SB2365eng 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2365 Engrossed LRB098 06614 MGM 36657 b

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Finance Authority Act is amended by changing Section 825-65 as follows:

(20 ILCS 3501/825-65)

Sec. 825-65. Clean Coal, Coal, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy Project Financing.

(a) Findings and declaration of policy.

(i) It is hereby found and declared that Illinois has abundant coal resources and, in some areas of Illinois, the demand for power exceeds the generating capacity. Incentives to encourage the construction of coal-fueled electric generating plants in Illinois to ensure power generating capacity into the future and to advance clean coal technology and the use of Illinois coal are in the best interests of all of the citizens of Illinois.

(ii) It is further found and declared that Illinois has abundant potential and resources to develop renewable energy resource projects and that there are many opportunities to invest in cost-effective energy efficiency projects throughout the State. The development of those projects will create jobs and investment as well as decrease environmental impacts and promote energy independence in Illinois. Accordingly, the development of those projects is in the best interests of all of the citizens of Illinois.

(iii) The Authority is authorized to issue bonds to help finance Clean Coal, Coal, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy projects pursuant to this Section.

(b) Definitions.

(i) "Clean Coal Project" means (A) "clean coal facility", as defined in Section 1-10 of the Illinois Power Agency Act; (B) "clean coal SNG facility", as defined in Section 1-10 of the Illinois Power Agency Act; (C) transmission lines and associated equipment that transfer electricity from points of supply to points of delivery for projects described in this subsection (b); (D) pipelines or other methods to transfer carbon dioxide from the point of production to the point of storage or sequestration for projects described in this subsection (b); or (E) projects to provide carbon abatement technology for existing generating facilities.

(ii) "Coal Project" means new electric generating facilities or new gasification facilities, as defined in Section 605-332 of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, which may include mine-mouth power plants, projects that employ the use of clean coal technology, projects to provide scrubber technology for existing energy generating plants, or projects to provide electric transmission facilities or new gasification facilities.

(iii) "Energy Efficiency Project" means measures that reduce the amount of electricity or natural gas required to achieve a given end use, consistent with Section 1-10 of the Illinois Power Agency Act. "Energy Efficiency Project" also includes measures that reduce the total Btus of electricity and natural gas needed to meet the end use or uses consistent with Section 1-10 of the Illinois Power Agency Act.

(iv) "Renewable Energy Project" means (A) a project that uses renewable energy resources, as defined in Section 1-10 of the Illinois Power Agency Act; (B) a project that uses environmentally preferable technologies and practices that result in improvements to the production of renewable fuels, including but not limited to, cellulosic conversion, water and energy conservation, fractionation, alternative feedstocks, or reduced green house gas emissions; (C) transmission lines and associated equipment that transfer electricity from points of supply to points of delivery for projects described in this subsection (b); or (D) projects that use technology for the storage of renewable energy, including, without limitation, the use of battery or electrochemical storage technology for mobile or stationary applications.

(c) Creation of reserve funds. The Authority may establish and maintain one or more reserve funds to enhance bonds issued by the Authority for a Clean Coal Project, a Coal Project, an Energy Efficiency Project, or a Renewable Energy Project. There may be one or more accounts in these reserve funds in which there may be deposited:

(1) any proceeds of the bonds issued by the Authority required to be deposited therein by the terms of any contract between the Authority and its bondholders or any resolution of the Authority;

(2) any other moneys or funds of the Authority that it may determine to deposit therein from any other source; and

(3) any other moneys or funds made available to the Authority. Subject to the terms of any pledge to the owners of any bonds, moneys in any reserve fund may be held and applied to the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest of such bonds.

(d) Powers and duties. The Authority has the power:

(1) To issue bonds in one or more series pursuant to one or more resolutions of the Authority for any Clean Coal Project, Coal Project, Energy Efficiency Project, or Renewable Energy Project authorized under this Section, within the authorization set forth in subsection (e).

(2) To provide for the funding of any reserves or other funds or accounts deemed necessary by the Authority in connection with any bonds issued by the Authority.

(3) To pledge any funds of the Authority or funds made available to the Authority that may be applied to such purpose as security for any bonds or any guarantees, letters of credit, insurance contracts or similar credit support or liquidity instruments securing the bonds.

(4) To enter into agreements or contracts with third parties, whether public or private, including, without limitation, the United States of America, the State or any department or agency thereof, to obtain any appropriations, grants, loans or guarantees that are deemed necessary or desirable by the Authority. Any such guarantee, agreement or contract may contain terms and provisions necessary or desirable in connection with the program, subject to the requirements established by the Act.

(5) To exercise such other powers as are necessary or incidental to the foregoing.

(e) Clean Coal Project, Coal Project, Energy Efficiency Project, and Renewable Energy Project bond authorization and financing limits. In addition to any other bonds authorized to be issued under Sections 801-40(w), 825-60, 830-25 and 845-5, the Authority may have outstanding, at any time, bonds for the purpose enumerated in this Section 825-65 in an aggregate principal amount that shall not exceed $3,000,000,000, subject to the following limitations: (i) up to $300,000,000 may be issued to finance projects, as described in clause (C) of subsection (b)(i) and clause (C) of subsection (b)(iv) of this Section 825-65; (ii) up to $500,000,000 may be issued to finance projects, as described in clauses (D) and (E) of subsection (b)(i) of this Section 825-65; (iii) up to $2,000,000,000 may be issued to finance Clean Coal Projects, as described in clauses (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(i) of this Section 825-65 and Coal Projects, as described in subsection (b)(ii) of this Section 825-65; and (iv) up to $2,000,000,000 may be issued to finance Energy Efficiency Projects, as described in subsection (b)(iii) of this Section 825-65 and Renewable Energy Projects, as described in clauses (A), (B), and (D) of subsection (b)(iii) of this Section 825-65. An application for a loan financed from bond proceeds from a borrower or its affiliates for a Clean Coal Project, a Coal Project, Energy Efficiency Project, or a Renewable Energy Project may not be approved by the Authority for an amount in excess of $450,000,000 for any borrower or its affiliates. These bonds shall not constitute an indebtedness or obligation of the State of Illinois and it shall be plainly stated on the face of each bond that it does not constitute an indebtedness or obligation of the State of Illinois, but is payable solely from the revenues, income or other assets of the Authority pledged therefor.

