Sen. Patrick J. Joyce

Filed: 3/30/2022

 

 


 

 


 
10200HB4382sam001LRB102 21886 AMQ 38300 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 4382

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 4382 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by
5changing Sections 2-202, 8-406, and 8-406.1 as follows:
 
6    (220 ILCS 5/2-202)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 2-202)
7    Sec. 2-202. Policy; Public Utility Fund; tax.
8    (a) It is declared to be the public policy of this State
9that in order to maintain and foster the effective regulation
10of public utilities under this Act in the interests of the
11People of the State of Illinois and the public utilities as
12well, the public utilities subject to regulation under this
13Act and which enjoy the privilege of operating as public
14utilities in this State, shall bear the expense of
15administering this Act by means of a tax on such privilege
16measured by the annual gross revenue of such public utilities

 

 

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1in the manner provided in this Section. For purposes of this
2Section, "expense of administering this Act" includes any
3costs incident to studies, whether made by the Commission or
4under contract entered into by the Commission, concerning
5environmental pollution problems caused or contributed to by
6public utilities and the means for eliminating or abating
7those problems. Such proceeds shall be deposited in the Public
8Utility Fund in the State treasury.
9    (b) All of the ordinary and contingent expenses of the
10Commission incident to the administration of this Act shall be
11paid out of the Public Utility Fund except the compensation of
12the members of the Commission which shall be paid from the
13General Revenue Fund. Notwithstanding other provisions of this
14Act to the contrary, the ordinary and contingent expenses of
15the Commission incident to the administration of the Illinois
16Commercial Transportation Law may be paid from appropriations
17from the Public Utility Fund through the end of fiscal year
181986.
19    (c) A tax is imposed upon each public utility subject to
20the provisions of this Act equal to .08% of its gross revenue
21for each calendar year commencing with the calendar year
22beginning January 1, 1982, except that the Commission may, by
23rule, establish a different rate no greater than 0.1%. For
24purposes of this Section, "gross revenue" shall not include
25revenue from the production, transmission, distribution, sale,
26delivery, or furnishing of electricity. "Gross revenue" shall

 

 

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1not include amounts paid by telecommunications retailers under
2the Telecommunications Infrastructure Maintenance Fee Act.
3    (d) Annual gross revenue returns shall be filed in
4accordance with paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection (d).
5        (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this
6    subsection (d), on or before January 10 of each year each
7    public utility subject to the provisions of this Act shall
8    file with the Commission an estimated annual gross revenue
9    return containing an estimate of the amount of its gross
10    revenue for the calendar year commencing January 1 of said
11    year and a statement of the amount of tax due for said
12    calendar year on the basis of that estimate. Public
13    utilities may also file revised returns containing updated
14    estimates and updated amounts of tax due during the
15    calendar year. These revised returns, if filed, shall form
16    the basis for quarterly payments due during the remainder
17    of the calendar year. In addition, on or before March 31 of
18    each year, each public utility shall file an amended
19    return showing the actual amount of gross revenues shown
20    by the company's books and records as of December 31 of the
21    previous year. Forms and instructions for such estimated,
22    revised, and amended returns shall be devised and supplied
23    by the Commission.
24        (2) Beginning with returns due after January 1, 2002,
25    the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection (d)
26    shall not apply to any public utility in any calendar year

 

 

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1    for which the total tax the public utility owes under this
2    Section is less than $10,000. For such public utilities
3    with respect to such years, the public utility shall file
4    with the Commission, on or before March 31 of the
5    following year, an annual gross revenue return for the
6    year and a statement of the amount of tax due for that year
7    on the basis of such a return. Forms and instructions for
8    such returns and corrected returns shall be devised and
9    supplied by the Commission.
10    (e) All returns submitted to the Commission by a public
11utility as provided in this subsection (e) or subsection (d)
12of this Section shall contain or be verified by a written
13declaration by an appropriate officer of the public utility
14that the return is made under the penalties of perjury. The
15Commission may audit each such return submitted and may, under
16the provisions of Section 5-101 of this Act, take such
17measures as are necessary to ascertain the correctness of the
18returns submitted. The Commission has the power to direct the
19filing of a corrected return by any utility which has filed an
20incorrect return and to direct the filing of a return by any
21utility which has failed to submit a return. A taxpayer's
22signing a fraudulent return under this Section is perjury, as
23defined in Section 32-2 of the Criminal Code of 2012.
24    (f) (1) For all public utilities subject to paragraph (1)
25of subsection (d), at least one quarter of the annual amount of
26tax due under subsection (c) shall be paid to the Commission on

