103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB2552

 

Introduced 2/15/2023, by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
See Index

    Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that if an alternative retail electric supplier warrants to an electric utility serving more than 500,000 retail customers that the alternative retail electric supplier's customer has provided consent to access interval data, then, until either the customer contacts the alternative retail electric supplier to opt out or the customer is no longer served by the alternative retail electric supplier, an electric utility serving more than 500,000 retail customers shall electronically transmit interval meter usage data for each residential retail customer that meets certain requirements. Provides that an electric utility shall submit tariffs to the Illinois Commerce Commission for approval within 120 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act to meet the requirements and provide such services no later than June 1, 2024. Provides that an alternative retail electric supplier shall not sell interval data and allows an alternative retail supplier to license or disclose interval data under specified conditions. Provides that no costs incurred by an electric utility to provide data or services shall be paid by ratepayers. Makes other changes. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that before an alternative retail electric supplier may warrant that it has a residential customer or small commercial retail customer's express agreement to access interval data, it must make specified disclosures and obtain consent to access the interval data. Provides that an alternative retail electric supplier may refuse to enroll or disenroll a residential customer or small commercial retail customer in a product or service if the residential customer or small commercial retail customer does not provide or revokes consent. Provides that an alternative retail electric supplier shall not warrant that it has a non-residential customer's (other than a small commercial retail customer's) consent to access interval meter usage data unless the contract between the alternative retail electric supplier and the customer explicitly provides the alternative retail electric supplier with permission to access the customer's interval meter usage data. Effective immediately.


LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2552LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

1    AN ACT concerning utilities.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing
5Section 16-122 as follows:
 
6    (220 ILCS 5/16-122)
7    Sec. 16-122. Customer information.
8    (a) Upon the request of a retail customer, or a person who
9presents verifiable authorization and is acting as the
10customer's agent, and payment of a reasonable fee, electric
11utilities shall provide to the customer or its authorized
12agent the customer's billing and usage data.
13    (b) Upon request from any alternative retail electric
14supplier and payment of a reasonable fee, an electric utility
15serving retail customers in its service area shall make
16available generic information concerning the usage, load shape
17curve or other general characteristics of customers by rate
18classification. Provided however, no customer specific
19billing, usage or load shape data shall be provided under this
20subsection unless authorization to provide such information is
21provided by the customer pursuant to subsection (a) of this
22Section.
23    Notwithstanding the requirements of this Section, if an

 

 

HB2552- 2 -LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

1alternative retail electric supplier warrants to an electric
2utility serving more than 500,000 retail customers that the
3alternative retail electric supplier's customer has provided
4consent as described in subsection (e) of Section 2EE of the
5Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, then
6until either the customer contacts the alternative retail
7electric supplier to opt out or the customer is no longer
8served by the alternative retail electric supplier:
9        (1) An electric utility serving more than 500,000
10    retail customers shall electronically transmit interval
11    meter usage data at the end of each monthly billing period
12    for each residential retail customer for which the
13    alternative retail electric supplier is providing electric
14    power and energy supply service, for which the alternative
15    retail electric supplier has requested such information,
16    and for which the electric utility meters the residential
17    customer using automated metering infrastructure
18    equipment. Such data transmission shall occur no later
19    than one business day after the electric utility serving
20    more than 500,000 retail customers validates the interval
21    meter usage data with the monthly billing period for such
22    residential retail customer through an electronic data
23    interchange or secure interface for which the alternative
24    retail electric supplier has requested such information
25    and upon payment of a reasonable and amortized fee, if
26    necessary, to recover the utility's prudently and

 

 

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1    reasonably incurred costs, approved by the Commission
2    after notice and hearing, to provide this service. The
3    interval meter usage data shall be provided at a minimum
4    on an hourly basis or on a 30-minute or 15-minute basis if
5    available. In addition, not later than the following day,
6    the electric utility shall provide unverified interval
7    data through an electronic data interchange or secure
8    interface for which the alternative retail electric
9    supplier has requested such information and upon payment
10    of a reasonable and amortized fee, if necessary, to
11    recover the utility's prudently and reasonably incurred
12    costs, approved by the Commission after notice and
13    hearing, to provide this service. The unverified interval
14    meter usage data shall be provided at a minimum on an
15    hourly basis, or on a 30-minute or 15-minute basis if
16    available. The same processes shall apply for
17    nonresidential retail customers.
18        (2) An electric utility serving more than 500,000
19    retail customers shall submit tariffs to the Commission
20    for approval within 120 days of the effective date of this
21    amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, if
22    necessary, to meet the minimum requirements of paragraph
23    (1) and provide such services no later than June 1, 2024.
24        (3) Nothing in this amendatory Act of the 103rd
25    General Assembly prohibits such utility from time to time
26    proposing new tariffs pursuant to Article IX to the extent

