Illinois General Assembly - 220 ILCS 5/ Public Utilities Act.

(220 ILCS 5/19-130)

Sec. 19-130. Commission study and report. The Commission's Office of Retail Market Development shall prepare an annual report regarding the development of competitive retail natural gas markets in Illinois. The Office shall monitor existing competitive conditions in Illinois, identify barriers to retail competition for all customer classes, and actively explore and propose to the Commission and to the General Assembly solutions to overcome identified barriers. Solutions proposed by the Office to promote retail competition must also promote safe, reliable, and affordable natural gas service.

On or before October 31 of each year, the Director shall submit a report to the Commission, the General Assembly, and the Governor, that includes, at a minimum, the following information:

(1) an analysis of the status and development of the retail natural gas market in the State of Illinois; and

(2) a discussion of any identified barriers to the development of competitive retail natural gas markets in Illinois and proposed solutions to overcome identified barriers; and

(3) any other information the Office considers significant in assessing the development of natural gas markets in the State of Illinois.

Beginning in 2021, the report shall also include the information submitted to the Commission pursuant to paragraph (6) of subsection (b) of Section 19-115.

(Source: P.A. 101-590, eff. 1-1-20; 102-459, eff. 8-20-21.)

(220 ILCS 5/19-135)

Sec. 19-135. Single billing.

(a) It is the intent of the General Assembly that in any service area where customers are able to choose their natural gas supplier, a single billing option shall be offered to customers for both the services provided by the alternative gas supplier and the delivery services provided by the gas utility. A gas utility shall file a tariff pursuant to Article IX of this Act that allows alternative gas suppliers to issue single bills to residential and small commercial customers for both the services provided by the alternative gas supplier and the delivery services provided by the gas utility to customers; provided that if a form of single billing is being offered in a gas utility's service area on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, that form of single billing shall remain in effect unless and until otherwise ordered by the Commission.

(b) Every alternative gas supplier that issues a single bill for delivery and supply shall include on the single bill issued to a residential customer the current utility gas supply cost rate per therm that would apply to the customer for the billing period if the customer obtained supply from the utility, including all fixed or monthly supply charges and other charges, credits, or rates that are part of the gas supply price.

(c) Every gas utility that offers supply choice and provides delivery and alternative gas supply service on a single bill to its residential customers shall include on the bill of each residential customer who purchases supply services from an alternative gas supplier the current utility gas supply cost rate per therm that would apply to the customer for the billing period if the customer obtained supply from the utility, including all fixed or monthly supply charges and other charges, credits, or rates that are part of the gas supply price.

(Source: P.A. 101-590, eff. 1-1-20.)

(220 ILCS 5/19-140)

Sec. 19-140. On-bill financing program; gas utilities.

(a) The Illinois General Assembly finds that Illinois homes and businesses have the potential to save energy through conservation and cost-effective energy efficiency measures. Programs created pursuant to this Section will allow utility customers to purchase cost-effective energy efficiency measures, including measures set forth in a Commission-approved energy efficiency plan under Section 8-104 of this Act, with no required initial upfront payment, and to pay the cost of those products and services over time on their utility bill.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a gas utility serving more than 100,000 customers on January 1, 2009 shall offer a Commission-approved on-bill financing program ("program") that allows its retail customers who own a residential single family home, duplex, or other residential building with 4 or less units, or condominium at which the gas service is being provided (i) to borrow funds from a third party lender in order to purchase gas energy efficiency measures approved under the program for installation in such home or condominium without any required upfront payment and (ii) to pay back such funds over time through the gas utility's bill. Based upon the process described in subsection (b-5) of this Section, small commercial customers who own the premises at which gas service is being provided may be included in such program. After receiving a request from a gas utility for approval of a proposed program and tariffs pursuant to this Section, the Commission shall render its decision within 120 days. If no decision is rendered within 120 days, then the request shall be deemed to be approved. Beginning no later than December 31, 2013, a gas utility subject to this subsection (b) shall also offer its program to eligible retail customers that own a multifamily residential or mixed-use building with no more than 50 residential units, provided, however, that such customer must either be a residential customer or small commercial customer and may not use the program in such a way that repayment of the cost of energy efficiency measures is made through tenants' utility bills. A gas utility may impose a per site loan limit not to exceed $150,000. The program, and loans issued thereunder, shall only be offered to customers of the utility that meet the requirements of this Section and that also have a gas service account at the premises where the energy efficiency measures being financed shall be installed.