 

 

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1or before the tenth day of January, April, July, and October of
2the calendar year subject to tax. In the event that an
3adjustment in the amount of tax due should be necessary as a
4result of the filing of an amended or corrected return under
5subsection (d) or subsection (e) of this Section, the amount
6of any deficiency shall be paid by the public utility together
7with the amended or corrected return and the amount of any
8excess shall, after the filing of a claim for credit by the
9public utility, be returned to the public utility in the form
10of a credit memorandum in the amount of such excess or be
11refunded to the public utility in accordance with the
12provisions of subsection (k) of this Section. However, if such
13deficiency or excess is less than $1, then the public utility
14need not pay the deficiency and may not claim a credit.
15    (2) Any public utility subject to paragraph (2) of
16subsection (d) shall pay the amount of tax due under
17subsection (c) on or before March 31 next following the end of
18the calendar year subject to tax. In the event that an
19adjustment in the amount of tax due should be necessary as a
20result of the filing of a corrected return under subsection
21(e), the amount of any deficiency shall be paid by the public
22utility at the time the corrected return is filed. Any excess
23tax payment by the public utility shall be returned to it after
24the filing of a claim for credit, in the form of a credit
25memorandum in the amount of the excess. However, if such
26deficiency or excess is less than $1, the public utility need

 

 

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1not pay the deficiency and may not claim a credit.
2    (g) Each installment or required payment of the tax
3imposed by subsection (c) becomes delinquent at midnight of
4the date that it is due. Failure to make a payment as required
5by this Section shall result in the imposition of a late
6payment penalty, an underestimation penalty, or both, as
7provided by this subsection. The late payment penalty shall be
8the greater of:
9        (1) $25 for each month or portion of a month that the
10    installment or required payment is unpaid or
11        (2) an amount equal to the difference between what
12    should have been paid on the due date, based upon the most
13    recently filed estimated, annual, or amended return, and
14    what was actually paid, times 1%, for each month or
15    portion of a month that the installment or required
16    payment goes unpaid. This penalty may be assessed as soon
17    as the installment or required payment becomes delinquent.
18    The underestimation penalty shall apply to those public
19utilities subject to paragraph (1) of subsection (d) and shall
20be calculated after the filing of the amended return. It shall
21be imposed if the amount actually paid on any of the dates
22specified in subsection (f) is not equal to at least
23one-fourth of the amount actually due for the year, and shall
24equal the greater of:
25        (1) $25 for each month or portion of a month that the
26    amount due is unpaid or

 

 

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1        (2) an amount equal to the difference between what
2    should have been paid, based on the amended return, and
3    what was actually paid as of the date specified in
4    subsection (f), times a percentage equal to 1/12 of the
5    sum of 10% and the percentage most recently established by
6    the Commission for interest to be paid on customer
7    deposits under 83 Ill. Adm. Code 280.70(e)(1), for each
8    month or portion of a month that the amount due goes
9    unpaid, except that no underestimation penalty shall be
10    assessed if the amount actually paid on or before each of
11    the dates specified in subsection (f) was based on an
12    estimate of gross revenues at least equal to the actual
13    gross revenues for the previous year. The Commission may
14    enforce the collection of any delinquent installment or
15    payment, or portion thereof by legal action or in any
16    other manner by which the collection of debts due the
17    State of Illinois may be enforced under the laws of this
18    State. The executive director or his designee may excuse
19    the payment of an assessed penalty or a portion of an
20    assessed penalty if he determines that enforced collection
21    of the penalty as assessed would be unjust.
22    (h) All sums collected by the Commission under the
23provisions of this Section shall be paid promptly after the
24receipt of the same, accompanied by a detailed statement
25thereof, into the Public Utility Fund in the State treasury.
26    (i) During the month of October of each odd-numbered year

