SB1604 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 14468 SPS 19820 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB1604

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Bill Cunningham

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

220 ILCS 5/20-110

Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning the Director of Retail Market Development's annual report to the Illinois Commerce Commission, provides that on or before July 31, 2022 and each year thereafter, if the report includes comparisons of the prices between electric utilities and alternative retail electric suppliers, the comparisons shall include an analysis estimating the combined value of additional products and services offered by the alternative retail electric suppliers, as reported by the alternative retail electric suppliers. Provides that the Commission may include additional energy savings and marketing savings programs as they develop in the competitive retail electric market. Provides that the Commission may request information about specific products or services on a confidential and proprietary basis from alternative retail electric suppliers for the purposes of the report.

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 changing Section 20-110 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/20-110)

Sec. 20-110. Office of Retail Market Development. Within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, subject to appropriation, the Commission shall establish an Office of Retail Market Development and employ on its staff a Director of Retail Market Development to oversee the Office. The Director shall have authority to employ or otherwise retain at least 2 professionals dedicated to the task of actively seeking out ways to promote retail competition in Illinois to benefit all Illinois consumers.

The Office shall actively seek input from all interested parties and shall develop a thorough understanding and critical analyses of the tools and techniques used to promote retail competition in other states.

The Office shall monitor existing competitive conditions in Illinois, identify barriers to retail competition for all customer classes, and actively explore and propose to the Commission and to the General Assembly solutions to overcome identified barriers. The Director may include municipal aggregation of customers and creating and designing customer choice programs as tools for retail market development. Solutions proposed by the Office to promote retail competition must also promote safe, reliable, and affordable electric service.

On or before July 31 of each year, the Director shall submit a report to the Commission, the General Assembly, and the Governor, that details specific accomplishments achieved by the Office in the prior 12 months in promoting retail electric competition and that suggests administrative and legislative action necessary to promote further improvements in retail electric competition. On or before July 31, 2021 and each year thereafter, the report shall include the information submitted to the Commission pursuant to paragraph (iii) of subsection (a) of Section 16-115A.

On or before July 31, 2022 and each year thereafter, if the report includes comparisons of the prices between electric utilities and alternative retail electric suppliers, the comparisons shall include an analysis estimating the combined value of additional products and services offered by the alternative retail electric suppliers, as reported by the alternative retail electric suppliers, including, but not limited to:

(1) pricing structures, such as fixed priced products, fixed priced customized products based on the customer's historic usage, time of use and time variant, demand response, and direct load control products;

(2) voluntary green energy products with renewable energy credits or on-site generation products;

(3) fixed priced products with integrated hardware or services, such as free or reduced-price smart thermostats, energy management software and hardware integrated with existing home solutions, energy efficiency upgrades to certain home devices, and home warranty products for home systems including HVAC and hot water heaters;

(4) distributed resource products, such as community solar and roof top solar;

(5) emerging technologies; and

(6) any other products and services purchased by customers from alternative retail electric suppliers.

The Commission may include additional energy savings and marketing savings programs as they develop in the competitive retail electric market. Without limiting any of the Commission's other authority, the Commission may request information about specific products or services on a confidential and proprietary basis from alternative retail electric suppliers for the purposes of the report.

(Source: P.A. 101-590, eff. 1-1-20.)