99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB1908

 

Introduced 2/20/2015, by Sen. Don Harmon

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
220 ILCS 5/4-304  from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 4-304

    Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that discussion of the energy planning responsibilities and activities of the Illinois Commerce Commission and energy utilities in the Commission's annual report shall include a summary of the adoption of solar photovoltaic systems by residential and small business consumers in Illinois and a description of any and all barriers to residential and small business consumers' financing, installation, and valuation of energy produced by solar photovoltaic systems.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB1908LRB099 09498 AMC 29706 b

1    AN ACT concerning utilities.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing
5Section 4-304 as follows:
 
6    (220 ILCS 5/4-304)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 4-304)
7    Sec. 4-304. Beginning in 1986, the Commission shall prepare
8an annual report which shall be filed by January 31 of each
9year with the Joint Committee on Legislative Support Services
10of the General Assembly, the Public Counsel and the Governor
11and which shall be publicly available. Such report shall
12include:
13    (1) A general review of agency activities and changes,
14including:
15        (a) a review of significant decisions and other
16    regulatory actions for the preceding year, and pending
17    cases, and an analysis of the impact of such decisions and
18    actions, and potential impact of any significant pending
19    cases;
20        (b) for each significant decision, regulatory action
21    and pending case, a description of the positions advocated
22    by major parties, including Commission staff, and for each
23    such decision rendered or action taken, the position

 

 

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1    adopted by the Commission and reason therefor;
2        (c) a description of the Commission's budget,
3    caseload, and staff levels, including specifically:
4            (i) a breakdown by type of case of the cases
5        resolved and filed during the year and of pending
6        cases;
7            (ii) a description of the allocation of the
8        Commission's budget, identifying amounts budgeted for
9        each significant regulatory function or activity and
10        for each department, bureau, section, division or
11        office of the Commission and its employees;
12            (iii) a description of current employee levels,
13        identifying any change occurring during the year in the
14        number of employees, personnel policies and practices
15        or compensation levels; and identifying the number and
16        type of employees assigned to each Commission
17        regulatory function and to each department, bureau,
18        section, division or office of the Commission;
19        (d) a description of any significant changes in
20    Commission policies, programs or practices with respect to
21    agency organization and administration, hearings and
22    procedures or substantive regulatory activity.
23    (2) A discussion and analysis of the state of each utility
24industry regulated by the Commission and significant changes,
25trends and developments therein, including the number and types
26of firms offering each utility service, existing, new and

 

 

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1prospective technologies, variations in the quality,
2availability and price for utility services in different
3geographic areas of the State, and any other industry factors
4or circumstances which may affect the public interest or the
5regulation of such industries.
6    (3) A specific discussion of the energy planning
7responsibilities and activities of the Commission and energy
8utilities, including:
9        (a) the extent to which conservation, cogeneration,
10    renewable energy technologies and improvements in energy
11    efficiency are being utilized by energy consumers, the
12    extent to which additional potential exists for the
13    economical utilization of such supplies, and a description
14    of existing and proposed programs and policies designed to
15    promote and encourage such utilization;
16        (b) a description of each energy plan filed with the
17    Commission pursuant to the provisions of this Act, and a
18    copy, or detailed summary of the most recent energy plans
19    adopted by the Commission; and
20        (c) a discussion of the powers by which the Commission
21    is implementing the planning responsibilities of Article
22    VIII, including a description of the staff and budget
23    assigned to such function, the procedures by which
24    Commission staff reviews and analyzes energy plans
25    submitted by the utilities, the Department of Natural
26    Resources, and any other person or party; and .

 

 

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1        (d) a summary of the adoption of solar photovoltaic
2    systems by residential and small business consumers in
3    Illinois and a description of any and all barriers to
4    residential and small business consumers' financing,
5    installation, and valuation of energy produced by solar
6    photovoltaic systems.
7    (4) A discussion of the extent to which utility services
8are available to all Illinois citizens including:
9        (a) the percentage and number of persons or households
10    requiring each such service who are not receiving such
11    service, and the reasons therefore, including specifically
12    the number of such persons or households who are unable to
13    afford such service;
14        (b) a critical analysis of existing programs designed
15    to promote and preserve the availability and affordability
16    of utility services; and
17        (c) an analysis of the financial impact on utilities
18    and other ratepayers of the inability of some customers or
19    potential customers to afford utility service, including
20    the number of service disconnections and reconnections,
21    and cost thereof and the dollar amount of uncollectible
22    accounts recovered through rates.
23    (5) A detailed description of the means by which the
24Commission is implementing its new statutory responsibilities
25under this Act, and the status of such implementation,
26including specifically:

 

 

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1        (a) Commission reorganization resulting from the
2    addition of an Executive Director and hearing examiner
3    qualifications and review;
4        (b) Commission responsibilities for construction and
5    rate supervision, including construction cost audits,
6    management audits, excess capacity adjustments, phase-ins
7    of new plant and the means and capability for monitoring
8    and reevaluating existing or future construction projects;
9        (c) promulgation and application of rules concerning
10    ex parte communications, circulation of recommended orders
11    and transcription of closed meetings.
12    (6) A description of all appeals taken from Commission
13orders, findings or decisions and the status and outcome of
14such appeals.
15    (7) A description of the status of all studies and
16investigations required by this Act, including those ordered
17pursuant to Sections 8-304, 9-242, 9-244 and 13-301 and all
18such subsequently ordered studies or investigations.
19    (8) A discussion of new or potential developments in
20federal legislation, and federal agency and judicial decisions
21relevant to State regulation of utility services.
22    (9) All recommendations for appropriate legislative action
23by the General Assembly.
24    The Commission may include such other information as it
25deems to be necessary or beneficial in describing or explaining
26its activities or regulatory responsibilities. The report

 

 

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1required by this Section shall be adopted by a vote of the full
2Commission prior to filing.
3(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)