(f) The bonding authority granted under this Section is in addition to and not limited by the provisions of Section 845-5.

(Source: P.A. 95-470, eff. 8-27-07; 96-103, eff. 1-1-10; 96-817, eff. 1-1-10.)

Section 10. The Illinois Power Agency Act is amended by changing Section 1-10 as follows:

(20 ILCS 3855/1-10)

Sec. 1-10. Definitions.

"Agency" means the Illinois Power Agency.

"Agency loan agreement" means any agreement pursuant to which the Illinois Finance Authority agrees to loan the proceeds of revenue bonds issued with respect to a project to the Agency upon terms providing for loan repayment installments at least sufficient to pay when due all principal of, interest and premium, if any, on those revenue bonds, and providing for maintenance, insurance, and other matters in respect of the project.

"Authority" means the Illinois Finance Authority.

"Clean coal facility" means an electric generating facility that uses primarily coal as a feedstock and that captures and sequesters carbon dioxide emissions at the following levels: at least 50% of the total carbon dioxide emissions that the facility would otherwise emit if, at the time construction commences, the facility is scheduled to commence operation before 2016, at least 70% of the total carbon dioxide emissions that the facility would otherwise emit if, at the time construction commences, the facility is scheduled to commence operation during 2016 or 2017, and at least 90% of the total carbon dioxide emissions that the facility would otherwise emit if, at the time construction commences, the facility is scheduled to commence operation after 2017. The power block of the clean coal facility shall not exceed allowable emission rates for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulates and mercury for a natural gas-fired combined-cycle facility the same size as and in the same location as the clean coal facility at the time the clean coal facility obtains an approved air permit. All coal used by a clean coal facility shall have high volatile bituminous rank and greater than 1.7 pounds of sulfur per million btu content, unless the clean coal facility does not use gasification technology and was operating as a conventional coal-fired electric generating facility on June 1, 2009 (the effective date of Public Act 95-1027).

"Clean coal SNG brownfield facility" means a facility that (1) has commenced construction by July 1, 2015 on an urban brownfield site in a municipality with at least 1,000,000 residents; (2) uses a gasification process to produce substitute natural gas; (3) uses coal as at least 50% of the total feedstock over the term of any sourcing agreement with a utility and the remainder of the feedstock may be either petroleum coke or coal, with all such coal having a high bituminous rank and greater than 1.7 pounds of sulfur per million Btu content unless the facility reasonably determines that it is necessary to use additional petroleum coke to deliver additional consumer savings, in which case the facility shall use coal for at least 35% of the total feedstock over the term of any sourcing agreement; and (4) captures and sequesters at least 85% of the total carbon dioxide emissions that the facility would otherwise emit.

"Clean coal SNG facility" means a facility that uses a gasification process to produce substitute natural gas, that sequesters at least 90% of the total carbon dioxide emissions that the facility would otherwise emit, that uses at least 90% coal as a feedstock, with all such coal having a high bituminous rank and greater than 1.7 pounds of sulfur per million btu content, and that has a valid and effective permit to construct emission sources and air pollution control equipment and approval with respect to the federal regulations for Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality (PSD) for the plant pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act; provided, however, a clean coal SNG brownfield facility shall not be a clean coal SNG facility.

"Commission" means the Illinois Commerce Commission.

"Costs incurred in connection with the development and construction of a facility" means:

(1) the cost of acquisition of all real property, fixtures, and improvements in connection therewith and equipment, personal property, and other property, rights, and easements acquired that are deemed necessary for the operation and maintenance of the facility;

(2) financing costs with respect to bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness of the Agency;

(3) all origination, commitment, utilization, facility, placement, underwriting, syndication, credit enhancement, and rating agency fees;

(4) engineering, design, procurement, consulting, legal, accounting, title insurance, survey, appraisal, escrow, trustee, collateral agency, interest rate hedging, interest rate swap, capitalized interest, contingency, as required by lenders, and other financing costs, and other expenses for professional services; and

(5) the costs of plans, specifications, site study and investigation, installation, surveys, other Agency costs and estimates of costs, and other expenses necessary or incidental to determining the feasibility of any project, together with such other expenses as may be necessary or incidental to the financing, insuring, acquisition, and construction of a specific project and starting up, commissioning, and placing that project in operation.

"Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"Director" means the Director of the Illinois Power Agency.

"Demand-response" means measures that decrease peak electricity demand or shift demand from peak to off-peak periods.

"Distributed renewable energy generation device" means a device that is:

(1) powered by wind, solar thermal energy, photovoltaic cells and panels, biodiesel, crops and untreated and unadulterated organic waste biomass, tree waste, and hydropower that does not involve new construction or significant expansion of hydropower dams;

(2) interconnected at the distribution system level of either an electric utility as defined in this Section, an alternative retail electric supplier as defined in Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act, a municipal utility as defined in Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act, or a rural electric cooperative as defined in Section 3-119 of the Public Utilities Act;

(3) located on the customer side of the customer's electric meter and is primarily used to offset that customer's electricity load; and

(4) limited in nameplate capacity to no more than 2,000 kilowatts.

"Energy efficiency" means measures that reduce the amount of electricity or natural gas required to achieve a given end use. "Energy efficiency" also includes measures that reduce the total Btus of electricity and natural gas needed to meet the end use or uses.

"Electric utility" has the same definition as found in Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act.

"Facility" means an electric generating unit or a co-generating unit that produces electricity along with related equipment necessary to connect the facility to an electric transmission or distribution system.

"Governmental aggregator" means one or more units of local government that individually or collectively procure electricity to serve residential retail electrical loads located within its or their jurisdiction.

