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    AN ACT concerning regulation.

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


 
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    Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended  by changing 
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Section 9-225 as follows:
 



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    (220 ILCS 5/9-225)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-225)



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    Sec. 9-225. (1) For the purposes of this Section: 

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    (a) "Advertising" means the commercial use, by an electric, 
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or gas, water, or sewer utility,
of any media, including 
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newspapers, printed matter, radio and television,
in order to 
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transmit a message to a substantial number of members of the

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public or to such utility's consumers;

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    (b) "Political advertising" means any advertising for the 
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purpose of
influencing public opinion with respect to 
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legislative, administrative or
electoral matters, or with 
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respect to any controversial issue of public importance;

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    (c) "Promotional advertising" means any advertising for 
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the purpose of
encouraging any person to select or use the 
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service or additional service
of a utility or the selection or 
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installation of any appliance or equipment
designed to use such 
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utility's service; and

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    (d) "Goodwill or institutional advertising" means any 
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advertising either
on a local or national basis designed 
 


 






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primarily to bring the utility's name
before the general public 
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in such a way as to improve the image of the utility
or to 
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promote controversial issues for the utility or the industry.

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    (2) In any general rate increase requested by any gas, or 
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electric, water, or sewer utility
company under the provisions 
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of this Act, the Commission shall not consider,
for the purpose 
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of determining any rate, charge or classification of costs,
any 
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direct or indirect expenditures for promotional, political, 
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institutional
or goodwill advertising, unless the Commission 
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finds the advertising to
be in the best interest of the 
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Consumer or authorized as provided pursuant
to subsection 3 of 
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this Section.

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    (3) The following categories of advertising shall be 
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considered allowable
operating expenses for gas, or electric, 
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water, or sewer utilities:

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    (a) Advertising which informs consumers how they can 
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conserve energy or water, or
can reduce peak demand for 
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electric or gas energy, or reduce demand for water;

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    (b) Advertising required by law or regulations, including 
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advertising
required under Part I of Title II of the National 
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Energy Conservation Policy Act;

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    (c) Advertising regarding service interruptions, safety 
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measures
or emergency conditions;

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    (d) Advertising concerning employment opportunities with 
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such utility;

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    (e) Advertising which promotes the use of energy efficient 
 


 






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appliances,
equipment or services;

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    (f) Explanations of existing or proposed rate schedules or 
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notifications
of hearings thereon;

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    (g) Advertising that identifies the location and operating 
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hours of company
business offices;

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    (h) Advertising which promotes the shifting of demand from 
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peak to off-peak
hours or which encourages the off-peak usage 
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of the service; and

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    (i) "Other" categories of advertisements not includable in 
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paragraphs
(a) through (h), but which are not political, 
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promotional, institutional
or goodwill advertisements.

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(Source: P.A. 84-617.)

 

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