 

 

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1    such tariffs are consistent with the requirements of this
2    amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly. Nothing in
3    this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly shall
4    require such electric utility to alter its tariffs or
5    practices to the extent that they: (i) provide interval
6    data with shorter intervals; (ii) provide interval data
7    more frequently than monthly; or (iii) provide other
8    enhancements beyond the minimum standards required by
9    paragraph (1).
10        (4) An alternative retail electric supplier shall use
11    such interval meter usage data for the development,
12    marketing, and provision of current and future products
13    and services to enable such customers to more easily and
14    effectively manage their energy consumption, including,
15    but not limited to, time-of-use pricing, demand response,
16    energy efficiency or management, beneficial
17    electrification, on-site or community generation, or any
18    other electricity-related products or services or as
19    otherwise authorized by the Commission.
20        (5) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
21    sell interval data obtained under this Section. An
22    alternative retail electric supplier shall not provide,
23    share, or otherwise disclose a consumer's interval meter
24    data obtained under this Section, except an alternative
25    retail electric supplier may license or disclose a
26    customer's interval meter data obtained under this Section

 

 

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1    if the following conditions are met: (i) the license or
2    disclosure is made to an alternative retail electric
3    supplier's affiliate or a third party with which the
4    alternative retail electric supplier has a contract; (ii)
5    the disclosure of a customer's interval meter data is made
6    only to perform the following functions on behalf of the
7    alternative retail electric supplier: billing and
8    invoicing, administration of the product or service
9    provided to the customer, or pricing products and services
10    for the customer; (iii) the alternative retail electric
11    supplier maintains responsibility for ensuring that its
12    affiliates or contracted third parties do not disclose,
13    license, sell to any other party, or otherwise misuse
14    customer interval data, including marketing to or
15    solicitation of a specific customer, obtained under this
16    Section; and (iv) the alternative retail electric supplier
17    maintains responsibility for ensuring that its affiliates
18    and contracted third parties purge such data upon
19    termination of their contract, ownership, affiliation, or
20    license or other agreement, or to the extent that the
21    customer interval data is no longer necessary for the
22    affiliate or contracted third party to perform the
23    function for which the customer interval data was
24    provided. An alternative retail electric supplier may not
25    provide a customer's interval meter data obtained under
26    this Section to a sales agent, broker, or consultant for

 

 

HB2552- 6 -LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

1    the purpose of marketing to that specific customer.
2        (6) Nothing in this Section prohibits an electric
3    utility serving more than 500,000 retail customers from
4    providing interval metering data to an alternative retail
5    electric supplier as otherwise authorized by law or order
6    of the Commission.
7        (7) No costs incurred by an electric utility to
8    provide data or services, including any and all data or
9    services provided or proposed under paragraphs (1) through
10    (3), or otherwise authorized by this Section or by this
11    amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, shall be
12    paid by ratepayers. An electric utility may file a tariff
13    governing the provision of such information. Such fee
14    shall be approved by the Commission after notice and
15    hearing to recover the utility's prudently and reasonably
16    incurred and amortized costs to provide such service. The
17    tariff shall include an annual fee, paid by all
18    alternative retail electric suppliers, and the fee shall
19    be based upon a reasonable estimate of ongoing costs
20    expected to be incurred to provide the interval metering
21    data to alternative retail electric suppliers.
22    (c) Upon request from a unit of local government and
23payment of a reasonable fee, an electric utility shall make
24available information concerning the usage, load shape curves,
25and other characteristics of customers by customer
26classification and location within the boundaries of the unit

 

 

HB2552- 7 -LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

1of local government, however, no customer specific billing,
2usage, or load shape data shall be provided under this
3subsection unless authorization to provide that information is
4provided by the customer.
5    (d) All such customer information shall be made available
6in a timely fashion in an electronic format, if available.
7(Source: P.A. 92-585, eff. 6-26-02.)
 