For purposes of this Section, a small commercial customer for a gas utility shall be defined in that gas utility's informational filing that is made under subsection (c-5) of this Section.

(b-5) Within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, the Commission shall convene a workshop process during which interested participants may discuss issues related to the program, including program design, eligible gas energy efficiency measures, vendor qualifications, and a methodology for ensuring ongoing compliance with such qualifications, financing, sample documents such as request for proposals, contracts and agreements, dispute resolution, pre-installment and post-installment verification, and evaluation. The workshop process shall be completed within 150 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly.

(c) Not later than 60 days following completion of the workshop process described in subsection (b-5) of this Section, each gas utility subject to subsection (b) of this Section shall submit a proposed program to the Commission that contains the following components:

(1) A list of recommended gas energy efficiency measures that will be eligible for on-bill financing. An eligible gas energy efficiency measure ("measure") shall be a product or service for which one or more of the following is true:

(A) (blank);

(B) the projected gas savings (determined by rates in effect at the time of purchase) are sufficient to cover the costs of implementing the measures, including finance charges and any program fees not recovered pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section; or

(C) the product or service is included in a Commission-approved energy efficiency plan under Section 8-104 of this Act.

(2) The gas utility shall issue a request for proposals ("RFP") to lenders for purposes of providing financing to participants to pay for approved measures. The RFP criteria shall include, but not be limited to, the interest rate, origination fees, and credit terms. The utility shall select the winning bidders based on its evaluation of these criteria, with a preference for those bids containing the rates, fees, and terms most favorable to participants.

(3) The utility shall work with the lenders selected pursuant to the RFP process, and with vendors, to establish the terms and processes pursuant to which a participant can purchase eligible gas energy efficiency measures using the financing obtained from the lender. The vendor shall explain and offer the approved financing packaging to those customers identified in subsection (b) of this Section and shall assist customers in applying for financing. As part of such process, vendors shall also provide to participants information about any other incentives that may be available for the measures.

(4) The lender shall conduct credit checks or undertake other appropriate measures to limit credit risk, and shall review and approve or deny financing applications submitted by customers identified in subsection (b) of this Section. Following the lender's approval of financing and the participant's purchase of the measure or measures, the lender shall forward payment information to the gas utility, and the utility shall add as a separate line item on the participant's utility bill a charge showing the amount due under the program each month.

(5) A loan issued to a participant pursuant to the program shall be the sole responsibility of the participant, and any dispute that may arise concerning the loan's terms, conditions, or charges shall be resolved between the participant and lender. Upon transfer of the property title for the premises at which the participant receives gas service from the utility or the participant's request to terminate service at such premises, the participant shall pay in full its gas utility bill, including all amounts due under the program, provided that this obligation may be modified as provided in subsection (g) of this Section. Amounts due under the program shall be deemed amounts owed for residential and, as appropriate, small commercial gas service.

(6) The gas utility shall remit payment in full to the lender each month on behalf of the participant. In the event a participant defaults on payment of its gas utility bill, the gas utility shall continue to remit all payments due under the program to the lender, and the utility shall be entitled to recover all costs related to a participant's nonpayment through the automatic adjustment clause tariff established pursuant to Section 19-145 of this Act. In addition, the gas utility shall retain a security interest in the measure or measures purchased under the program, and the utility retains its right to disconnect a participant that defaults on the payment of its utility bill.

(7) The total outstanding amount financed under the program in this subsection and subsection (c-5) of this Section shall not exceed $2.5 million for a gas utility or gas utilities under a single holding company, provided that the gas utility or gas utilities may petition the Commission for an increase in such amount.

