Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB 5555

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Sets forth certain rights for water and sewer public utility customers. Requires a water or sewer public utility to file a tariff with the Illinois Commerce Commission, if requested to do so by a municipality, for metered water service used for building construction purposes. Requires the Commission to adopt rules to establish standards for subcontractors of for-profit water and sewer utilities. Requires the Commission to establish a formula for true-up charges that take into account certain conservation factors. Prohibits a water public utility from charging a customer during the time the customer's meter is malfunctioning and requires the utility to test a customer's meter under certain circumstances. Requires the Commission to hold public forums before any hearing on a rate increase with respect to a water or sewer public utility. Requires each water and sewer public utility to establish a unit rate, subject to review by the Commission, for customers with low usage rates. Requires a water or sewer utility to offer separate rates for water and sewer service to any commercial or residential customer who uses separate meters to measure each of those services. Requires the Commission to conduct at least 3 public forums throughout the State to evaluate the purpose and use of fire protection charges imposed by public utilities and to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than the last day of the veto session in 2006. Effective immediately.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the bill as introduced with the following changes: Moves all of the provisions, except the provisions concerning fire protection charges, to a new Act entitled the Water and Sewer Utility Customer Service Act. Provides that the water bill of rights must detail what rights a customer has when an annual reconciliation is filed that will increase the amount billed to the customer. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall determine the penalties that shall be imposed on the utility for noncompliance with the customer's water bill of rights. Provides that a customer must be at least 60 days in arrears before a shutoff notice can be issued and that the Commission shall establish procedures to set aside a shutoff notice if it affects the safety and welfare of the community. Provides that the procedures shall be published and provided to the municipality or townships served by the utility. Replaces references to "true-up" with "annual reconciliation". Provides that, at the request of a municipality or township within the service area of a public utility that provides water service to customers within the municipality or township, a public utility must (i) require all water service used for building construction purposes to be measured by meter and subject to approved rates and charges for metered water service and (ii) prohibit the unauthorized use of water taken from hydrants or service lines installed at construction sites. Provides that the Commission shall establish sanctions for violations of any conservation agreements. Makes changes concerning the public forum requirement when any public utility providing water or sewer service proposes a rate increase. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to prepare, make available to customers upon request, and post on its Internet web site information concerning the service obligations of water and sewer utilities and remedies that a customer may pursue for a violation of the customer's rights. Provides circumstances under which water or sewer utilities may discontinue services. Provides for the testing of water meters. Requires public utilities to notify customers of their right to request a public forum when the public utilities providing water or sewer services propose a general rate increase. Requires the Commission to conduct at least 3 public forums to evaluate the purpose and use of fire protection charges and provides guidelines for those forums. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Date	Chamber	Action
6/27/2006	House	Public Act . . . . . . . . . 94-0950

Date	Chamber	Action
1/27/2006	House	Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Renee Kosel
1/27/2006	House	First Reading
1/27/2006	House	Referred to Rules Committee
1/31/2006	House	Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin A. McCarthy
2/7/2006	House	Assigned to Public Utilities Committee
2/14/2006	House	House Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Public Utilities Committee
2/14/2006	House	House Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Public Utilities Committee; by Voice Vote
2/14/2006	House	Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Public Utilities Committee; 009-000-000
2/14/2006	House	Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
2/16/2006	House	Second Reading - Short Debate
2/16/2006	House	Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
2/21/2006	House	Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 113-000-000
2/22/2006	Senate	Arrive in Senate
2/22/2006	Senate	Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading February 23, 2006
2/23/2006	Senate	Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. James F. Clayborne, Jr.
2/23/2006	Senate	First Reading
2/23/2006	Senate	Referred to Rules
2/24/2006	Senate	Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Christine Radogno
2/28/2006	Senate	Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. M. Maggie Crotty
2/28/2006	House	Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kurt M. Granberg
3/15/2006	Senate	Assigned to Environment & Energy
3/24/2006	Senate	Do Pass Environment & Energy; 012-000-000
3/24/2006	Senate	Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 27, 2006
3/28/2006	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. James F. Clayborne, Jr.
3/28/2006	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules
3/29/2006	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Environment & Energy
3/29/2006	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. James F. Clayborne, Jr.
3/29/2006	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules
3/29/2006	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Environment & Energy; 008-000-000
3/29/2006	Senate	Second Reading
3/29/2006	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Clayborne
3/29/2006	Senate	Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 30, 2006
3/30/2006	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Be Approved for Consideration Rules
3/30/2006	Senate	Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Pamela J. Althoff
3/30/2006	Senate	Recalled to Second Reading
3/30/2006	Senate	Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted; Clayborne
3/30/2006	Senate	Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading
3/30/2006	Senate	Third Reading - Passed; 057-000-000
3/30/2006	House	Arrived in House
3/30/2006	House	Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 1,2
4/3/2006	House	Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Renee Kosel
4/3/2006	House	Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Renee Kosel
4/3/2006	House	Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee
4/3/2006	House	Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee
4/4/2006	House	Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends be Adopted Rules Committee; 004-000-000
4/4/2006	House	Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Recommends be Adopted Rules Committee; 004-000-000
4/4/2006	House	Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 House Concurs 113-000-000
4/4/2006	House	Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 House Concurs 113-000-000
4/4/2006	House	Passed Both Houses
5/3/2006	House	Sent to the Governor
6/27/2006	House	Governor Approved
6/27/2006	House	Effective Date June 27, 2006
6/27/2006	House	Public Act . . . . . . . . . 94-0950

	Deletes reference to:
	220 ILCS 5/4-605 new

	Adds reference to:
	New Act

	Deletes reference to:
	New Act

	Adds reference to:
	220 ILCS 5/8-306 new