8    Section 10. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business
9Practices Act is amended by changing Section 2EE as follows:
 
10    (815 ILCS 505/2EE)
11    Sec. 2EE. Alternative retail electric supplier selection.
12    (a) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
13submit or execute a change in a consumer's selection of a
14provider of electric service unless and until:
15        (i) the alternative retail electric supplier first
16    discloses all material terms and conditions of the offer
17    to the consumer;
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:
4            (A) The new alternative retail electric supplier
5        has obtained the consumer's written or electronically
6        signed authorization in a form that meets the
7        following requirements:
8                (1) An alternative retail electric supplier
9            shall obtain any necessary written or
10            electronically signed authorization from a
11            consumer for a change in electric service by using
12            a letter of agency as specified in this Section.
13            Any letter of agency that does not conform with
14            this Section is invalid.
15                (2) The letter of agency shall be a separate
16            document (an easily separable document containing
17            only the authorization language described in
18            subparagraph (5)) whose sole purpose is to
19            authorize an electric service provider change. The
20            letter of agency must be signed and dated by the
21            consumer requesting the electric service provider
22            change.
23                (3) The letter of agency shall not be combined
24            with inducements of any kind on the same document.
25                (4) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (1) and (2),
26            the letter of agency may be combined with checks

 

 

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1            that contain only the required letter of agency
2            language prescribed in subparagraph (5) and the
3            necessary information to make the check a
4            negotiable instrument. The letter of agency check
5            shall not contain any promotional language or
6            material. The letter of agency check shall contain
7            in easily readable, bold-face type on the face of
8            the check, a notice that the consumer is
9            authorizing an electric service provider change by
10            signing the check. The letter of agency language
11            also shall be placed near the signature line on
12            the back of the check.
13                (5) At a minimum, the letter of agency must be
14            printed with a print of sufficient size to be
15            clearly legible, and must contain clear and
16            unambiguous language that confirms:
17                    (i) The consumer's billing name and
18                address;
19                    (ii) The decision to change the electric
20                service provider from the current provider to
21                the prospective provider;
22                    (iii) The terms, conditions, and nature of
23                the service to be provided to the consumer
24                must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed,
25                in writing, and an alternative retail electric
26                supplier must directly establish the rates for

 

 

HB2552- 11 -LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

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

 

 

HB2552- 12 -LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

1        separate from the supplier or the supplier's marketing
2        agent.
3            Automated third-party verification systems and
4        3-way conference calls may be used for verification
5        purposes so long as the other requirements of this
6        subsection (b) are satisfied.
7            A supplier or supplier's sales representative
8        initiating a 3-way conference call or a call through
9        an automated verification system must drop off the
10        call once the 3-way connection has been established.
11            All third-party verification methods shall elicit,
12        at a minimum, the following information: (i) the
13        identity of the consumer; (ii) confirmation that the
14        person on the call is the account holder, has been
15        specifically and explicitly authorized by the account
16        holder, or possesses lawful authority to make the
17        supplier change; (iii) confirmation that the person on
18        the call wants to make the supplier change; (iv) the
19        names of the suppliers affected by the change; (v) the
20        service address of the supply to be switched; and (vi)
21        the price of the service to be supplied and the
22        material terms and conditions of the service being
23        offered, including whether any early termination fees
24        apply. Third-party verifiers may not market the
25        supplier's services by providing additional
26        information, including information regarding

 

 

HB2552- 13 -LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

1        procedures to block or otherwise freeze an account
2        against further changes.
3            All third-party verifications shall be conducted
4        in the same language that was used in the underlying
5        sales transaction and shall be recorded in their
6        entirety. Submitting suppliers shall maintain and
7        preserve audio records of verification of subscriber
8        authorization for a minimum period of 2 years after
9        obtaining the verification. Automated systems must
10        provide consumers with an option to speak with a live
11        person at any time during the call. Each disclosure
12        made during the third-party verification must be made
13        individually to obtain clear acknowledgment of each
14        disclosure. The alternative retail electric supplier
15        must be in a location where he or she cannot hear the
16        customer while the third-party verification is
17        conducted. The alternative retail electric supplier
18        shall not contact the customer after the third-party
19        verification for a period of 24 hours unless the
20        customer initiates the contact.
21            (C) When a consumer initiates the call to the
22        prospective alternative retail electric supplier, in
23        order to enroll the consumer as a customer, the
24        prospective alternative retail electric supplier must,
25        with the consent of the customer, make a date-stamped,
26        time-stamped audio recording that elicits, at a

 