 

 

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1the Commission shall:
2        (1) determine the amount of all moneys deposited in
3    the Public Utility Fund during the preceding fiscal
4    biennium plus the balance, if any, in that fund at the
5    beginning of that biennium;
6        (2) determine the sum total of the following items:
7    (A) all moneys expended or obligated against
8    appropriations made from the Public Utility Fund during
9    the preceding fiscal biennium, plus (B) the sum of the
10    credit memoranda then outstanding against the Public
11    Utility Fund, if any; and
12        (3) determine the amount, if any, by which the sum
13    determined as provided in item (1) exceeds the amount
14    determined as provided in item (2).
15    If the amount determined as provided in item (3) of this
16subsection exceeds 50% of the previous fiscal year's
17appropriation level, the Commission shall then compute the
18proportionate amount, if any, which (x) the tax paid hereunder
19by each utility during the preceding biennium, and (y) the
20amount paid into the Public Utility Fund during the preceding
21biennium by the Department of Revenue pursuant to Sections 2-9
22and 2-11 of the Electricity Excise Tax Law, bears to the
23difference between the amount determined as provided in item
24(3) of this subsection (i) and 50% of the previous fiscal
25year's appropriation level. The Commission shall cause the
26proportionate amount determined with respect to payments made

 

 

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1under the Electricity Excise Tax Law to be transferred into
2the General Revenue Fund in the State Treasury, and notify
3each public utility that it may file during the 3 month period
4after the date of notification a claim for credit for the
5proportionate amount determined with respect to payments made
6hereunder by the public utility. If the proportionate amount
7is less than $10, no notification will be sent by the
8Commission, and no right to a claim exists as to that amount.
9Upon the filing of a claim for credit within the period
10provided, the Commission shall issue a credit memorandum in
11such amount to such public utility. Any claim for credit filed
12after the period provided for in this Section is void.
13    (i-5) During the month of June October of each year the
14Commission shall:
15        (1) determine the amount of all moneys expected to be
16    deposited in the Public Utility Fund during the next
17    current fiscal year, plus the balance, if any, in that
18    fund at the beginning of that year;
19        (2) determine the total of all moneys expected to be
20    expended or obligated against appropriations made from the
21    Public Utility Fund during the next current fiscal year;
22    and
23        (3) determine the amount, if any, by which the amount
24    determined in paragraph (2) exceeds the amount determined
25    as provided in paragraph (1).
26    If the amount determined as provided in paragraph (3) of

 

 

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1this subsection (i-5) results in a deficit, the Commission may
2assess electric utilities and gas utilities for the difference
3between the amount appropriated for the ordinary and
4contingent expenses of the Commission and the amount derived
5under paragraph (1) of this subsection (i-5). Such proceeds
6shall be deposited in the Public Utility Fund in the State
7treasury. The Commission shall apportion that difference among
8those public utilities on the basis of each utility's share of
9the total intrastate gross revenues of the utilities subject
10to this subsection (i-5). Payments required under this
11subsection (i-5) shall be made in the time and manner directed
12by the Commission. The Commission shall permit utilities to
13recover Illinois Commerce Commission assessments effective
14pursuant to this subsection through an automatic adjustment
15mechanism that is incorporated into an existing tariff that
16recovers costs associated with this Section, or through a
17supplemental customer charge.
18    Within 6 months after the first time assessments are made
19under this subsection (i-5), the Commission shall initiate a
20docketed proceeding in which it shall consider, in addition to
21assessments from electric and gas utilities subject to this
22subsection, the raising of assessments from, or the payment of
23fees by, water and sewer utilities, entities possessing
24certificates of service authority as alternative retail
25electric suppliers under Section 16-115 of this Act, entities
26possessing certificates of service authority as alternative

 

 