"Local government" means a unit of local government as defined in Section 1 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.

"Municipality" means a city, village, or incorporated town.

"Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, either domestic or foreign, company, association, limited liability company, joint stock company, or association and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, or personal representative thereof.

"Project" means the planning, bidding, and construction of a facility.

"Public utility" has the same definition as found in Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act.

"Real property" means any interest in land together with all structures, fixtures, and improvements thereon, including lands under water and riparian rights, any easements, covenants, licenses, leases, rights-of-way, uses, and other interests, together with any liens, judgments, mortgages, or other claims or security interests related to real property.

"Renewable energy credit" means a tradable credit that represents the environmental attributes of a certain amount of energy produced from a renewable energy resource.

"Renewable energy resources" includes energy and its associated renewable energy credit or renewable energy credits from wind, solar thermal energy, photovoltaic cells and panels, biodiesel, anaerobic digestion, crops and untreated and unadulterated organic waste biomass, tree waste, hydropower that does not involve new construction or significant expansion of hydropower dams, and other alternative sources of environmentally preferable energy. For purposes of this Act, landfill gas produced in the State is considered a renewable energy resource. "Renewable energy resources" does not include the incineration or burning of tires, garbage, general household, institutional, and commercial waste, industrial lunchroom or office waste, landscape waste other than tree waste, railroad crossties, utility poles, or construction or demolition debris, other than untreated and unadulterated waste wood.

"Revenue bond" means any bond, note, or other evidence of indebtedness issued by the Authority, the principal and interest of which is payable solely from revenues or income derived from any project or activity of the Agency.

"Sequester" means permanent storage of carbon dioxide by injecting it into a saline aquifer, a depleted gas reservoir, or an oil reservoir, directly or through an enhanced oil recovery process that may involve intermediate storage, regardless of whether these activities are conducted by a clean coal facility, a clean coal SNG facility, a clean coal SNG brownfield facility, or a party with which a clean coal facility, clean coal SNG facility, or clean coal SNG brownfield facility has contracted for such purposes.

"Sourcing agreement" means (i) in the case of an electric utility, an agreement between the owner of a clean coal facility and such electric utility, which agreement shall have terms and conditions meeting the requirements of paragraph (3) of subsection (d) of Section 1-75, (ii) in the case of an alternative retail electric supplier, an agreement between the owner of a clean coal facility and such alternative retail electric supplier, which agreement shall have terms and conditions meeting the requirements of Section 16-115(d)(5) of the Public Utilities Act, and (iii) in case of a gas utility, an agreement between the owner of a clean coal SNG brownfield facility and the gas utility, which agreement shall have the terms and conditions meeting the requirements of subsection (h-1) of Section 9-220 of the Public Utilities Act.

"Substitute natural gas" or "SNG" means a gas manufactured by gasification of hydrocarbon feedstock, which is substantially interchangeable in use and distribution with conventional natural gas.

"Total resource cost test" or "TRC test" means a standard that is met if, for an investment in energy efficiency or demand-response measures, the benefit-cost ratio is greater than one. The benefit-cost ratio is the ratio of the net present value of the total benefits of the program to the net present value of the total costs as calculated over the lifetime of the measures. A total resource cost test compares the sum of avoided electric utility costs, representing the benefits that accrue to the system and the participant in the delivery of those efficiency measures, as well as other quantifiable societal benefits, including avoided natural gas utility costs, to the sum of all incremental costs of end-use measures that are implemented due to the program (including both utility and participant contributions), plus costs to administer, deliver, and evaluate each demand-side program, to quantify the net savings obtained by substituting the demand-side program for supply resources. In calculating avoided costs of power and energy that an electric utility would otherwise have had to acquire, reasonable estimates shall be included of financial costs likely to be imposed by future regulations and legislation on emissions of greenhouse gases.

(Source: P.A. 96-33, eff. 7-10-09; 96-159, eff. 8-10-09; 96-784, eff. 8-28-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10; 97-96, eff. 7-13-11; 97-239, eff. 8-2-11; 97-491, eff. 8-22-11; 97-616, eff. 10-26-11; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)

Section 15. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing Sections 8-103 and 8-104 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/8-103)

Sec. 8-103. Energy efficiency and demand-response measures.

(a) It is the policy of the State that electric utilities are required to use cost-effective energy efficiency and demand-response measures to reduce delivery load. Requiring investment in cost-effective energy efficiency and demand-response measures will reduce direct and indirect costs to consumers by decreasing environmental impacts and by avoiding or delaying the need for new generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure. It serves the public interest to allow electric utilities to recover costs for reasonably and prudently incurred expenses for energy efficiency and demand-response measures. As used in this Section, "cost-effective" means that the measures satisfy the total resource cost test. The low-income measures described in subsection (f)(4) of this Section shall not be required to meet the total resource cost test. For purposes of this Section, the terms "energy-efficiency", "demand-response", "electric utility", and "total resource cost test" shall have the meanings set forth in the Illinois Power Agency Act. For purposes of this Section, the amount per kilowatthour means the total amount paid for electric service expressed on a per kilowatthour basis. For purposes of this Section, the total amount paid for electric service includes without limitation estimated amounts paid for supply, transmission, distribution, surcharges, and add-on-taxes.

(b) Electric utilities shall implement cost-effective energy efficiency measures to meet the following incremental annual energy savings goals:

(1) 0.2% of energy delivered in the year commencing June 1, 2008;

(2) 0.4% of energy delivered in the year commencing June 1, 2009;

(3) 0.6% of energy delivered in the year commencing June 1, 2010;

(4) 0.8% of energy delivered in the year commencing June 1, 2011;

(5) 1% of energy delivered in the year commencing June 1, 2012;

(6) 1.4% of energy delivered in the year commencing June 1, 2013;

(7) 1.8% of energy delivered in the year commencing June 1, 2014; and

(8) 2% of energy delivered in the year commencing June 1, 2015 and each year thereafter.

