statement:
24            "(Name of the alternative gas supplier) is not the
25        same entity as your gas delivery company. You are not
26        required to enroll with (name of alternative retail gas

 

 

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1        supplier). Beginning on (effective date), the utility
2        gas supply cost rate per therm is (cost). The utility
3        gas supply cost will expire on (expiration date). For
4        more information go to the Illinois Commerce
5        Commission's free website at
6        www.icc.illinois.gov/ags/consumereducation.aspx.".
7        (4) Except as provided in paragraph (5) of this
8    subsection (c), an alternative gas supplier shall send the
9    information described in paragraph (3) of this subsection
10    (c) to all customers within one business day of the
11    authorization of a switch.
12        (5) An alternative gas supplier engaging in
13    door-to-door solicitation of consumers shall provide the
14    information described in paragraph (3) of this subsection
15    (c) during all door-to-door solicitations that result in a
16    customer deciding to switch their supplier.
17    (d) Customer Authorization. An alternative gas supplier
18shall not submit or execute a change in a customer's selection
19of a natural gas provider unless and until (i) the alternative
20gas supplier first discloses all material terms and conditions
21of the offer to the customer; (ii) the alternative gas supplier
22has obtained the customer's express agreement to accept the
23offer after the disclosure of all material terms and conditions
24of the offer; and (iii) the alternative gas supplier has
25confirmed the request for a change in accordance with one of
26the following procedures:

 

 

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1        (1) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the
2    customer's written or electronically signed authorization
3    in a form that meets the following requirements:
4            (A) An alternative gas supplier shall obtain any
5        necessary written or electronically signed
6        authorization from a customer for a change in natural
7        gas service by using a letter of agency as specified in
8        this Section. Any letter of agency that does not
9        conform with this Section is invalid.
10            (B) The letter of agency shall be a separate
11        document (or an easily separable document containing
12        only the authorization language described in item (E)
13        of this paragraph (1)) whose sole purpose is to
14        authorize a natural gas provider change. The letter of
15        agency must be signed and dated by the customer
16        requesting the natural gas provider change.
17            (C) The letter of agency shall not be combined with
18        inducements of any kind on the same document.
19            (D) Notwithstanding items (A) and (B) of this
20        paragraph (1), the letter of agency may be combined
21        with checks that contain only the required letter of
22        agency language prescribed in item (E) of this
23        paragraph (1) and the necessary information to make the
24        check a negotiable instrument. The letter of agency
25        check shall not contain any promotional language or
26        material. The letter of agency check shall contain in

 

 

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1        easily readable, bold face type on the face of the
2        check, a notice that the consumer is authorizing a
3        natural gas provider change by signing the check. The
4        letter of agency language also shall be placed near the
5        signature line on the back of the check.
6            (E) At a minimum, the letter of agency must be
7        printed with a print of sufficient size to be clearly
8        legible, and must contain clear and unambiguous
9        language that confirms:
10                (i) the customer's billing name and address;
11                (ii) the decision to change the natural gas
12            provider from the current provider to the
13            prospective alternative gas supplier;
14                (iii) the terms, conditions, and nature of the
15            service to be provided to the customer, including,
16            but not limited to, the rates for the service
17            contracted for by the customer; and
18                (iv) that the customer understands that any
19            natural gas provider selection the customer
20            chooses may involve a charge to the customer for
21            changing the customer's natural gas provider.
22            (F) Letters of agency shall not suggest or require
23        that a customer take some action in order to retain the
24        customer's current natural gas provider.
25            (G) If any portion of a letter of agency is
26        translated into another language, then all portions of

 

 

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1        the letter of agency must be translated into that
2        language.
3        (2) An appropriately qualified independent third party
4    has obtained, in accordance with the procedures set forth
5    in this paragraph (2), the customer's oral authorization to
6    change natural gas providers that confirms and includes
7    appropriate verification data. The independent third party
8    must (i) not be owned, managed, controlled, or directed by
9    the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas
10    supplier's marketing agent; (ii) not have any financial
11    incentive to confirm provider change requests for the
12    alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's
13    marketing agent; and (iii) operate in a location physically
14    separate from the alternative gas supplier or the
15    alternative gas supplier's marketing agent. Automated
16    third-party verification systems and 3-way conference
17    calls may be used for verification purposes so long as the
18    other requirements of this paragraph (2) are satisfied. A
19    alternative gas supplier or alternative gas supplier's
20    sales representative initiating a 3-way conference call or
21    a call through an automated verification system must drop
22    off the call once the 3-way connection has been
23    established. All third-party verification methods shall
24    elicit, at a minimum, the following information:
25            (A) the identity of the customer;
26            (B) confirmation that the person on the call is

 

 