(c-5) Within 120 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, each covered gas utility shall submit an informational filing to the Commission that describes its plan for implementing the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly on or before December 31, 2013. A gas utility subject to this Section shall cooperate with any electric utility that provides electric service to buildings within the gas utility's service territory so that it is practical and feasible for the owner of a multifamily building to make a single application to access loans for both gas and electric energy efficiency measures in any individual building.

(d) A program approved by the Commission shall also include the following criteria and guidelines for such program:

(1) guidelines for financing of measures installed under a program, including, but not limited to, RFP criteria and limits on both individual loan amounts and the duration of the loans;

(2) criteria and standards for identifying and approving measures;

(3) qualifications of vendors that will market or install measures, as well as a methodology for ensuring ongoing compliance with such qualifications;

(4) sample contracts and agreements necessary to implement the measures and program; and

(5) the types of data and information that utilities and vendors participating in the program shall collect for purposes of preparing the reports required under subsection (g) of this Section.

(e) The proposed program submitted by each gas utility shall be consistent with the provisions of this Section that define operational, financial, and billing arrangements between and among program participants, vendors, lenders, and the gas utility.

(f) A gas utility shall recover all of the prudently incurred costs of offering a program approved by the Commission pursuant to this Section, including, but not limited to, all start-up and administrative costs and the costs for program evaluation. All prudently incurred costs under this Section shall be recovered from the residential and small commercial retail customer classes eligible to participate in the program through the automatic adjustment clause tariff established pursuant to Section 8-104 of this Act.

(g) An independent evaluation of a program shall be conducted after 3 years of the program's operation. The gas utility shall retain an independent evaluator who shall evaluate the effects of the measures installed under the program and the overall operation of the program, including, but not limited to, customer eligibility criteria and whether the payment obligation for permanent gas energy efficiency measures that will continue to provide benefits of energy savings should attach to the meter location. As part of the evaluation process, the evaluator shall also solicit feedback from participants and interested stakeholders. The evaluator shall issue a report to the Commission on its findings no later than 4 years after the date on which the program commenced, and the Commission shall issue a report to the Governor and General Assembly including a summary of the information described in this Section as well as its recommendations as to whether the program should be discontinued, continued with modification or modifications or continued without modification, provided that any recommended modifications shall only apply prospectively and to measures not yet installed or financed.

(h) A gas utility offering a Commission-approved program pursuant to this Section shall not be required to comply with any other statute, order, rule, or regulation of this State that may relate to the offering of such program, provided that nothing in this Section is intended to limit the gas utility's obligation to comply with this Act and the Commission's orders, rules, and regulations, including Part 280 of Title 83 of the Illinois Administrative Code.

(i) The source of a utility customer's gas supply shall not disqualify a customer from participation in the utility's on-bill financing program. Customers of alternative gas suppliers may participate in the program under the same terms and conditions applicable to the utility's supply customers.

(Source: P.A. 98-586, eff. 8-27-13.)

(220 ILCS 5/19-145)

Sec. 19-145. Automatic adjustment clause tariff; uncollectibles.

(a) A gas utility shall be permitted, at its election, to recover through an automatic adjustment clause tariff the incremental difference between its actual uncollectible amount as set forth in Account 904 in the utility's most recent annual Form 21 ILCC and the uncollectible amount included in the utility's rates for the period reported in such annual Form 21 ILCC. The Commission may, in a proceeding to review a general rate case filed subsequent to the effective date of the tariff established under this Section, prospectively switch, from using the actual uncollectible amount set forth in Account 904 to using net write-offs in such tariff, but only if net write-offs are also used to determine the utility's uncollectible amount in rates. In the event the Commission requires such a change, it shall be made effective at the beginning of the first full calendar year after the new rates approved in such proceeding are first placed in effect and an adjustment shall be made, if necessary, to ensure the change does not result in double-recovery or unrecovered uncollectible amounts for any year. For purposes of this Section, "uncollectible amount" means the expense set forth in Account 904 of the utility's Form 21 ILCC or cost of net write-offs as appropriate. In the event the utility's rates change during the period of time reported in its most recent annual Form 21 ILCC, the uncollectible amount included in the utility's rates during such period of time for purposes of this Section will be a weighted average, based on revenues earned during such period by the utility under each set of rates, of the uncollectible amount included in the utility's rates at the beginning of such period and at the end of such period. This difference may either be a charge or a credit to customers depending on whether the uncollectible amount is more or less than the uncollectible amount then included in the utility's rates.

