093_HB3546 LRB093 09033 LRD 09265 b 1 AN ACT in relation to energy. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Energy Assistance Act is amended by 5 changing Section 7 as follows: 6 (305 ILCS 20/7) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 1407) 7 Sec. 7. State Weatherization Plan and Program. 8 (a) The Department shall, after consultation with the 9 Policy Advisory Council, prepare and promulgate an annual 10 State Weatherization Plan beginning in the year this Act 11 becomes effective. To the extent practicable, such Plan 12 shall provide for targeting use of both State and federal 13 weatherization funds to the households of eligible applicants 14 pursuant to this Act whose ratios of energy costs to income 15 are the highest. The State Weatherization Plan shall include 16 but need not be limited to the following: 17 (1) a description of the demographic 18 characteristics and energy use patterns of people 19 eligible for assistance pursuant to this Act; 20 (2) the methodology used by the Department in 21 targeting weatherization funds; 22 (3) a description of anticipated activity and 23 results for the year covered by the Plan, including an 24 estimate of energy cost savings expected to be realized 25 by the weatherization program; and 26 (4) every third year, beginning in 2002, an 27 evaluation of results from the weatherization program in 28 the year preceding the plan year, including the effect of 29 State Weatherization Program investments on energy 30 consumption and cost in the population eligible for 31 assistance pursuant to this Act, and the effect of -2- LRB093 09033 LRD 09265 b 1 targeted weatherization investments on the costs of the 2 energy assistance program authorized by this Act. 3 (b) The Department shall implement the State 4 Weatherization Plan by rule through a program which provides 5 targeted weatherization assistance to eligible applicants for 6 energy assistance pursuant to this Act. In distributing 7 weatherization assistance moneys, the Department shall give 8 priority to eligible applicants who are customers of systems 9 that assess an Energy Assistance Charge. The Department may 10 enter into such contracts and other arrangements with local 11 agencies as may be necessary for the purpose of administering 12 the weatherization program. 13 (Source: P.A. 92-690, eff. 7-18-02.)