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1gas suppliers under Section 19-110 of this Act, and
2telecommunications carriers providing local exchange
3telecommunications service or interexchange
4telecommunications service under Sections 13-204 or 13-205 of
5this Act. The amounts so determined shall be based on the costs
6to the agency of the exercise of its regulatory and
7supervisory functions with regard to the different industries
8and service providers subject to the proceeding. No less often
9than every 3 years after the end of a proceeding under this
10subsection (i-5), the Commission shall initiate another
11proceeding for that purpose.
12    The Commission may use this apportionment method until the
13docketed proceeding in which the Commission considers the
14raising of assessments from other entities subject to its
15jurisdiction under this Act has concluded. No credit memoranda
16shall be issued pursuant to subsection (i) if the amount
17determined as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection
18(i-5) results in a deficit.
19    (j) Credit memoranda issued pursuant to subsection (f) and
20credit memoranda issued after notification and filing pursuant
21to subsection (i) may be applied for the 2 year period from the
22date of issuance, against the payment of any amount due during
23that period under the tax imposed by subsection (c), or,
24subject to reasonable rule of the Commission including
25requirement of notification, may be assigned to any other
26public utility subject to regulation under this Act. Any

 

 

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1application of credit memoranda after the period provided for
2in this Section is void.
3    (k) The chairman or executive director may make refund of
4fees, taxes or other charges whenever he shall determine that
5the person or public utility will not be liable for payment of
6such fees, taxes or charges during the next 24 months and he
7determines that the issuance of a credit memorandum would be
8unjust.
9(Source: P.A. 99-906, eff. 6-1-17.)
 
10    (220 ILCS 5/8-406)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 8-406)
11    Sec. 8-406. Certificate of public convenience and
12necessity.
13    (a) No public utility not owning any city or village
14franchise nor engaged in performing any public service or in
15furnishing any product or commodity within this State as of
16July 1, 1921 and not possessing a certificate of public
17convenience and necessity from the Illinois Commerce
18Commission, the State Public Utilities Commission, or the
19Public Utilities Commission, at the time Public Act 84-617
20this amendatory Act of 1985 goes into effect (January 1,
211986), shall transact any business in this State until it
22shall have obtained a certificate from the Commission that
23public convenience and necessity require the transaction of
24such business. A certificate of public convenience and
25necessity requiring the transaction of public utility business

 

 

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1in any area of this State shall include authorization to the
2public utility receiving the certificate of public convenience
3and necessity to construct such plant, equipment, property, or
4facility as is provided for under the terms and conditions of
5its tariff and as is necessary to provide utility service and
6carry out the transaction of public utility business by the
7public utility in the designated area.
8    (b) No public utility shall begin the construction of any
9new plant, equipment, property, or facility which is not in
10substitution of any existing plant, equipment, property, or
11facility, or any extension or alteration thereof or in
12addition thereto, unless and until it shall have obtained from
13the Commission a certificate that public convenience and
14necessity require such construction. Whenever after a hearing
15the Commission determines that any new construction or the
16transaction of any business by a public utility will promote
17the public convenience and is necessary thereto, it shall have
18the power to issue certificates of public convenience and
19necessity. The Commission shall determine that proposed
20construction will promote the public convenience and necessity
21only if the utility demonstrates: (1) that the proposed
22construction is necessary to provide adequate, reliable, and
23efficient service to its customers and is the least-cost means
24of satisfying the service needs of its customers or that the
25proposed construction will promote the development of an
26effectively competitive electricity market that operates

 

 

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1efficiently, is equitable to all customers, and is the least
2cost means of satisfying those objectives; (2) that the
3utility is capable of efficiently managing and supervising the
4construction process and has taken sufficient action to ensure
5adequate and efficient construction and supervision thereof;
6and (3) that the utility is capable of financing the proposed
7construction without significant adverse financial
8consequences for the utility or its customers.
9    (b-5) As used in this subsection (b-5):
10    "Qualifying direct current applicant" means an entity that
11seeks to provide direct current bulk transmission service for
12the purpose of transporting electric energy in interstate
13commerce.
14    "Qualifying direct current project" means a high voltage
15direct current electric service line that crosses at least one
16Illinois border, the Illinois portion of which is physically
17located within the region of the Midcontinent Independent
18System Operator, Inc., or its successor organization, and runs
19through the counties of Pike, Scott, Greene, Macoupin,
20Montgomery, Christian, Shelby, Cumberland, and Clark, is
21capable of transmitting electricity at voltages of 345
22kilovolts 345kv or above, and may also include associated
23interconnected alternating current interconnection facilities
24in this State that are part of the proposed project and
25reasonably necessary to connect the project with other
26portions of the grid.