(b) The tariff may be established outside the context of a general rate case filing, and shall specify the terms of any applicable audit. The Commission shall review and by order approve, or approve as modified, the proposed tariff within 180 days after the date on which it is filed. Charges and credits under the tariff shall be allocated to the appropriate customer class or classes. In addition, customers who do not purchase their gas supply from a gas utility shall not be charged by the utility for uncollectible amounts associated with gas supply provided by the utility to the utility's customers. Upon approval of the tariff, the utility shall, based on the 2008 Form 21 ILCC, apply the appropriate credit or charge based on the full year 2008 amounts for the remainder of the 2010 calendar year. Starting with the 2009 Form 21 ILCC reporting period and each subsequent period, the utility shall apply the appropriate credit or charge over a 12-month period beginning with the June billing period and ending with the May billing period, with the first such billing period beginning June 2010.

(c) The approved tariff shall provide that the utility shall file a petition with the Commission annually, no later than August 31st, seeking initiation of an annual review to reconcile all amounts collected with the actual uncollectible amount in the prior period. As part of its review, the Commission shall verify that the utility collects no more and no less than its actual uncollectible amount in each applicable Form 21 ILCC reporting period. The Commission shall review the prudence and reasonableness of the utility's actions to pursue minimization and collection of uncollectibles which shall include, at a minimum, the 6 enumerated criteria set forth in this Section. The Commission shall determine any required adjustments and may include suggestions for prospective changes in current practices. Nothing in this Section or the implementing tariffs shall affect or alter the gas utility's existing obligation to pursue collection of uncollectibles or the gas utility's right to disconnect service. A utility that has in effect a tariff authorized by this Section shall pursue minimization of and collection of uncollectibles through the following activities, including but not limited to:

(1) identifying customers with late payments;

(2) contacting the customers in an effort to obtain payment;

(3) providing delinquent customers with information about possible options, including payment plans and assistance programs;

(4) serving disconnection notices;

(5) implementing disconnections based on the level of uncollectibles; and

(6) pursuing collection activities based on the level of uncollectibles.

(d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require a utility to immediately disconnect service for nonpayment.

(Source: P.A. 96-33, eff. 7-10-09.)

(220 ILCS 5/Art. XX heading) ARTICLE XX. RETAIL ELECTRIC COMPETITION (Source: P.A. 94-1095, eff. 2-2-07.)

(220 ILCS 5/20-101)

Sec. 20-101. This Article may be cited as the Retail Electric Competition Act of 2006.

(Source: P.A. 94-1095, eff. 2-2-07.)

(220 ILCS 5/20-102)

Sec. 20-102. Findings and intent.

(a) A competitive wholesale electricity market alone will not deliver the full benefits of competition to Illinois consumers. For Illinois consumers to receive products, prices and terms tailored to meet their needs, a competitive wholesale electricity market must be closely linked to a competitive retail electric market.

(b) To date, as a result of the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997, thousands of large Illinois commercial and industrial consumers have experienced the benefits of a competitive retail electricity market. Alternative electric retail suppliers actively compete to supply electricity to large Illinois commercial and industrial consumers with attractive prices, terms, and conditions.

(c) A competitive retail electric market does not yet exist for residential and small commercial consumers. As a result, millions of residential and small commercial consumers in Illinois are faced with escalating heating and power bills and are unable to shop for alternatives to the rates demanded by the State's incumbent electric utilities.

(d) The General Assembly reiterates its findings from the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997 that the Illinois Commerce Commission should promote the development of an effectively competitive retail electricity market that operates efficiently and benefits all Illinois consumers.

(Source: P.A. 94-1095, eff. 2-2-07.)

(220 ILCS 5/20-105)

Sec. 20-105. Definitions. In this Article:

"Director" means the Director of the Office of Retail Market Development.

"Office" means the Office of Retail Market Development.

(Source: P.A. 94-1095, eff. 2-2-07.)