Electric utilities may comply with this subsection (b) by meeting the annual incremental savings goal in the applicable year or by showing that total savings associated with measures implemented on or after May 31, 2014 were equal to the sum of each annual incremental savings goal on or after June 1, 2014 through the end of the applicable year.

(c) Electric utilities shall implement cost-effective demand-response measures to reduce peak demand by 0.1% over the prior year for eligible retail customers, as defined in Section 16-111.5 of this Act, and for customers that elect hourly service from the utility pursuant to Section 16-107 of this Act, provided those customers have not been declared competitive. This requirement commences June 1, 2008 and continues for 10 years.

(d) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of this Section, an electric utility shall reduce the amount of energy efficiency and demand-response measures implemented over in any 3-year period single year by an amount necessary to limit the estimated average annual increase in the amounts paid by retail customers in connection with electric service due to the cost of those measures to:

(1) in 2008, no more than 0.5% of the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the year ending May 31, 2007;

(2) in 2009, the greater of an additional 0.5% of the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the year ending May 31, 2008 or 1% of the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the year ending May 31, 2007;

(3) in 2010, the greater of an additional 0.5% of the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the year ending May 31, 2009 or 1.5% of the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the year ending May 31, 2007;

(4) in 2011, the greater of an additional 0.5% of the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the year ending May 31, 2010 or 2% of the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the year ending May 31, 2007; and

(5) thereafter, the amount of energy efficiency and demand-response measures implemented for any single year shall be reduced by an amount necessary to limit the estimated average net increase due to the cost of these measures included in the amounts paid by eligible retail customers in connection with electric service to no more than the greater of 2.015% of the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the year ending May 31, 2007 or the incremental amount per kilowatthour paid for these measures in 2011.

No later than June 30, 2011, the Commission shall review the limitation on the amount of energy efficiency and demand-response measures implemented pursuant to this Section and report to the General Assembly its findings as to whether that limitation unduly constrains the procurement of energy efficiency and demand-response measures.

(e) Electric utilities shall be responsible for overseeing the design, development, and filing of energy efficiency and demand-response plans with the Commission. Electric utilities shall implement 100% of the demand-response measures in the plans. Electric utilities shall implement 75% of the energy efficiency measures approved by the Commission, and may, as part of that implementation, outsource various aspects of program development and implementation. The remaining 25% of those energy efficiency measures approved by the Commission shall be implemented by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and must be designed in conjunction with the utility and the filing process. The Department may outsource development and implementation of energy efficiency measures. A minimum of 10% of the entire portfolio of cost-effective energy efficiency measures shall be procured from units of local government, municipal corporations, school districts, and community college districts. The Department shall coordinate the implementation of these measures.

The apportionment of the dollars to cover the costs to implement the Department's share of the portfolio of energy efficiency measures shall be made to the Department once the Department has executed rebate agreements, grants, or contracts for energy efficiency measures and provided supporting documentation for those rebate agreements, grants, and contracts to the utility. The Department is authorized to adopt any rules necessary and prescribe procedures in order to ensure compliance by applicants in carrying out the purposes of rebate agreements for energy efficiency measures implemented by the Department made under this Section.

The details of the measures implemented by the Department shall be submitted by the Department to the Commission in connection with the utility's filing regarding the energy efficiency and demand-response measures that the utility implements.

A utility providing approved energy efficiency and demand-response measures in the State shall be permitted to recover costs of those measures through an automatic adjustment clause tariff filed with and approved by the Commission. The tariff shall be established outside the context of a general rate case. Each year the Commission shall initiate a review to reconcile any amounts collected with the actual costs and to determine the required adjustment to the annual tariff factor to match annual expenditures.

Each utility shall include, in its recovery of costs, the costs estimated for both the utility's and the Department's implementation of energy efficiency and demand-response measures. Costs collected by the utility for measures implemented by the Department shall be submitted to the Department pursuant to Section 605-323 of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, shall be deposited into the Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards Fund, and shall be used by the Department solely for the purpose of implementing these measures. A utility shall not be required to advance any moneys to the Department but only to forward such funds as it has collected. The Department shall report to the Commission on an annual basis regarding the costs actually incurred by the Department in the implementation of the measures. Any changes to the costs of energy efficiency measures as a result of plan modifications shall be appropriately reflected in amounts recovered by the utility and turned over to the Department.

The portfolio of measures, administered by both the utilities and the Department, shall, in combination, be designed to achieve the annual savings targets described in subsections (b) and (c) of this Section, as modified by subsection (d) of this Section.

The utility and the Department shall agree upon a reasonable portfolio of measures and determine the measurable corresponding percentage of the savings goals associated with measures implemented by the utility or Department.

No utility shall be assessed a penalty under subsection (f) of this Section for failure to make a timely filing if that failure is the result of a lack of agreement with the Department with respect to the allocation of responsibilities or related costs or target assignments. In that case, the Department and the utility shall file their respective plans with the Commission and the Commission shall determine an appropriate division of measures and programs that meets the requirements of this Section.

If the Department is unable to meet incremental annual performance goals for the portion of the portfolio implemented by the Department, then the utility and the Department shall jointly submit a modified filing to the Commission explaining the performance shortfall and recommending an appropriate course going forward, including any program modifications that may be appropriate in light of the evaluations conducted under item (7) of subsection (f) of this Section. In this case, the utility obligation to collect the Department's costs and turn over those funds to the Department under this subsection (e) shall continue only if the Commission approves the modifications to the plan proposed by the Department.