 

 

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1    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a
2qualifying direct current applicant that does not own,
3control, operate, or manage, within this State, any plant,
4equipment, or property used or to be used for the transmission
5of electricity at the time of its application or of the
6Commission's order may file an application on or before
7December 31, 2023 with the Commission pursuant to this Section
8or Section 8-406.1 for, and the Commission may grant, a
9certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct,
10operate, and maintain a qualifying direct current project. The
11qualifying direct current applicant may also include in the
12application requests for authority under Section 8-503. The
13Commission shall grant the application for a certificate of
14public convenience and necessity and requests for authority
15under Section 8-503 if it finds that the qualifying direct
16current applicant and the proposed qualifying direct current
17project satisfy the requirements of this subsection and
18otherwise satisfy the criteria of this Section or Section
198-406.1 and the criteria of Section 8-503, as applicable to
20the application and to the extent such criteria are not
21superseded by the provisions of this subsection. The
22Commission's order on the application for the certificate of
23public convenience and necessity shall also include the
24Commission's findings and determinations on the request or
25requests for authority pursuant to Section 8-503. Prior to
26filing its application under either this Section or Section

 

 

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18-406.1, the qualifying direct current applicant shall conduct
23 public meetings in accordance with subsection (h) of this
3Section. If the qualifying direct current applicant
4demonstrates in its application that the proposed qualifying
5direct current project is designed to deliver electricity to a
6point or points on the electric transmission grid in either or
7both the PJM Interconnection, LLC or the Midcontinent
8Independent System Operator, Inc., or their respective
9successor organizations, the proposed qualifying direct
10current project shall be deemed to be, and the Commission
11shall find it to be, for public use. If the qualifying direct
12current applicant further demonstrates in its application that
13the proposed transmission project has a capacity of 1,000
14megawatts or larger and a voltage level of 345 kilovolts or
15greater, the proposed transmission project shall be deemed to
16satisfy, and the Commission shall find that it satisfies, the
17criteria stated in item (1) of subsection (b) of this Section
18or in paragraph (1) of subsection (f) of Section 8-406.1, as
19applicable to the application, without the taking of
20additional evidence on these criteria. Prior to the transfer
21of functional control of any transmission assets to a regional
22transmission organization, a qualifying direct current
23applicant shall request Commission approval to join a regional
24transmission organization in an application filed pursuant to
25this subsection (b-5) or separately pursuant to Section 7-102
26of this Act. The Commission may grant permission to a

 

 

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1qualifying direct current applicant to join a regional
2transmission organization if it finds that the membership, and
3associated transfer of functional control of transmission
4assets, benefits Illinois customers in light of the attendant
5costs and is otherwise in the public interest. Nothing in this
6subsection (b-5) requires a qualifying direct current
7applicant to join a regional transmission organization.
8Nothing in this subsection (b-5) requires the owner or
9operator of a high voltage direct current transmission line
10that is not a qualifying direct current project to obtain a
11certificate of public convenience and necessity to the extent
12it is not otherwise required by this Section 8-406 or any other
13provision of this Act.
14    (c) After September 11, 1987 (the effective date of Public
15Act 85-377) this amendatory Act of 1987, no construction shall
16commence on any new nuclear power plant to be located within
17this State, and no certificate of public convenience and
18necessity or other authorization shall be issued therefor by
19the Commission, until the Director of the Illinois
20Environmental Protection Agency finds that the United States
21Government, through its authorized agency, has identified and
22approved a demonstrable technology or means for the disposal
23of high level nuclear waste, or until such construction has
24been specifically approved by a statute enacted by the General
25Assembly.
26    As used in this Section, "high level nuclear waste" means

 

 