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1        authorized to make the provider change;
2            (C) confirmation that the person on the call wants
3        to make the provider change;
4            (D) the names of the providers affected by the
5        change;
6            (E) the service address of the service to be
7        switched; and
8            (F) the price of the service to be provided and the
9        material terms and conditions of the service being
10        offered, including whether any early termination fees
11        apply.
12        Third-party verifiers may not market the alternative
13    gas supplier's services. All third-party verifications
14    shall be conducted in the same language that was used in
15    the underlying sales transaction and shall be recorded in
16    their entirety. Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall
17    maintain and preserve audio records of verification of
18    customer authorization for a minimum period of 2 years
19    after obtaining the verification. Automated systems must
20    provide customers with an option to speak with a live
21    person at any time during the call. Each disclosure made
22    during the third-party verification must be made
23    individually to obtain clear acknowledgment of each
24    disclosure. The alternative gas supplier must be in a
25    location where he or she cannot hear the customer while the
26    third-party verification is conducted. The alternative gas

 

 

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1    supplier shall not contact the customer after the
2    third-party verification for a period of 24 hours unless
3    the customer initiates the contact.
4        (3) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the
5    customer's electronic authorization to change natural gas
6    service via telephone. Such authorization must elicit the
7    information in paragraph (2)(A) through (F) of this
8    subsection (d). Alternative gas suppliers electing to
9    confirm sales electronically shall establish one or more
10    toll-free telephone numbers exclusively for that purpose.
11    Calls to the number or numbers shall connect a customer to
12    a voice response unit, or similar mechanism, that makes a
13    date-stamped, time-stamped recording of the required
14    information regarding the alternative gas supplier change.
15        The alternative gas supplier shall not use such
16    electronic authorization systems to market its services.
17        (4) When a consumer initiates the call to the
18    prospective alternative gas supplier, in order to enroll
19    the consumer as a customer, the prospective alternative gas
20    supplier must, with the consent of the customer, make a
21    date-stamped, time-stamped audio recording that elicits,
22    at a minimum, the following information:
23            (A) the identity of the customer;
24            (B) confirmation that the person on the call is
25        authorized to make the provider change;
26            (C) confirmation that the person on the call wants

 

 

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1        to make the provider change;
2            (D) the names of the providers affected by the
3        change;
4            (E) the service address of the service to be
5        switched; and
6            (F) the price of the service to be supplied and the
7        material terms and conditions of the service being
8        offered, including whether any early termination fees
9        apply.
10        Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall maintain
11    and preserve the audio records containing the information
12    set forth above for a minimum period of 2 years.
13        (5) In the event that a customer enrolls for service
14    from an alternative gas supplier via an Internet website,
15    the alternative gas supplier shall obtain an
16    electronically signed letter of agency in accordance with
17    paragraph (1) of this subsection (d) and any customer
18    information shall be protected in accordance with all
19    applicable statutes and rules. In addition, an alternative
20    gas supplier shall provide the following when marketing via
21    an Internet website:
22            (A) The Internet enrollment website shall, at a
23        minimum, include:
24                (i) a copy of the alternative gas supplier's
25            customer contract, which clearly and conspicuously
26            discloses all terms and conditions; and

 

 

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1                (ii) a conspicuous prompt for the customer to
2            print or save a copy of the contract.
3            (B) Any electronic version of the contract shall be
4        identified by version number, in order to ensure the
5        ability to verify the particular contract to which the
6        customer assents.
7            (C) Throughout the duration of the alternative gas
8        supplier's contract with a customer, the alternative
9        gas supplier shall retain and, within 3 business days
10        of the customer's request, provide to the customer an
11        e-mail, paper, or facsimile of the terms and conditions
12        of the numbered contract version to which the customer
13        assents.
14            (D) The alternative gas supplier shall provide a
15        mechanism by which both the submission and receipt of
16        the electronic letter of agency are recorded by time
17        and date.
18            (E) After the customer completes the electronic
19        letter of agency, the alternative gas supplier shall
20        disclose conspicuously through its website that the
21        customer has been enrolled and the alternative gas
22        supplier shall provide the customer an enrollment
23        confirmation number.
24        (6) When a customer is solicited in person by the
25    alternative gas supplier's sales agent, the alternative
26    gas supplier may only obtain the customer's authorization

 

 

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1    to change natural gas service through the method provided
2    for in paragraph (2) of this subsection (d).
3    Alternative gas suppliers must be in compliance with the
4provisions of this subsection (d) within 90 days after the
5effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General
6Assembly.
7    (e) Early Termination.
8        (1) Beginning January 1, 2020, consumers shall have the
9    right to terminate their contract with an alternative gas
10    supplier at any time without any termination fees or
11    penalties. Any agreement that contains an early
12    termination clause shall disclose the amount of the early
13    termination fee, provided that any early termination fee or
14    penalty shall not exceed $50 total, regardless of whether
15    or not the agreement is a multiyear agreement.
16        (2) In any agreement that contains an early termination
17    clause, an alternative gas supplier shall provide the
18    customer the opportunity to terminate the agreement
19    without any termination fee or penalty within 10 business
20    days after the date of the first bill issued to the
21    customer for products or services provided by the
22    alternative gas supplier. The agreement shall disclose the
23    opportunity and provide a toll-free phone number that the
24    customer may call in order to terminate the agreement.
25    (f) The alternative gas supplier shall provide each
26customer the opportunity to rescind its agreement without