(f) No later than November 15, 2007, each electric utility shall file an energy efficiency and demand-response plan with the Commission to meet the energy efficiency and demand-response standards for 2008 through 2010. No later than October 1, 2010, each electric utility shall file an energy efficiency and demand-response plan with the Commission to meet the energy efficiency and demand-response standards for 2011 through 2013. Every 3 years thereafter, each electric utility shall file, no later than September 1, an energy efficiency and demand-response plan with the Commission. If a utility does not file such a plan by September 1 of an applicable year, it shall face a penalty of $100,000 per day until the plan is filed. Each utility's plan shall set forth the utility's proposals to meet the utility's portion of the energy efficiency standards identified in subsection (b) and the demand-response standards identified in subsection (c) of this Section as modified by subsections (d) and (e), taking into account the unique circumstances of the utility's service territory. The Commission shall seek public comment on the utility's plan and shall issue an order approving or disapproving each plan within 5 months after its submission. If the Commission disapproves a plan, the Commission shall, within 30 days, describe in detail the reasons for the disapproval and describe a path by which the utility may file a revised draft of the plan to address the Commission's concerns satisfactorily. If the utility does not refile with the Commission within 60 days, the utility shall be subject to penalties at a rate of $100,000 per day until the plan is filed. This process shall continue, and penalties shall accrue, until the utility has successfully filed a portfolio of energy efficiency and demand-response measures. Penalties shall be deposited into the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund. In submitting proposed energy efficiency and demand-response plans and funding levels to meet the savings goals adopted by this Act the utility shall:

(1) Demonstrate that its proposed energy efficiency and demand-response measures will achieve the requirements that are identified in subsections (b) and (c) of this Section, as modified by subsections (d) and (e).

(2) Present specific proposals to implement new building and appliance standards that have been placed into effect.

(3) Present estimates of the total amount paid for electric service expressed on a per kilowatthour basis associated with the proposed portfolio of measures designed to meet the requirements that are identified in subsections (b) and (c) of this Section, as modified by subsections (d) and (e).

(4) Coordinate with the Department to present a portfolio of energy efficiency measures proportionate to the share of total annual utility revenues in Illinois from households at or below 150% of the poverty level. The energy efficiency programs shall be targeted to households with incomes at or below 80% of area median income.

(5) Demonstrate that its overall portfolio of energy efficiency and demand-response measures, not including programs covered by item (4) of this subsection (f), are cost-effective using the total resource cost test and represent a diverse cross-section of opportunities for customers of all rate classes to participate in the programs.

(6) Include a proposed cost-recovery tariff mechanism to fund the proposed energy efficiency and demand-response measures and to ensure the recovery of the prudently and reasonably incurred costs of Commission-approved programs.

(7) Provide for an annual independent evaluation of the performance of the cost-effectiveness of the utility's portfolio of measures and the Department's portfolio of measures, as well as a full review of the 3-year results of the broader net program impacts and, to the extent practical, for adjustment of the measures on a going-forward basis as a result of the evaluations. The resources dedicated to evaluation shall not exceed 3% of portfolio resources in any given year.

(g) No more than 3% of energy efficiency and demand-response program revenue may be allocated for demonstration of breakthrough equipment and devices.

(h) This Section does not apply to an electric utility that on December 31, 2005 provided electric service to fewer than 100,000 customers in Illinois.

(i) If, after 2 years, an electric utility fails to meet the efficiency standard specified in subsection (b) of this Section, as modified by subsections (d) and (e), it shall make a contribution to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The combined total liability for failure to meet the goal shall be $1,000,000, which shall be assessed as follows: a large electric utility shall pay $665,000, and a medium electric utility shall pay $335,000. If, after 3 years, an electric utility fails to meet the efficiency standard specified in subsection (b) of this Section, as modified by subsections (d) and (e), it shall make a contribution to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The combined total liability for failure to meet the goal shall be $1,000,000, which shall be assessed as follows: a large electric utility shall pay $665,000, and a medium electric utility shall pay $335,000. In addition, the responsibility for implementing the energy efficiency measures of the utility making the payment shall be transferred to the Illinois Power Agency if, after 3 years, or in any subsequent 3-year period, the utility fails to meet the efficiency standard specified in subsection (b) of this Section, as modified by subsections (d) and (e). The Agency shall implement a competitive procurement program to procure resources necessary to meet the standards specified in this Section as modified by subsections (d) and (e), with costs for those resources to be recovered in the same manner as products purchased through the procurement plan as provided in Section 16-111.5. The Director shall implement this requirement in connection with the procurement plan as provided in Section 16-111.5.

For purposes of this Section, (i) a "large electric utility" is an electric utility that, on December 31, 2005, served more than 2,000,000 electric customers in Illinois; (ii) a "medium electric utility" is an electric utility that, on December 31, 2005, served 2,000,000 or fewer but more than 100,000 electric customers in Illinois; and (iii) Illinois electric utilities that are affiliated by virtue of a common parent company are considered a single electric utility.

(j) If, after 3 years, or any subsequent 3-year period, the Department fails to implement the Department's share of energy efficiency measures required by the standards in subsection (b), then the Illinois Power Agency may assume responsibility for and control of the Department's share of the required energy efficiency measures. The Agency shall implement a competitive procurement program to procure resources necessary to meet the standards specified in this Section, with the costs of these resources to be recovered in the same manner as provided for the Department in this Section.

(k) No electric utility shall be deemed to have failed to meet the energy efficiency standards to the extent any such failure is due to a failure of the Department or the Agency.

(Source: P.A. 96-33, eff. 7-10-09; 96-159, eff. 8-10-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10; 97-616, eff. 10-26-11; 97-841, eff. 7-20-12.)

(220 ILCS 5/8-104)

Sec. 8-104. Natural gas energy efficiency programs.

(a) It is the policy of the State that natural gas utilities and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity are required to use cost-effective energy efficiency to reduce direct and indirect costs to consumers. It serves the public interest to allow natural gas utilities to recover costs for reasonably and prudently incurred expenses for cost-effective energy efficiency measures.