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1those aqueous wastes resulting from the operation of the first
2cycle of the solvent extraction system or equivalent and the
3concentrated wastes of the subsequent extraction cycles or
4equivalent in a facility for reprocessing irradiated reactor
5fuel and shall include spent fuel assemblies prior to fuel
6reprocessing.
7    (d) In making its determination under subsection (b) of
8this Section, the Commission shall attach primary weight to
9the cost or cost savings to the customers of the utility. The
10Commission may consider any or all factors which will or may
11affect such cost or cost savings, including the public
12utility's engineering judgment regarding the materials used
13for construction.
14    (e) The Commission may issue a temporary certificate which
15shall remain in force not to exceed one year in cases of
16emergency, to assure maintenance of adequate service or to
17serve particular customers, without notice or hearing, pending
18the determination of an application for a certificate, and may
19by regulation exempt from the requirements of this Section
20temporary acts or operations for which the issuance of a
21certificate will not be required in the public interest.
22    A public utility shall not be required to obtain but may
23apply for and obtain a certificate of public convenience and
24necessity pursuant to this Section with respect to any matter
25as to which it has received the authorization or order of the
26Commission under the Electric Supplier Act, and any such

 

 

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1authorization or order granted a public utility by the
2Commission under that Act shall as between public utilities be
3deemed to be, and shall have except as provided in that Act the
4same force and effect as, a certificate of public convenience
5and necessity issued pursuant to this Section.
6    No electric cooperative shall be made or shall become a
7party to or shall be entitled to be heard or to otherwise
8appear or participate in any proceeding initiated under this
9Section for authorization of power plant construction and as
10to matters as to which a remedy is available under the Electric
11Supplier Act.
12    (f) Such certificates may be altered or modified by the
13Commission, upon its own motion or upon application by the
14person or corporation affected. Unless exercised within a
15period of 2 years from the grant thereof, authority conferred
16by a certificate of convenience and necessity issued by the
17Commission shall be null and void.
18    No certificate of public convenience and necessity shall
19be construed as granting a monopoly or an exclusive privilege,
20immunity or franchise.
21    (g) A public utility that undertakes any of the actions
22described in items (1) through (3) of this subsection (g) or
23that has obtained approval pursuant to Section 8-406.1 of this
24Act shall not be required to comply with the requirements of
25this Section to the extent such requirements otherwise would
26apply. For purposes of this Section and Section 8-406.1 of

 

 

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1this Act, "high voltage electric service line" means an
2electric line having a design voltage of 100,000 or more. For
3purposes of this subsection (g), a public utility may do any of
4the following:
5        (1) replace or upgrade any existing high voltage
6    electric service line and related facilities,
7    notwithstanding its length;
8        (2) relocate any existing high voltage electric
9    service line and related facilities, notwithstanding its
10    length, to accommodate construction or expansion of a
11    roadway or other transportation infrastructure; or
12        (3) construct a high voltage electric service line and
13    related facilities that is constructed solely to serve a
14    single customer's premises or to provide a generator
15    interconnection to the public utility's transmission
16    system and that will pass under or over the premises owned
17    by the customer or generator to be served or under or over
18    premises for which the customer or generator has secured
19    the necessary right of way.
20    (h) A public utility seeking to construct a high-voltage
21electric service line and related facilities (Project) must
22show that the utility has held a minimum of 2 pre-filing public
23meetings to receive public comment concerning the Project in
24each county where the Project is to be located, no earlier than
256 months prior to filing an application for a certificate of
26public convenience and necessity from the Commission. Notice

 

 

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1of the public meeting shall be published in a newspaper of
2general circulation within the affected county once a week for
33 consecutive weeks, beginning no earlier than one month prior
4to the first public meeting. If the Project traverses 2
5contiguous counties and where in one county the transmission
6line mileage and number of landowners over whose property the
7proposed route traverses is one-fifth or less of the
8transmission line mileage and number of such landowners of the
9other county, then the utility may combine the 2 pre-filing
10meetings in the county with the greater transmission line
11mileage and affected landowners. All other requirements
12regarding pre-filing meetings shall apply in both counties.
13Notice of the public meeting, including a description of the
14Project, must be provided in writing to the clerk of each
15county where the Project is to be located. A representative of
16the Commission shall be invited to each pre-filing public
17meeting.
18    (i) For applications filed after August 18, 2015 (the
19effective date of Public Act 99-399) this amendatory Act of
20the 99th General Assembly, the Commission shall, by certified
21mail, registered mail notify each owner of record of land, as
22identified in the records of the relevant county tax assessor,
23included in the right-of-way over which the utility seeks in
24its application to construct a high-voltage electric line of
25the time and place scheduled for the initial hearing on the
26public utility's application. The utility shall reimburse the

 

 

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1Commission for the cost of the postage and supplies incurred
2for mailing the notice.
3(Source: P.A. 102-609, eff. 8-27-21; 102-662, eff. 9-15-21;
4revised 10-21-21.)
 