 

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1        minimum, the following information:
2                (1) the identity of the customer;
3                (2) confirmation that the person on the call
4            is authorized to make the supplier change;
5                (3) confirmation that the person on the call
6            wants to make the supplier change;
7                (4) the names of the suppliers affected by the
8            change;
9                (5) the service address of the supply to be
10            switched; and
11                (6) the price of the service to be supplied
12            and the material terms and conditions of the
13            service being offered, including whether any early
14            termination fees apply.
15            Submitting suppliers shall maintain and preserve
16        the audio records containing the information set forth
17        above for a minimum period of 2 years.
18    (b)(1) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
19utilize the name of a public utility in any manner that is
20deceptive or misleading, including, but not limited to,
21implying or otherwise leading a consumer to believe that an
22alternative retail electric supplier is soliciting on behalf
23of or is an agent of a utility. An alternative retail electric
24supplier shall not utilize the name, or any other identifying
25insignia, graphics, or wording that has been used at any time
26to represent a public utility company or its services, to

 

 

HB2552- 15 -LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

1identify, label, or define any of its electric power and
2energy service offers. An alternative retail electric supplier
3may state the name of a public electric utility in order to
4accurately describe the electric utility service territories
5in which the supplier is currently offering an electric power
6and energy service. An alternative retail electric supplier
7that is the affiliate of an Illinois public utility and that
8was doing business in Illinois providing alternative retail
9electric service on January 1, 2016 may continue to use that
10public utility's name, logo, identifying insignia, graphics,
11or wording in its business operations occurring outside the
12service territory of the public utility with which it is
13affiliated.
14    (2) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
15state or otherwise imply that the alternative retail electric
16supplier is employed by, representing, endorsed by, or acting
17on behalf of a utility or utility program, a consumer group or
18consumer group program, or a governmental body, unless the
19alternative retail electric supplier has entered into a
20contractual arrangement with the governmental body and has
21been authorized by the governmental body to make the
22statements.
23    (c) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
24submit or execute a change in a consumer's selection of a
25provider of electric service unless the alternative retail
26electric supplier complies with the following requirements of

 

 

HB2552- 16 -LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

1this subsection (c). It is a violation of this Section for an
2alternative retail electric supplier to fail to comply with
3this subsection (c). The requirements of this subsection (c)
4shall only apply to residential and small commercial retail
5customers. For purposes of this subsection (c) only, "small
6commercial retail customer" has the meaning given to that term
7in Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act.
8        (1) During a solicitation an alternative retail
9    electric supplier shall state that he or represents an
10    independent seller of electric power and energy service
11    certified by the Illinois Commerce Commission and that he
12    or she is not employed by, representing, endorsed by, or
13    acting on behalf of, a utility, or a utility program, a
14    consumer group or consumer group program, or a
15    governmental body, unless the alternative retail electric
16    supplier has entered into a contractual arrangement with
17    the governmental body and has been authorized with the
18    governmental body to make the statements.
19        (2) Alternative retail electric suppliers who engage
20    in in-person solicitation for the purpose of selling
21    electric power and energy service offered by the
22    alternative retail electric supplier shall display
23    identification on an outer garment. This identification
24    shall be visible at all times and prominently display the
25    following: (i) the alternative retail electric supplier
26    agent's full name in reasonable size font; (ii) an agent

 

 

HB2552- 17 -LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

1    identification number; (iii) a photograph of the
2    alternative retail electric supplier agent; and (iv) the
3    trade name and logo of the alternative retail electric
4    supplier the agent is representing. If the agent is
5    selling electric power and energy services from multiple
6    alternative retail electric suppliers to the consumer, the
7    identification shall display the trade name and logo of
8    the agent, broker, or consultant entity as that entity is
9    defined in Section 16-115C of the Public Utilities Act. An
10    alternative retail electric supplier shall leave the
11    premises at the consumer's, owner's, or occupant's
12    request. A copy of the Uniform Disclosure Statement
13    described in 83 Ill. Adm. Code 412.115 and 412.Appendix A
14    is to be left with the consumer, at the conclusion of the
15    visit unless the consumer refuses to accept a copy. An
16    alternative retail electric supplier may provide the
17    Uniform Disclosure Statement electronically instead of in
18    paper form to a consumer upon that customer's request. The
19    alternative retail electric supplier shall also offer to
20    the consumer, at the time of the initiation of the
21    solicitation, a business card or other material that lists
22    the agent's name, identification number and title, and the
23    alternative retail electric supplier's name and contact
24    information, including phone number. The alternative
25    retail electric supplier shall not conduct any in-person
26    solicitations of consumers at any building or premises