(b) For purposes of this Section, "energy efficiency" means measures that reduce the amount of energy required to achieve a given end use. "Energy efficiency" also includes measures that reduce the total Btus of electricity and natural gas needed to meet the end use or uses. "Cost-effective" and "cost-effective" means that the measures satisfy the total resource cost test which, for purposes of this Section, means a standard that is met if, for an investment in energy efficiency, the benefit-cost ratio is greater than one. The benefit-cost ratio is the ratio of the net present value of the total benefits of the measures to the net present value of the total costs as calculated over the lifetime of the measures. The total resource cost test compares the sum of avoided natural gas utility costs, representing the benefits that accrue to the system and the participant in the delivery of those efficiency measures, as well as other quantifiable societal benefits, including avoided electric utility costs, to the sum of all incremental costs of end use measures (including both utility and participant contributions), plus costs to administer, deliver, and evaluate each demand-side measure, to quantify the net savings obtained by substituting demand-side measures for supply resources. In calculating avoided costs, reasonable estimates shall be included for financial costs likely to be imposed by future regulation of emissions of greenhouse gases. The low-income programs described in item (4) of subsection (f) of this Section shall not be required to meet the total resource cost test.

(c) Natural gas utilities shall implement cost-effective energy efficiency measures to meet at least the following natural gas savings requirements, which shall be based upon the total amount of gas delivered to retail customers, other than the customers described in subsection (m) of this Section, during calendar year 2009 multiplied by the applicable percentage. Natural gas utilities may comply with this Section by meeting the annual incremental savings goal in the applicable year or by showing that total savings associated with measures implemented after May 31, 2011 were equal to the sum of each annual incremental savings requirement from May 31, 2011 through the end of the applicable year:

(1) 0.2% by May 31, 2012;

(2) an additional 0.4% by May 31, 2013, increasing total savings to .6%;

(3) an additional 0.6% by May 31, 2014, increasing total savings to 1.2%;

(4) an additional 0.8% by May 31, 2015, increasing total savings to 2.0%;

(5) an additional 1% by May 31, 2016, increasing total savings to 3.0%;

(6) an additional 1.2% by May 31, 2017, increasing total savings to 4.2%;

(7) an additional 1.4% by May 31, 2018, increasing total savings to 5.6%;

(8) an additional 1.5% by May 31, 2019, increasing total savings to 7.1%; and

(9) an additional 1.5% in each 12-month period thereafter.

(d) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (c) of this Section, a natural gas utility shall limit the amount of energy efficiency implemented in any 3-year reporting period established by subsection (f) of Section 8-104 of this Act, by an amount necessary to limit the estimated average increase in the amounts paid by retail customers in connection with natural gas service to no more than 2% in the applicable 3-year reporting period. The energy savings requirements in subsection (c) of this Section may be reduced by the Commission for the subject plan, if the utility demonstrates by substantial evidence that it is highly unlikely that the requirements could be achieved without exceeding the applicable spending limits in any 3-year reporting period. No later than September 1, 2013, the Commission shall review the limitation on the amount of energy efficiency measures implemented pursuant to this Section and report to the General Assembly, in the report required by subsection (k) of this Section, its findings as to whether that limitation unduly constrains the procurement of energy efficiency measures.

(e) Natural gas utilities shall be responsible for overseeing the design, development, and filing of their efficiency plans with the Commission. The utility shall utilize 75% of the available funding associated with energy efficiency programs approved by the Commission, and may outsource various aspects of program development and implementation. The remaining 25% of available funding shall be used by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to implement energy efficiency measures that achieve no less than 20% of the requirements of subsection (c) of this Section. Such measures shall be designed in conjunction with the utility and approved by the Commission. The Department may outsource development and implementation of energy efficiency measures. A minimum of 10% of the entire portfolio of cost-effective energy efficiency measures shall be procured from local government, municipal corporations, school districts, and community college districts. Five percent of the entire portfolio of cost-effective energy efficiency measures may be granted to local government and municipal corporations for market transformation initiatives. The Department shall coordinate the implementation of these measures and shall integrate delivery of natural gas efficiency programs with electric efficiency programs delivered pursuant to Section 8-103 of this Act, unless the Department can show that integration is not feasible.

The apportionment of the dollars to cover the costs to implement the Department's share of the portfolio of energy efficiency measures shall be made to the Department once the Department has executed rebate agreements, grants, or contracts for energy efficiency measures and provided supporting documentation for those rebate agreements, grants, and contracts to the utility. The Department is authorized to adopt any rules necessary and prescribe procedures in order to ensure compliance by applicants in carrying out the purposes of rebate agreements for energy efficiency measures implemented by the Department made under this Section.

The details of the measures implemented by the Department shall be submitted by the Department to the Commission in connection with the utility's filing regarding the energy efficiency measures that the utility implements.

A utility providing approved energy efficiency measures in this State shall be permitted to recover costs of those measures through an automatic adjustment clause tariff filed with and approved by the Commission. The tariff shall be established outside the context of a general rate case and shall be applicable to the utility's customers other than the customers described in subsection (m) of this Section. Each year the Commission shall initiate a review to reconcile any amounts collected with the actual costs and to determine the required adjustment to the annual tariff factor to match annual expenditures.

Each utility shall include, in its recovery of costs, the costs estimated for both the utility's and the Department's implementation of energy efficiency measures. Costs collected by the utility for measures implemented by the Department shall be submitted to the Department pursuant to Section 605-323 of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, shall be deposited into the Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards Fund, and shall be used by the Department solely for the purpose of implementing these measures. A utility shall not be required to advance any moneys to the Department but only to forward such funds as it has collected. The Department shall report to the Commission on an annual basis regarding the costs actually incurred by the Department in the implementation of the measures. Any changes to the costs of energy efficiency measures as a result of plan modifications shall be appropriately reflected in amounts recovered by the utility and turned over to the Department.

The portfolio of measures, administered by both the utilities and the Department, shall, in combination, be designed to achieve the annual energy savings requirements set forth in subsection (c) of this Section, as modified by subsection (d) of this Section.

The utility and the Department shall agree upon a reasonable portfolio of measures and determine the measurable corresponding percentage of the savings goals associated with measures implemented by the Department.

