Public Utilities Committee

Filed: 3/20/2007

 

 


 

 


 
09500HB1438ham001 LRB095 07724 MJR 34071 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 1438

2     AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 1438 by replacing
3 everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
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 gas or electric service to residential customers is
10 prohibited when discontinuance of service will aggravate an
11 existing serious illness of any person who is a permanent
12 resident of the premises where gas or electric service is
13 rendered. The prohibition against discontinuance of service
14 may not exceed 90 days.
15     A registered physician or local board of health must
16 certify in writing the illness to the utility in order for a

 

 

09500HB1438ham001 - 2 - LRB095 07724 MJR 34071 a

1 customer to be protected from discontinuance of service. The
2 written certification shall include: the name of the ill
3 person; a statement that he or she is a resident of the
4 premises in question; the name, business address, and telephone
5 number of the certifying party; the nature of the illness; and
6 the period of time during which termination will aggravate the
7 illness. The initial certifications by the certifying party may
8 be by telephone if written certification is forwarded to the
9 utility within 15 days after the telephone certification.
10     An initial certification prohibits discontinuance of
11 service for 60 days. The customer may renew certification for
12 an additional 30 days by providing another certificate to the
13 utility within the initial 60 days. Failure to renew the
14 certificate entitles the utility to initiate discontinuance
15 procedures.
16     A customer, or a person residing with that customer, who
17 has a past due balance with the utility is not eligible for a
18 medical certificate unless a one-third down payment is received
19 on the past due balance and a deferred payment arrangement is
20 made for the remaining outstanding balance to be paid within
21 the following 12 months.
22     Customers that are not able to keep their account current
23 after receiving the medical certification must apply for any
24 available assistance to aid in the payment of the utility bills
25 from any governmental or private agencies available. The
26 customer must provide proof that they have applied for

 

 

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1 available assistance upon request of the utility or the
2 customer will become ineligible for protection from
3 discontinuance of service during the 60-day medical
4 certification period.
5     The failure to make required payments for arrearages
6 renders an individual ineligible for renewal of the
7 certificate. This also will make the customer ineligible for an
8 additional medical certificate in the future. If the customer
9 remains current on the outstanding balance, they will be
10 eligible to reapply for another medical certification after 12
11 months. No customer, or person residing with that customer, may
12 file a certificate for protection from discontinuance of
13 service unless that person has resided on the premises for at
14 least 12 months.
15     The utility must provide notice of any discontinuance of
16 service to the residential customers on a form approved by the
17 Commission. In the event service is terminated within 30 days
18 prior to certification of an illness by or for a qualifying
19 resident, service shall be restored to that residence if a
20 proper certification is thereafter made in accordance with this
21 Section. The utility must restore service to any residential
22 customer, regardless of connection status, who provides a
23 certification in the form required by this Section for no less
24 than 30 days.
 
25     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

 

 

09500HB1438ham001 - 4 - LRB095 07724 MJR 34071 a

1 becoming law.".