(220 ILCS 5/20-110)

Sec. 20-110. Office of Retail Market Development. Within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, subject to appropriation, the Commission shall establish an Office of Retail Market Development and employ on its staff a Director of Retail Market Development to oversee the Office. The Director shall have authority to employ or otherwise retain at least 2 professionals dedicated to the task of actively seeking out ways to promote retail competition in Illinois to benefit all Illinois consumers.

The Office shall actively seek input from all interested parties and shall develop a thorough understanding and critical analyses of the tools and techniques used to promote retail competition in other states.

The Office shall monitor existing competitive conditions in Illinois, identify barriers to retail competition for all customer classes, and actively explore and propose to the Commission and to the General Assembly solutions to overcome identified barriers. The Director may include municipal aggregation of customers and creating and designing customer choice programs as tools for retail market development. Solutions proposed by the Office to promote retail competition must also promote safe, reliable, and affordable electric service.

On or before July 31 of each year, the Director shall submit a report to the Commission, the General Assembly, and the Governor, that details specific accomplishments achieved by the Office in the prior 12 months in promoting retail electric competition and that suggests administrative and legislative action necessary to promote further improvements in retail electric competition. On or before July 31, 2021 and each year thereafter, the report shall include the information submitted to the Commission pursuant to paragraph (iii) of subsection (a) of Section 16-115A.

(Source: P.A. 101-590, eff. 1-1-20.)

(220 ILCS 5/20-120)

Sec. 20-120. Residential and small commercial retail electric competition. Within 12 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, the Director shall conduct research, gather input from all interested parties and develop and present to the Commission, the General Assembly, and the Governor a detailed plan designed to promote, in the most expeditious manner possible, retail electric competition for residential and small commercial electricity consumers while maintaining safe, reliable, and affordable service. Interested parties shall be given the opportunity to review the plan and provide written comments regarding the plan prior to its submission to the Commission, the General Assembly, and the Governor. Any written comments received by the Office shall be posted on the Commission's web site. The final plan submitted to the Commission, the General Assembly, and the Governor must include summaries of any written comments and must also be posted on the Commission's web site.

To the extent the plan calls for Commission action, the Commission shall initiate any proceeding or proceedings called for in the final plan within 60 days after receipt of the final plan and complete those proceedings within 11 months after their initiation.

Nothing in this Section shall prevent the Commission from acting earlier to remove identified barriers to retail electric competition for residential and small commercial consumers.

(Source: P.A. 94-1095, eff. 2-2-07.)

(220 ILCS 5/20-130)

Sec. 20-130. Retail choice and referral programs.

(a) The Commission shall have the authority to establish retail choice and referral programs to be administered by an electric utility or the State in which residential and small commercial customers receive incentives, including, but not limited to, discounted rate introductory offers for switching to participating electric suppliers.

(b) Reasonable costs associated with the implementation and operation of customer choice and referral programs may be recovered in an electric utility's distribution rates, except that any costs associated with any introductory discount for switching to a supplier shall be assumed by that supplier. Reasonable costs associated with the implementation and operation of a customer choice program may also be recovered from retail electric suppliers participating in a customer choice and referral program. In no event, however, shall the Commission mandate a cost recovery mechanism without first providing all interested parties notice and an opportunity to be heard in a hearing before the Commission.

(c) The Office of Retail Market Development shall serve as the clearinghouse for the development of retail choice and referral programs and shall work with electric utilities and interested parties on a continuous basis to implement and improve upon the programs. Nothing in this Section, however, shall prevent an electric utility on its own accord from implementing retail choice and referral programs.

(d) Only customers that qualify for utility service shall be eligible for retail choice and referral programs.

(e) The Office of Retail Market Development shall immediately upon the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly explore for possible implementation on as expedited a basis as possible the following retail choice and referral programs:

(1) An introductory fixed discount program in which suppliers participating in the program offer customers a fixed percentage discount off of the electric utility's supply rate for a set number of billing periods. Customers would be able to enroll in the program by using an online enrollment form, completing an enrollment card found in their monthly electric utility bill, or by calling a toll-free number. Customers would be free to withdraw from the program at any time and select another alternative retail electric supplier or return to the electric utility.