 

 

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1penalty within 10 business days after the date on the gas
2utility notice to the customer. The alternative gas supplier
3shall disclose to the customer all of the following:
4        (1) that the gas utility shall send a notice confirming
5    the switch;
6        (2) that from the date the utility issues the notice
7    confirming the switch, the customer shall have 10 business
8    days before the switch will become effective;
9        (3) that the customer may contact the gas utility or
10    the alternative gas supplier to rescind the switch within
11    10 business days; and
12        (4) the contact information for the gas utility and the
13    alternative gas supplier.
14    The alternative gas supplier disclosure shall be included
15in its sales solicitations, contracts, and all applicable sales
16verification scripts.
17        (f-5)(1) Beginning January 1, 2020, an alternative gas
18    supplier shall not sell or offer to sell any products or
19    services to a consumer pursuant to a contract in which the
20    contract automatically renews, unless an alternative gas
21    supplier provides to the consumer at the outset of the
22    offer, in addition to other disclosures required by law, a
23    separate written statement titled "Automatic Contract
24    Renewal" that clearly and conspicuously discloses in bold
25    lettering in at least 12-point font the terms and
26    conditions of the automatic contract renewal provision,

 

 

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1    including: (i) the estimated bill cycle on which the
2    initial contract term expires and a statement that it could
3    be later based on when the utility accepts the initial
4    enrollment; (ii) the estimated bill cycle on which the new
5    contract term begins and a statement that it will
6    immediately follow the last billing cycle of the current
7    term; (iii) the procedure to terminate the contract before
8    the new contract term applies; and (iv) the cancellation
9    procedure. If the alternative gas supplier sells or offers
10    to sell the products or services to a consumer during an
11    in-person solicitation or telemarketing solicitation, the
12    disclosures described in this paragraph (1) shall also be
13    made to the consumer verbally during the solicitation.
14    Nothing in this paragraph (1) shall be construed to apply
15    to contracts entered into before January 1, 2020.
16        (2) At least 30 days before, but not more than 60 days
17    prior, to the end of the initial contract term, in any and
18    all contracts that automatically renew after the initial
19    term, the alternative gas supplier shall send, in addition
20    to other disclosures required by law, a separate written
21    notice of the contract renewal to the consumer that clearly
22    and conspicuously discloses the following:
23            (A) a statement printed or visible from the outside
24        of the envelope or in the subject line of the email, if
25        the customer has agreed to receive official documents
26        by email, that states "Contract Renewal Notice";

 

 

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1            (B) a statement in bold lettering, in at least
2        12-point font, that the contract will automatically
3        renew unless the customer cancels it;
4            (C) the billing cycle in which service under the
5        current term will expire;
6            (D) the billing cycle in which service under the
7        new term will begin;
8            (E) the process and options available to the
9        consumer to reject the new contract terms;
10            (F) the cancellation process if the consumer's
11        contract automatically renews before the consumer
12        rejects the new contract terms;
13            (G) the terms and conditions of the new contract
14        term;
15            (H) for a fixed rate or flat bill contract, a
16        side-by-side comparison of the current fixed rate or
17        flat bill to the new fixed rate or flat bill; for a
18        variable rate contract or time-of-use product in which
19        the first month's renewal price can be determined, a
20        side-by-side comparison of the current price and the
21        price for the first month of the new variable or
22        time-of-use price; or for a variable or time-of-use
23        contract based on a publicly available index, a
24        side-by-side comparison of the current formula and the
25        new formula; and
26            (I) the phone number and email address to submit a

 

 

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1        consumer inquiry or complaint to the Illinois Commerce
2        Commission and the Office of the Attorney General.
3        (3) An alternative gas supplier shall not
4    automatically renew a consumer's enrollment after the
5    current term of the contract expires when the current term
6    of the contract provides that the consumer will be charged
7    a fixed rate and the renewed contract provides that the
8    consumer will be charged a variable rate, unless: (i) the
9    alternative gas supplier complies with paragraphs (1) and
10    (2); and (ii) the customer expressly consents to the
11    contract renewal in writing or by electronic signature at
12    least 30 days, but no more than 60 days, before the
13    contract expires.
14        (4) An alternative gas supplier shall not submit a
15    change to a customer's gas service provider in violation of
16    Section 19-116 of the Public Utilities Act.
17    (g) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to
18alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve
19residential and small commercial customers and only to the
20extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to
21residential and small commercial customers.
22(Source: P.A. 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)