No utility shall be assessed a penalty under subsection (f) of this Section for failure to make a timely filing if that failure is the result of a lack of agreement with the Department with respect to the allocation of responsibilities or related costs or target assignments. In that case, the Department and the utility shall file their respective plans with the Commission and the Commission shall determine an appropriate division of measures and programs that meets the requirements of this Section.

If the Department is unable to meet performance requirements for the portion of the portfolio implemented by the Department, then the utility and the Department shall jointly submit a modified filing to the Commission explaining the performance shortfall and recommending an appropriate course going forward, including any program modifications that may be appropriate in light of the evaluations conducted under item (8) of subsection (f) of this Section. In this case, the utility obligation to collect the Department's costs and turn over those funds to the Department under this subsection (e) shall continue only if the Commission approves the modifications to the plan proposed by the Department.

(f) No later than October 1, 2010, each gas utility shall file an energy efficiency plan with the Commission to meet the energy efficiency standards through May 31, 2014. Every 3 years thereafter, each utility shall file, no later than October 1, an energy efficiency plan with the Commission. If a utility does not file such a plan by October 1 of the applicable year, then it shall face a penalty of $100,000 per day until the plan is filed. Each utility's plan shall set forth the utility's proposals to meet the utility's portion of the energy efficiency standards identified in subsection (c) of this Section, as modified by subsection (d) of this Section, taking into account the unique circumstances of the utility's service territory. The Commission shall seek public comment on the utility's plan and shall issue an order approving or disapproving each plan. If the Commission disapproves a plan, the Commission shall, within 30 days, describe in detail the reasons for the disapproval and describe a path by which the utility may file a revised draft of the plan to address the Commission's concerns satisfactorily. If the utility does not refile with the Commission within 60 days after the disapproval, the utility shall be subject to penalties at a rate of $100,000 per day until the plan is filed. This process shall continue, and penalties shall accrue, until the utility has successfully filed a portfolio of energy efficiency measures. Penalties shall be deposited into the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund and the cost of any such penalties may not be recovered from ratepayers. In submitting proposed energy efficiency plans and funding levels to meet the savings goals adopted by this Act the utility shall:

(1) Demonstrate that its proposed energy efficiency measures will achieve the requirements that are identified in subsection (c) of this Section, as modified by subsection (d) of this Section.

(2) Present specific proposals to implement new building and appliance standards that have been placed into effect.

(3) Present estimates of the total amount paid for gas service expressed on a per therm basis associated with the proposed portfolio of measures designed to meet the requirements that are identified in subsection (c) of this Section, as modified by subsection (d) of this Section.

(4) Coordinate with the Department to present a portfolio of energy efficiency measures proportionate to the share of total annual utility revenues in Illinois from households at or below 150% of the poverty level. Such programs shall be targeted to households with incomes at or below 80% of area median income.

(5) Demonstrate that its overall portfolio of energy efficiency measures, not including programs covered by item (4) of this subsection (f), are cost-effective using the total resource cost test and represent a diverse cross section of opportunities for customers of all rate classes to participate in the programs.

(6) Demonstrate that a gas utility affiliated with an electric utility that is required to comply with Section 8-103 of this Act has integrated gas and electric efficiency measures into a single program that reduces program or participant costs and appropriately allocates costs to gas and electric ratepayers. The Department shall integrate all gas and electric programs it delivers in any such utilities' service territories, unless the Department can show that integration is not feasible or appropriate.

(7) Include a proposed cost recovery tariff mechanism to fund the proposed energy efficiency measures and to ensure the recovery of the prudently and reasonably incurred costs of Commission-approved programs.

(8) Provide for quarterly status reports tracking implementation of and expenditures for the utility's portfolio of measures and the Department's portfolio of measures, an annual independent review, and a full independent evaluation of the 3-year results of the performance and the cost-effectiveness of the utility's and Department's portfolios of measures and broader net program impacts and, to the extent practical, for adjustment of the measures on a going forward basis as a result of the evaluations. The resources dedicated to evaluation shall not exceed 3% of portfolio resources in any given 3-year period.

(g) No more than 3% of expenditures on energy efficiency measures may be allocated for demonstration of breakthrough equipment and devices.

(h) Illinois natural gas utilities that are affiliated by virtue of a common parent company may, at the utilities' request, be considered a single natural gas utility for purposes of complying with this Section.

(i) If, after 3 years, a gas utility fails to meet the efficiency standard specified in subsection (c) of this Section as modified by subsection (d), then it shall make a contribution to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The total liability for failure to meet the goal shall be assessed as follows:

(1) a large gas utility shall pay $600,000;

(2) a medium gas utility shall pay $400,000; and

(3) a small gas utility shall pay $200,000.

For purposes of this Section, (i) a "large gas utility" is a gas utility that on December 31, 2008, served more than 1,500,000 gas customers in Illinois; (ii) a "medium gas utility" is a gas utility that on December 31, 2008, served fewer than 1,500,000, but more than 500,000 gas customers in Illinois; and (iii) a "small gas utility" is a gas utility that on December 31, 2008, served fewer than 500,000 and more than 100,000 gas customers in Illinois. The costs of this contribution may not be recovered from ratepayers.

If a gas utility fails to meet the efficiency standard specified in subsection (c) of this Section, as modified by subsection (d) of this Section, in any 2 consecutive 3-year planning periods, then the responsibility for implementing the utility's energy efficiency measures shall be transferred to an independent program administrator selected by the Commission. Reasonable and prudent costs incurred by the independent program administrator to meet the efficiency standard specified in subsection (c) of this Section, as modified by subsection (d) of this Section, may be recovered from the customers of the affected gas utilities, other than customers described in subsection (m) of this Section. The utility shall provide the independent program administrator with all information and assistance necessary to perform the program administrator's duties including but not limited to customer, account, and energy usage data, and shall allow the program administrator to include inserts in customer bills. The utility may recover reasonable costs associated with any such assistance.