(2) A new customer program in which electric utilities would offer consumers initiating new electric service a choice of offers from participating electric suppliers to provide the consumer's electric supply service. Customers expressing a preference for a specific electric supplier would be enrolled with that supplier. Customers not expressing a preference for a specific electric supplier would be offered the opportunity to enroll with an electric supplier selected randomly on a rotating basis.

(3) A customer service call center referral program in which customers calling an electric utility's call center would be offered enrollment with an alternative retail electric supplier and informed that they have the option to receive immediate savings or introductory offers by participating in the referral program. Customers choosing to participate would be transferred to a customer service representative for the program and would either select the electric supplier from which they would like to take service or be placed with a participating electric supplier chosen at random on a rotating basis.

Nothing in this Section shall prevent the Office of Retail Market Development or the Commission from considering retail choice and referral programs in addition to the programs outlined in this Section.

(Source: P.A. 95-700, eff. 11-9-07.)

(220 ILCS 5/20-140)

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 20-140. Interconnection Working Group.

(a) The Commission shall establish an Interconnection Working Group. The Working Group shall include representatives from electric utilities, developers of renewable electric generating facilities, representatives of new large loads seeking grid interconnection, other industries that regularly apply for interconnection with the electric utilities as appropriate, representatives of distributed generation customers, the Commission staff, and other stakeholders with a substantial interest in the topics addressed by the Interconnection Working Group.

(b) The Interconnection Working Group shall address at least the following issues in relation to new generation and new large loads:

(1) the cost of and the best available technology for interconnection and metering, including the standardization and publication of standard costs;

(2) transparency, accuracy, and use of the distribution interconnection queue and hosting capacity maps;

(3) distribution system upgrade cost avoidance through use of advanced inverter functions, energy storage, and load management;

(4) predictability of the queue management process and enforcement of timelines;

(5) benefits and challenges associated with group studies and cost sharing;

(6) minimum requirements for application to the interconnection process and throughout the interconnection process to avoid queue clogging behavior;

(7) the process and customer service for interconnecting customers adopting distributed energy resources, including energy storage;

(8) options for metering distributed energy resources, including energy storage;

(9) interconnection of new technologies, including smart inverters and energy storage;

(10) collection, examination, and sharing of data on Level 1 interconnection costs, including cost and type of upgrades required for interconnection, and the use of this data to inform the final standardized cost of Level 1 interconnection;

(11) determination of a single standardized cost for Level 1 interconnections, which shall not exceed $200; and

(12) such other technical, policy, and tariff issues related to and affecting interconnection performance and customer service as determined by the Interconnection Working Group.

(c) The Commission may create subcommittees of the Interconnection Working Group to focus on specific issues of importance, as appropriate.

(d) The Interconnection Working Group shall report to the Commission on recommended improvements to interconnection rules, tariffs, and policies as determined by the Interconnection Working Group at least every year. A report shall include consensus recommendations of the Interconnection Working Group and, if applicable, additional recommendations for which consensus was not reached. Non-consensus shall not be a basis for excluding recommendations that are majority or minority recommendations. The Commission shall use the report from the Interconnection Working Group to determine whether processes should be commenced to formally codify or implement the recommendations. The Interconnection Working Group shall provide the reports under this subsection (d) to the Commission on at least the following topics in the order listed below within a reasonable time, but no later than 12 months, after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly: (A) a mechanism for good cause extensions to construction timelines as long as the interconnection customer reasonably demonstrates progress; (B) a mechanism for all electric utilities to accept cash, letters of credit, or bonds for any deposits required under the interconnection agreement; (C) cost sharing for distribution system upgrades and interconnection facilities for multiple interconnection customers attempting to interconnect on the same feeder or substation; (D) requirements that interconnection studies process without delay based on queue position or status of applications ahead in the queue, and associated requirements for disclosure of contingent upgrades; (E) provisions allowing for queue reservation for the interconnection of projects installed on public school land to accommodate timing constraints of school board approval and budgeting; and (F) if feasible within the time allotted for the initial report, parameters for utility interconnection studies of energy storage systems not paired with distributed generation that are based on the proposed operational profile of the energy storage systems.