 

 

HB2552- 18 -LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

1    where any sign, notice, or declaration of any description
2    whatsoever is posted that prohibits sales, marketing, or
3    solicitations. The alternative retail electric supplier
4    shall obtain consent to enter multi-unit residential
5    dwellings. Consent obtained to enter a multi-unit dwelling
6    from one prospective customer or occupant of the dwelling
7    shall not constitute consent to market to any other
8    prospective consumers without separate consent.
9        (3) An alternative retail electric supplier who
10    contacts consumers by telephone for the purpose of selling
11    electric power and energy service shall provide the
12    agent's name and identification number. Any telemarketing
13    solicitations that lead to a telephone enrollment of a
14    consumer must be recorded and retained for a minimum of 2
15    years. All telemarketing calls of consumers that do not
16    lead to a telephone enrollment, but last at least 2
17    minutes, shall be recorded and retained for a minimum of 6
18    months.
19        (4) During an inbound enrollment call, an alternative
20    retail electric supplier shall state that he or she
21    represents an independent seller of electric power and
22    energy service certified by the Illinois Commerce
23    Commission. All inbound enrollment calls that lead to an
24    enrollment shall be recorded, and the recordings shall be
25    retained for a minimum of 2 years. An inbound enrollment
26    call that does not lead to an enrollment, but lasts at

 

 

HB2552- 19 -LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

1    least 2 minutes, shall be retained for a minimum of 6
2    months. The alternative retail electric supplier shall
3    send the Uniform Disclosure Statement and contract to the
4    customer within 3 business days after the electric
5    utility's confirmation to the alternative retail electric
6    supplier of an accepted enrollment.
7        (5) If a direct mail solicitation to a consumer
8    includes a written letter of agency, it shall include the
9    Uniform Disclosure Statement described in 83 Ill. Adm.
10    Code 412.115 and 412.Appendix A. The Uniform Disclosure
11    Statement shall be provided on a separate page from the
12    other marketing materials included in the direct mail
13    solicitation. If a written letter of agency is being used
14    to authorize a consumer's enrollment, the written letter
15    of agency shall comply with this Section. A copy of the
16    contract must be sent to the consumer within 3 business
17    days after the electric utility's confirmation to the
18    alternative retail electric supplier of an accepted
19    enrollment.
20        (6) Online Solicitation.
21            (A) Each alternative retail electric supplier
22        offering electric power and energy service to
23        consumers online shall clearly and conspicuously make
24        all disclosures for any services offered through
25        online enrollment before requiring the consumer to
26        enter any personal information other than zip code,

 

 

HB2552- 20 -LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

1        electric utility service territory, or type of service
2        sought.
3            (B) Notwithstanding any requirements in this
4        Section to the contrary, an alternative retail
5        electric supplier may secure consent from the consumer
6        to obtain customer-specific billing and usage
7        information for the sole purpose of determining and
8        pricing a product through a letter of agency or method
9        approved through an Illinois Commerce Commission
10        docket before making all disclosure for services
11        offered through online enrollment. It is a violation
12        of this Act for an alternative retail electric
13        supplier to use a consumer's utility account number to
14        execute or change a consumer's enrollment unless the
15        consumer expressly consents to that enrollment as
16        required by law.
17            (C) The enrollment website of the alternative
18        retail electric supplier shall, at a minimum, include:
19        (i) disclosure of all material terms and conditions of
20        the offer; (ii) a statement that electronic acceptance
21        of the terms and conditions is an agreement to
22        initiate service and begin enrollment; (iii) a
23        statement that the consumer shall review the contract
24        or contact the current supplier to learn if any early
25        termination fees are applicable; and (iv) an email
26        address and toll-free phone number of the alternative

 

 