5    (220 ILCS 5/8-406.1)
6    Sec. 8-406.1. Certificate of public convenience and
7necessity; expedited procedure.
8    (a) A public utility may apply for a certificate of public
9convenience and necessity pursuant to this Section for the
10construction of any new high voltage electric service line and
11related facilities (Project). To facilitate the expedited
12review process of an application filed pursuant to this
13Section, an application shall include all of the following:
14        (1) Information in support of the application that
15    shall include the following:
16            (A) A detailed description of the Project,
17        including location maps and plot plans to scale
18        showing all major components.
19            (B) The following engineering data:
20                (i) a detailed Project description including:
21                    (I) name and destination of the Project;
22                    (II) design voltage rating (kV);
23                    (III) operating voltage rating (kV); and
24                    (IV) normal peak operating current rating;
25                (ii) a conductor, structures, and substations

 

 

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1            description including:
2                    (I) conductor size and type;
3                    (II) type of structures;
4                    (III) height of typical structures;
5                    (IV) an explanation why these structures
6                were selected;
7                    (V) dimensional drawings of the typical
8                structures to be used in the Project; and
9                    (VI) a list of the names of all new (and
10                existing if applicable) substations or
11                switching stations that will be associated
12                with the proposed new high voltage electric
13                service line;
14                (iii) the location of the site and
15            right-of-way including:
16                    (I) miles of right-of-way;
17                    (II) miles of circuit;
18                    (III) width of the right-of-way; and
19                    (IV) a brief description of the area
20                traversed by the proposed high voltage
21                electric service line, including a description
22                of the general land uses in the area and the
23                type of terrain crossed by the proposed line;
24                (iv) assumptions, bases, formulae, and methods
25            used in the development and preparation of the
26            diagrams and accompanying data, and a technical

 

 

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1            description providing the following information:
2                    (I) number of circuits, with
3                identification as to whether the circuit is
4                overhead or underground;
5                    (II) the operating voltage and frequency;
6                and
7                    (III) conductor size and type and number
8                of conductors per phase;
9                (v) if the proposed interconnection is an
10            overhead line, the following additional
11            information also must be provided:
12                    (I) the wind and ice loading design
13                parameters;
14                    (II) a full description and drawing of a
15                typical supporting structure, including
16                strength specifications;
17                    (III) structure spacing with typical
18                ruling and maximum spans;
19                    (IV) conductor (phase) spacing; and
20                    (V) the designed line-to-ground and
21                conductor-side clearances;
22                (vi) if an underground or underwater
23            interconnection is proposed, the following
24            additional information also must be provided:
25                    (I) burial depth;
26                    (II) type of cable and a description of

 

 

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1                any required supporting equipment, such as
2                insulation medium pressurizing or forced
3                cooling;
4                    (III) cathodic protection scheme; and
5                    (IV) type of dielectric fluid and
6                safeguards used to limit potential spills in
7                waterways;
8                (vii) technical diagrams that provide
9            clarification of any item under this item (1)
10            should be included; and
11                (viii) applicant shall provide and identify a
12            primary right-of-way and one or more alternate
13            rights-of-way for the Project as part of the
14            filing. To the extent applicable, for each
15            right-of-way, an applicant shall provide the
16            information described in this subsection (a). Upon
17            a showing of good cause in its filing, an
18            applicant may be excused from providing and
19            identifying alternate rights-of-way.
20        (2) An application fee of $100,000, which shall be
21    paid into the Public Utility Fund at the time the Chief
22    Clerk of the Commission deems it complete and accepts the
23    filing.
24        (3) Information showing that the utility has held a
25    minimum of 3 pre-filing public meetings to receive public
26    comment concerning the Project in each county where the

 

 