(j) No utility shall be deemed to have failed to meet the energy efficiency standards to the extent any such failure is due to a failure of the Department.

(k) Not later than January 1, 2012, the Commission shall develop and solicit public comment on a plan to foster statewide coordination and consistency between statutorily mandated natural gas and electric energy efficiency programs to reduce program or participant costs or to improve program performance. Not later than September 1, 2013, the Commission shall issue a report to the General Assembly containing its findings and recommendations.

(l) This Section does not apply to a gas utility that on January 1, 2009, provided gas service to fewer than 100,000 customers in Illinois.

(m) Subsections (a) through (k) of this Section do not apply to customers of a natural gas utility that have a North American Industry Classification System code number that is 22111 or any such code number beginning with the digits 31, 32, or 33 and (i) annual usage in the aggregate of 4 million therms or more within the service territory of the affected gas utility or with aggregate usage of 8 million therms or more in this State and complying with the provisions of item (l) of this subsection (m); or (ii) using natural gas as feedstock and meeting the usage requirements described in item (i) of this subsection (m), to the extent such annual feedstock usage is greater than 60% of the customer's total annual usage of natural gas.

(1) Customers described in this subsection (m) of this Section shall apply, on a form approved on or before October 1, 2009 by the Department, to the Department to be designated as a self-directing customer ("SDC") or as an exempt customer using natural gas as a feedstock from which other products are made, including, but not limited to, feedstock for a hydrogen plant, on or before the 1st day of February, 2010. Thereafter, application may be made not less than 6 months before the filing date of the gas utility energy efficiency plan described in subsection (f) of this Section; however, a new customer that commences taking service from a natural gas utility after February 1, 2010 may apply to become a SDC or exempt customer up to 30 days after beginning service. Such application shall contain the following:

(A) the customer's certification that, at the time of its application, it qualifies to be a SDC or exempt customer described in this subsection (m) of this Section;

(B) in the case of a SDC, the customer's certification that it has established or will establish by the beginning of the utility's 3-year planning period commencing subsequent to the application, and will maintain for accounting purposes, an energy efficiency reserve account and that the customer will accrue funds in said account to be held for the purpose of funding, in whole or in part, energy efficiency measures of the customer's choosing, which may include, but are not limited to, projects involving combined heat and power systems that use the same energy source both for the generation of electrical or mechanical power and the production of steam or another form of useful thermal energy or the use of combustible gas produced from biomass, or both;

(C) in the case of a SDC, the customer's certification that annual funding levels for the energy efficiency reserve account will be equal to 2% of the customer's cost of natural gas, composed of the customer's commodity cost and the delivery service charges paid to the gas utility, or $150,000, whichever is less;

(D) in the case of a SDC, the customer's certification that the required reserve account balance will be capped at 3 years' worth of accruals and that the customer may, at its option, make further deposits to the account to the extent such deposit would increase the reserve account balance above the designated cap level;

(E) in the case of a SDC, the customer's certification that by October 1 of each year, beginning no sooner than October 1, 2012, the customer will report to the Department information, for the 12-month period ending May 31 of the same year, on all deposits and reductions, if any, to the reserve account during the reporting year, and to the extent deposits to the reserve account in any year are in an amount less than $150,000, the basis for such reduced deposits; reserve account balances by month; a description of energy efficiency measures undertaken by the customer and paid for in whole or in part with funds from the reserve account; an estimate of the energy saved, or to be saved, by the measure; and that the report shall include a verification by an officer or plant manager of the customer or by a registered professional engineer or certified energy efficiency trade professional that the funds withdrawn from the reserve account were used for the energy efficiency measures;

(F) in the case of an exempt customer, the customer's certification of the level of gas usage as feedstock in the customer's operation in a typical year and that it will provide information establishing this level, upon request of the Department;

(G) in the case of either an exempt customer or a SDC, the customer's certification that it has provided the gas utility or utilities serving the customer with a copy of the application as filed with the Department;

(H) in the case of either an exempt customer or a SDC, certification of the natural gas utility or utilities serving the customer in Illinois including the natural gas utility accounts that are the subject of the application; and

(I) in the case of either an exempt customer or a SDC, a verification signed by a plant manager or an authorized corporate officer attesting to the truthfulness and accuracy of the information contained in the application.

(2) The Department shall review the application to determine that it contains the information described in provisions (A) through (I) of item (1) of this subsection (m), as applicable. The review shall be completed within 30 days after the date the application is filed with the Department. Absent a determination by the Department within the 30-day period, the applicant shall be considered to be a SDC or exempt customer, as applicable, for all subsequent 3-year planning periods, as of the date of filing the application described in this subsection (m). If the Department determines that the application does not contain the applicable information described in provisions (A) through (I) of item (1) of this subsection (m), it shall notify the customer, in writing, of its determination that the application does not contain the required information and identify the information that is missing, and the customer shall provide the missing information within 15 working days after the date of receipt of the Department's notification.

(3) The Department shall have the right to audit the information provided in the customer's application and annual reports to ensure continued compliance with the requirements of this subsection. Based on the audit, if the Department determines the customer is no longer in compliance with the requirements of items (A) through (I) of item (1) of this subsection (m), as applicable, the Department shall notify the customer in writing of the noncompliance. The customer shall have 30 days to establish its compliance, and failing to do so, may have its status as a SDC or exempt customer revoked by the Department. The Department shall treat all information provided by any customer seeking SDC status or exemption from the provisions of this Section as strictly confidential.

(4) Upon request, or on its own motion, the Commission may open an investigation, no more than once every 3 years and not before October 1, 2014, to evaluate the effectiveness of the self-directing program described in this subsection (m).

(n) The applicability of this Section to customers described in subsection (m) of this Section is conditioned on the existence of the SDC program. In no event will any provision of this Section apply to such customers after January 1, 2020.

(Source: P.A. 96-33, eff. 7-10-09; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12; 97-841, eff. 7-20-12.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.