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1        retail electric supplier where the customer can
2        express a decision to rescind the contract.
3        (7)(A) Beginning January 1, 2020, an alternative
4    retail electric supplier shall not sell or offer to sell
5    any products or services to a consumer pursuant to a
6    contract in which the contract automatically renews,
7    unless an alternative retail electric supplier provides to
8    the consumer at the outset of the offer, in addition to
9    other disclosures required by law, a separate written
10    statement titled "Automatic Contract Renewal" that clearly
11    and conspicuously discloses in bold lettering in at least
12    12-point font the terms and conditions of the automatic
13    contract renewal provision, including: (i) the estimated
14    bill cycle on which the initial contract term expires and
15    a statement that it could be later based on when the
16    utility accepts the initial enrollment; (ii) the estimated
17    bill cycle on which the new contract term begins and a
18    statement that it will immediately follow the last billing
19    cycle of the current term; (iii) the procedure to
20    terminate the contract before the new contract term
21    applies; and (iv) the cancellation procedure. If the
22    alternative retail electric supplier sells or offers to
23    sell the products or services to a consumer during an
24    in-person solicitation or telemarketing solicitation, the
25    disclosures described in this subparagraph (A) shall also
26    be made to the consumer verbally during the solicitation.

 

 

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1    Nothing in this subparagraph (A) shall be construed to
2    apply to contracts entered into before January 1, 2020.
3            (B) At least 30 days before, but not more than 60
4        days prior, to the end of the initial contract term, in
5        any and all contracts that automatically renew after
6        the initial term, the alternative retail electric
7        supplier shall send, in addition to other disclosures
8        required by law, a separate written notice of the
9        contract renewal to the consumer that clearly and
10        conspicuously discloses the following:
11                (i) a statement printed or visible from the
12            outside of the envelope or in the subject line of
13            the email, if the customer has agreed to receive
14            official documents by email, that states "Contract
15            Renewal Notice";
16                (ii) a statement in bold lettering, in at
17            least 12-point font, that the contract will
18            automatically renew unless the customer cancels
19            it;
20                (iii) the billing cycle in which service under
21            the current term will expire;
22                (iv) the billing cycle in which service under
23            the new term will begin;
24                (v) the process and options available to the
25            consumer to reject the new contract terms;
26                (vi) the cancellation process if the

 

 

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1            consumer's contract automatically renews before
2            the consumer rejects the new contract terms;
3                (vii) the terms and conditions of the new
4            contract term;
5                (viii) for a fixed rate contract, a
6            side-by-side comparison of the current price and
7            the new price; for a variable rate contract or
8            time-of-use product in which the first month's
9            renewal price can be determined, a side-by-side
10            comparison of the current price and the price for
11            the first month of the new variable or time-of-use
12            price; or for a variable or time-of-use contract
13            based on a publicly available index, a
14            side-by-side comparison of the current formula and
15            the new formula; and
16                (ix) the phone number and Internet address to
17            submit a consumer inquiry or complaint to the
18            Illinois Commerce Commission and the Office of the
19            Attorney General.
20            (C) An alternative retail electric supplier shall
21        not automatically renew a consumer's enrollment after
22        the current term of the contract expires when the
23        current term of the contract provides that the
24        consumer will be charged a fixed rate and the renewed
25        contract provides that the consumer will be charged a
26        variable rate, unless: (i) the alternative retail

 

 

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1        electric supplier complies with subparagraphs (A) and
2        (B); and (ii) the customer expressly consents to the
3        contract renewal in writing or by electronic signature
4        at least 30 days, but no more than 60 days, before the
5        contract expires.
6            (D) This paragraph (7) does not apply to customers
7        enrolled in a municipal aggregation program pursuant
8        to Section 1-92 of the Illinois Power Agency Act.
9        (8) All in-person and telephone solicitations shall be
10    conducted in, translated into, and provided in a language
11    in which the consumer subject to the marketing or
12    solicitation is able to understand and communicate. An
13    alternative retail electric supplier shall terminate a
14    solicitation if the consumer subject to the marketing or
15    communication is unable to understand and communicate in
16    the language in which the marketing or solicitation is
17    being conducted. An alternative retail electric supplier
18    shall comply with Section 2N of this Act.
19        (9) Beginning January 1, 2020, consumers shall have
20    the right to terminate their contract with the alternative
21    retail electric supplier at any time without any
22    termination fees or penalties.
23        (10) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
24    submit a change to a customer's electric service provider
25    in violation of Section 16-115E of the Public Utilities
26    Act.