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1    Project is to be located, no earlier than 6 months prior to
2    the filing of the application. Notice of the public
3    meeting shall be published in a newspaper of general
4    circulation within the affected county once a week for 3
5    consecutive weeks, beginning no earlier than one month
6    prior to the first public meeting. If the Project
7    traverses 2 contiguous counties and where in one county
8    the transmission line mileage and number of landowners
9    over whose property the proposed route traverses is 1/5 or
10    less of the transmission line mileage and number of such
11    landowners of the other county, then the utility may
12    combine the 3 pre-filing meetings in the county with the
13    greater transmission line mileage and affected landowners.
14    All other requirements regarding pre-filing meetings shall
15    apply in both counties. Notice of the public meeting,
16    including a description of the Project, must be provided
17    in writing to the clerk of each county where the Project is
18    to be located. A representative of the Commission shall be
19    invited to each pre-filing public meeting.
20    For applications filed after the effective date of this
21amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly, the Commission
22shall, by certified mail, registered mail notify each owner of
23record of the land, as identified in the records of the
24relevant county tax assessor, included in the primary or
25alternate rights-of-way identified in the utility's
26application of the time and place scheduled for the initial

 

 

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1hearing upon the public utility's application. The utility
2shall reimburse the Commission for the cost of the postage and
3supplies incurred for mailing the notice.
4    (b) At the first status hearing the administrative law
5judge shall set a schedule for discovery that shall take into
6consideration the expedited nature of the proceeding.
7    (c) Nothing in this Section prohibits a utility from
8requesting, or the Commission from approving, protection of
9confidential or proprietary information under applicable law.
10The public utility may seek confidential protection of any of
11the information provided pursuant to this Section, subject to
12Commission approval.
13    (d) The public utility shall publish notice of its
14application in the official State newspaper within 10 days
15following the date of the application's filing.
16    (e) The public utility shall establish a dedicated website
17for the Project 3 weeks prior to the first public meeting and
18maintain the website until construction of the Project is
19complete. The website address shall be included in all public
20notices.
21    (f) The Commission shall, after notice and hearing, grant
22a certificate of public convenience and necessity filed in
23accordance with the requirements of this Section if, based
24upon the application filed with the Commission and the
25evidentiary record, it finds the Project will promote the
26public convenience and necessity and that all of the following

 

 

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1criteria are satisfied:
2        (1) That the Project is necessary to provide adequate,
3    reliable, and efficient service to the public utility's
4    customers and is the least-cost means of satisfying the
5    service needs of the public utility's customers or that
6    the Project will promote the development of an effectively
7    competitive electricity market that operates efficiently,
8    is equitable to all customers, and is the least cost means
9    of satisfying those objectives.
10        (2) That the public utility is capable of efficiently
11    managing and supervising the construction process and has
12    taken sufficient action to ensure adequate and efficient
13    construction and supervision of the construction.
14        (3) That the public utility is capable of financing
15    the proposed construction without significant adverse
16    financial consequences for the utility or its customers.
17    (g) The Commission shall issue its decision with findings
18of fact and conclusions of law granting or denying the
19application no later than 150 days after the application is
20filed. The Commission may extend the 150-day deadline upon
21notice by an additional 75 days if, on or before the 30th day
22after the filing of the application, the Commission finds that
23good cause exists to extend the 150-day period.
24    (h) In the event the Commission grants a public utility's
25application for a certificate pursuant to this Section, the
26public utility shall pay a one-time construction fee to each

 

 

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1county in which the Project is constructed within 30 days
2after the completion of construction. The construction fee
3shall be $20,000 per mile of high voltage electric service
4line constructed in that county, or a proportionate fraction
5of that fee. The fee shall be in lieu of any permitting fees
6that otherwise would be imposed by a county. Counties
7receiving a payment under this subsection (h) may distribute
8all or portions of the fee to local taxing districts in that
9county.
10    (i) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, a
11decision granting a certificate under this Section shall
12include an order pursuant to Section 8-503 of this Act
13authorizing or directing the construction of the high voltage
14electric service line and related facilities as approved by
15the Commission, in the manner and within the time specified in
16said order.
17(Source: P.A. 99-399, eff. 8-18-15.)
 
18    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
19becoming law.".