96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB5837

 

Introduced 2/10/2010___________, by

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
220 ILCS 5/9-223   from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-223

    Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that no public utility shall impose a sprinkler standby charge on the owners of structures that contain automatic fire protection systems. Provides that "sprinkler standby charge" means additional charges imposed by a public utility on owners of structures because the structures are equipped with automatic fire protection sprinkler systems. Effective immediately.


LRB096 16919 MJR 32232 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5837 LRB096 16919 MJR 32232 b

1     AN ACT concerning utilities.
 
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 changing
5 Section 9-223 as follows:
 
6     (220 ILCS 5/9-223)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-223)
7     Sec. 9-223. Fire protection charge.
8     (a) The Commission may authorize any public utility engaged
9 in the production, storage, transmission, sale, delivery or
10 furnishing of water to impose a fire protection charge, in
11 addition to any rate authorized by this Act, sufficient to
12 cover a reasonable portion of the cost of providing the
13 capacity, facilities and the water necessary to meet the fire
14 protection needs of any municipality or public fire protection
15 district. Such fire protection charge shall be in the form of a
16 fixed amount per bill and shall be shown separately on the
17 utility bill of each customer of the municipality or fire
18 protection district. Any filing by a public utility to impose
19 such a fire protection charge or to modify a charge shall be
20 made pursuant to Section 9-201 of this Act. Any fire protection
21 charge imposed shall reflect the costs associated with
22 providing fire protection service for each municipality or fire
23 protection district. No such charge shall be imposed directly

 

 

HB5837 - 2 - LRB096 16919 MJR 32232 b

1 on any municipality or fire protection district for a
2 reasonable level of fire protection services unless provided
3 for in a separate agreement between the municipality or the
4 fire protection district and the utility.
5     No public utility shall impose a sprinkler standby charge
6 on the owners of structures that contain automatic fire
7 protection systems. As used in this Section, "sprinkler standby
8 charge" means additional charges imposed by a public utility on
9 owners of structures because the structures are equipped with
10 automatic fire protection sprinkler systems.
11     (b) By December 31, 2007, the Commission shall conduct at
12 least 3 public forums to evaluate the purpose and use of each
13 fire protection charge imposed under this Section. At least one
14 forum must be held in northern Illinois, at least one forum
15 must be held in central Illinois, and at least one forum must
16 be held in southern Illinois. The Commission must invite a
17 representative from each municipality and fire protection
18 district affected by a fire protection charge under this
19 Section to attend a public forum. The Commission shall report
20 its findings concerning recommendations concerning the purpose
21 and use of each fire protection charge to the General Assembly
22 no later than the last day of the veto session in 2008.
23 (Source: P.A. 94-950, eff. 6-27-06.)
 
24     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
25 becoming law.