 

 

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1    (d) Complaints may be filed with the Illinois Commerce
2Commission under this Section by a consumer whose electric
3service has been provided by an alternative retail electric
4supplier in a manner not in compliance with this Section or by
5the Illinois Commerce Commission on its own motion when it
6appears to the Commission that an alternative retail electric
7supplier has provided service in a manner not in compliance
8with this Section. If, after notice and hearing, the
9Commission finds that an alternative retail electric supplier
10has violated this Section, the Commission may in its
11discretion do any one or more of the following:
12        (1) Require the violating alternative retail electric
13    supplier to refund to the consumer charges collected in
14    excess of those that would have been charged by the
15    consumer's authorized electric service provider.
16        (2) Require the violating alternative retail electric
17    supplier to pay to the consumer's authorized electric
18    service provider the amount the authorized electric
19    service provider would have collected for the electric
20    service. The Commission is authorized to reduce this
21    payment by any amount already paid by the violating
22    alternative retail electric supplier to the consumer's
23    authorized provider for electric service.
24        (3) Require the violating alternative retail electric
25    supplier to pay a fine of up to $10,000 into the Public
26    Utility Fund for each violation of this Section.

 

 

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1        (4) Issue a cease and desist order.
2        (5) For a pattern of violation of this Section or for
3    violations that continue after a cease and desist order,
4    revoke the violating alternative retail electric
5    supplier's certificate of service authority.
6    (e) For purposes of this Section:
7    "Electric service provider" shall have the meaning given
8that phrase in Section 6.5 of the Attorney General Act.
9    "Alternative retail electric supplier" has the meaning
10given to that term in Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities
11Act.
12    (e)(1) Before an alternative retail electric supplier may
13warrant that it has a residential customer or small commercial
14retail customer's express consent agreement to access interval
15data pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 16-122 of the
16Public Utilities Act, the alternative retail electric supplier
17shall: (i) disclose to the consumer at the outset of the offer
18that the alternative retail electric supplier will access the
19consumer's interval data from the consumer's utility with the
20consumer's express agreement, and the consumer's option to
21refuse to provide express agreement to access the consumer's
22interval data; and (ii) obtain the consumer's express
23agreement for the alternative retail electric supplier to
24access the consumer's interval data from the consumer's
25utility in a separate letter of agency, a distinct response to
26a third-party verification, or during a recorded enrollment

 

 

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1initiated by the consumer with the consumer's consent. The
2disclosure by the alternative retail electric supplier to the
3consumer in this Section shall be conducted in, translated
4into, and provided in a language in which the consumer subject
5to the disclosure is able to understand and communicate.
6    (2) Before an alternative retail electric supplier may
7warrant to an electric utility that it has an express
8agreement from a residential customer or small commercial
9retail customer who was enrolled with the alternative retail
10electric supplier prior to the effective date of this
11amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly to access the
12consumer's interval data pursuant to subsection (b)of Section
1316-122 of the Public Utilities Act, an alternative retail
14electric supplier shall: (i) disclose to the consumer that the
15alternative retail electric supplier will access the
16consumer's interval data from the consumer's utility with the
17consumer's express agreement, which is a material change to
18the consumer's existing contract terms, and the consumer's
19option to refuse to provide express agreement to access the
20consumer's interval data; and (ii) obtain the consumer's
21express agreement for the alternative retail electric supplier
22to change the consumer's material contract terms to access the
23consumer's interval data from the consumer's utility in a
24separate letter of agency, a distinct response to a
25third-party verification, or during a recorded enrollment
26initiated by the consumer with the consumer's consent. The

 

 

HB2552- 28 -LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

1disclosure by the alternative retail electric supplier to the
2consumer in this Section shall be conducted in, translated
3into, and provided in a language in which the consumer subject
4to the disclosure is able to understand and communicate.
5    (3) An alternative retail electric supplier may refuse to
6enroll or may disenroll a residential customer or small
7commercial retail customer in a product or service pursuant to
8paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of Section 16-122 of the
9Public Utilities Act if the residential customer or small
10commercial retail customer does not provide or revokes consent
11under this subsection.
12    (4) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
13warrant that it has a non-residential customer's, other than a
14small commercial retail customer, consent to access interval
15data pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 16-122 of the
16Public Utilities Act unless the contract between the
17alternative retail electric supplier and the customer
18explicitly provides the alternative retail electric supplier
19with permission to access the customer's interval meter usage
20data.
21(Source: P.A. 101-590, eff. 1-1-20; 102-958, eff. 1-1-23;
22revised 12-13-22.)
 
23    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
24becoming law.

 

 

HB2552- 29 -LRB103 25114 AMQ 51451 b

1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
3    220 ILCS 5/16-122
4    815 ILCS 505/2EE