95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB1438

 

Introduced 2/21/2007, by Rep. David E. Miller

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
220 ILCS 5/8-207.5 new

    Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that notwithstanding existing administrative rules, discontinuance of service to residential service is prohibited for up to 90 days when discontinuance of service will aggravate an existing serious illness of any person that is a permanent resident of the premise where service is rendered if the customer complies with specified criteria. Effective immediately.


LRB095 07724 MJR 27882 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1438 LRB095 07724 MJR 27882 b

1     AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding
5 Section 8-207.5 as follows:
 
6     (220 ILCS 5/8-207.5 new)
7     Sec. 8-207.5. Service for seriously ill customers.
8 Notwithstanding existing administrative rules, discontinuance
9 of service to residential service is prohibited for up to 90
10 days when discontinuance of service will aggravate an existing
11 serious illness of any person that is a permanent resident of
12 the premise where service is rendered if the customer complies
13 with the requirements of this Section.
14     The illness must be certified to the utility by a
15 registered physician or local board of health. The
16 certification shall be in writing and shall include the name of
17 the ill person, a statement that he or she is a resident of the
18 premises in question, the name, business address, and telephone
19 number of the certifying party, the nature of the illness, and
20 period of time during which termination will aggravate the
21 illness.
22     Initial certification by the certifying party may be by
23 telephone if written certification is forwarded to the utility

 

 

HB1438 - 2 - LRB095 07724 MJR 27882 b

1 within 15 days.
2     Initial certification shall prohibit discontinuance of
3 service for 60 days. Certification may be renewed by the
4 customer for an additional 30 days by providing another
5 certificate to the utility. Failure to renew the certificate
6 shall entitle the utility to initiate discontinuance
7 procedures.
8     The customer must enter into an agreement for the
9 retirement of the unpaid balance of the account within the
10 first 60 days and keep the current account paid during the
11 period that the unpaid balance is to be retired. Notice of
12 discontinuance of service sent to residential customers must
13 include a notice in a form approved by the Commission.
14     In the event service is terminated within 30 days prior to
15 certification of an illness by or for a qualifying resident,
16 service shall be restored to that residence if a proper
17 certification is thereafter made in accordance with this
18 Section.
19     Any customer, regardless of connection status, that
20 provides a certification by a doctor that the customer has a
21 serious medical illness shall have service restored for no less
22 than 30 days.
 
23     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
24 becoming law.