SB2123 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 09746 JRG 54847 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB2123

Introduced 2/15/2019, by Sen. Robert Peters

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 3855/1-59 new

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall implement a project to be called the Renewable Energy Pay As You Save Program. Provides for the purpose and requirements of the Program. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall convene a workshop process during which interested participants may discuss issues related to the Program. Provides that each applicable electric utility shall submit an informational filing to the Commission that describes its plan for implementing provisions regarding the Program. Provides that electric utilities shall work with lenders selected pursuant to a request for proposals process and with vendors to establish the terms and processes under which a participant can purchase eligible renewable energy generation and energy storage systems using the financing obtained from a lender through a financing program designed to fit the Pay As You Save model. Provides further requirements concerning the establishment of financing programs based upon the Pay As You Save model. Provides that the Commission shall adopt all rules necessary for administration. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Power Agency Act is amended by adding Section 1-59 as follows:

(20 ILCS 3855/1-59 new)

Sec. 1-59. Renewable Energy Pay As You Save Program.

(a) The General Assembly finds that Illinois homes and businesses can contribute to the creation of a clean energy economy, conservation of natural resources, and reliability of the electricity grid through the installation of cost-effective renewable energy generation and energy storage systems. Moreover, a large portion of Illinois residents and businesses that would benefit from installation of such systems are unable to purchase systems due to capital or credit barriers.

Programs created pursuant to this Section will allow utility customers to purchase cost-effective renewable energy generation and energy storage systems, with no required initial upfront payment, and to pay the cost of those products and services over time on their utility bill using a program designed to fit the "Pay As You Save" (PAYS) model.

(b) The Illinois Commerce Commission shall implement a project to be called the Renewable Energy Pay As You Save Program that shall:

(1) allow a residential electric utility customer that owns the property for which the customer subscribes to purchase a renewable energy product or energy storage system:

(A) with no up-front payments; and

(B) by paying the cost of the system over time of the customer's electricity bill if the estimated life cycle electricity savings from the renewable energy products system exceeds the cost of the system;

(2) provide for billing and payment of the renewable energy products system on the utility bill;

(3) assist lower income residents and environmental justice community residents in purchasing renewable energy generation and energy storage systems through financing programs; and

(4) be administered in coordination with the energy efficiency on-bill financing program established under Section 16-111.7 of the Public Utilities Act to maximize resident savings.

(c) Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the Commission shall convene a workshop process during which interested participants may discuss issues related to the Program.

(d) Within 120 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, each electric utility subject to the requirements of this Section shall submit an informational filing to the Commission that describes its plan for implementing the provisions of this Section.

(e) Electric utilities shall work with lenders selected pursuant to a request for proposals process and with vendors to establish the terms and processes under which a participant can purchase eligible renewable energy generation and energy storage systems using the financing obtained from a lender through a program designed to fit the Pay As You Save model. The vendor shall explain and offer the approved financing packaging to customers and shall assist customers in applying for financing. As part of the process, vendors shall also provide participants with information about any other relevant incentives that may be available.

(f) An electric utility shall recover all of the prudently incurred costs of offering a program approved by the Commission under this Section.

(g) An independent evaluation of a program shall be conducted after 3 years of the program's operation.

(h) The Illinois Commerce Commission shall adopt all rules necessary for administration of this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.