HB2926 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 15311 SPS 20667 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB2926

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Deanne M. Mazzochi

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

220 ILCS 5/Art. XXIII heading new
220 ILCS 5/23-100 new
220 ILCS 5/23-101 new
220 ILCS 5/23-105 new

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Creates the Public Utility Infrastructure Hardening and Protection Law as a new Article in the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall present to the General Assembly, no later than December 31, 2023, an identification of critical infrastructure that is essential to provide public utility services to the people of Illinois and related information.

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 Public Utilities Act is amended by adding Article XXIII as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/Art. XXIII heading new)

ARTICLE XXIII. PUBLIC UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE HARDENING AND

PROTECTION LAW

(220 ILCS 5/23-100 new)

Sec. 23-100. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Public Utility Infrastructure Hardening and Protection Law.

(220 ILCS 5/23-101 new)

Sec. 23-101. Findings. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) Public utilities represent a critical aspect of infrastructure and the economic and material well-being for the residents of the State of Illinois. The economy in the State of Illinois will be enhanced by investment in public utility infrastructure that takes additional measures to harden infrastructure against natural disasters and foreign interference.

(2) It also is essential to ensure a reliable domestic supply of critical infrastructure components and sources of raw materials for public utilities that will support Illinois' performance as a national transportation and logistics hub for the nation. This includes infrastructure essential to modern life, including pipelines, communications lines, utility lines, electricity supply and transmission lines, and the mechanical, electronic, and energy systems that support them.

(3) The General Assembly needs critical, relevant, truthful, and timely information and strategic planning to ensure that the Illinois public utilities grid is robust, reinforced, and modernized for continuous improvement and efficacy.

(220 ILCS 5/23-105 new)

Sec. 23-105. Identification of critical infrastructure. The Illinois Commerce Commission shall provide to the General Assembly, no later than December 31, 2023, an identification of:

(1) critical infrastructure that is essential to provide public utility services to the people of Illinois;

(2) the age of such critical infrastructure;

(3) a proposed strategic plan for capital investment (whether public or private) for the next 20 years in such critical infrastructure to modernize it, improve it, and harden it or otherwise improve its resiliency to continuing operation in the face of natural disasters, acts of God, acts of sabotage, or acts of subversion;

(4) potential funding sources for the capital investment in such infrastructure;

(5) vulnerabilities in the supply chain needed to build, operate, and maintain such infrastructure;

(6) an identification of domestic sources for all critical pieces needed to operate and maintain the existing public utility grids, including communications systems;

(7) whether any critical elements needed to operate and maintain the existing public utility services require reliance on foreign-sourced equipment involving a nation perceived to be hostile to United States interests or involve companies whose ownership interests are tied to a foreign nation perceived to be hostile to United States interests;

(8) procurement challenges that are expected or envisioned over the course of the next 10 years in connection with the energy supply for the State of Illinois and that involve public utilities; and

(9) obstacles in Illinois law, if any, that are preventing or slowing the provision of essential public utilities to the people of the State of Illinois or capital investment therein.