(d-5) Within 12 months after the report directed by subsection (d) has been submitted, the Working Group shall report to the Commission on the following: (A) mandatory disclosures on the hosting capacity map and studies for contingent upgrades including timelines for notice of responsibility and payment; (B) a framework for concurrent study on multiple feeders for a distributed energy resource; and (C) if not provided in the initial report required under subsection (d), parameters for utility interconnection studies of energy storage systems not paired with distributed generation that are based on the proposed operational profile of the energy storage systems.

(d-10) Within 12 months after the report directed by subsection (d-5) has been submitted, the Working Group shall report to the Commission on the following: (A) dynamic hosting capacity maps; (B) standards for public queue and hosting capacity map information regarding individual projects in queue, including (i) distributed generation nameplate capacity, (ii) paired or stand-alone energy storage system nameplate capacity, (iii) detailed estimated upgrade costs, and (iv) systems that have completed upgrades and withdrawn projects; and (C) timelines for refund of deposits if the interconnection agreement is terminated. Within the same time period, utilities shall publish all final interconnection agreements, facilities studies, and system impact studies.

(d-15) Within 12 months after the report directed by subsection (d-10) has been submitted, the Working Group shall report to the Commission on the following: (A) level of detail of costs in system impact and facilities studies and level 2 studies; and (B) a cap on charges to the interconnection customer based on a percentage of the non-binding cost estimate in the facilities study, system impact study, or level 2 study.

(e) In collaboration with the General Counsel of the Commission, the Office of Retail Market Development shall develop policies and procedures to facilitate employees of the Office in leading the Interconnection Working Group without interference with docketed proceedings. The policies and procedures developed under this subsection (e) shall be designed to allow the Interconnection Working Group to work without interruption.

(Source: P.A. 104-458, eff. 6-1-26.)

(220 ILCS 5/20-145)

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 20-145. Interconnection Monitor.

(a) The Office of Retail Market Development may employ, designate, or otherwise retain the services of an Ombudsperson who, in addition to the roles described in this Act, is responsible for overseeing electric utility compliance with the standards established by this Section and other regulatory or statutory obligations regarding interconnections.

(b) The Ombudsperson may from time to time request, and each electric utility shall timely provide records and information to carry out his or her duties under this Section.

(c) The Office shall monitor interconnection between electric utilities and applicants for interconnection and interconnection customers. The Office may request, and electric utilities shall promptly provide, information and records related to pending, successful, and terminated interconnections.

(d) The Office may require electric utilities to provide a detailed breakdown of the non-binding costs of operation and an estimate that transparently itemizes operational costs, including equipment by type or model, labor, operation and maintenance, engineering and design, permitting, easements and rights-of-way, direct overhead, and indirect overhead.

(e) The Office may establish an informal interconnection dispute resolution process that may supersede 83 Ill. Adm. Code 466.130, 83 Ill. Adm. Code 467.80, and interconnection agreements to the extent described in this subsection (e). Following the informal process described in this Section, including any extensions agreed upon by the parties, an electric utility, an interconnection customer, or an interconnection applicant may submit the interconnection dispute to the Ombudsperson, or his or her designee. The Ombudsperson, or his or her designee, shall provide a recommended resolution of such dispute within 30 days after the Ombudsperson determines that full information from all parties to the dispute has been received. The electric utility, the interconnection customer, the interconnection applicant, or any other party authorized to initiate dispute resolution under the Commission's rules authorized by this Act may include the Ombudsperson's recommendation in any formal complaint before the Commission.

(f) The Office is encouraged to include at least one employee, at the Bureau Chief's discretion, with a background in engineering of renewable resources and distribution interconnections.

(Source: P.A. 104-458, eff. 6-1-26.)

(220 ILCS 5/Art. XXI heading) ARTICLE XXI. CABLE AND VIDEO COMPETITION (Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)

(220 ILCS 5/21-100)

Sec. 21-100. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007.

(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)

(220 ILCS 5/21-101)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2030)

Sec. 21-101. Findings. With respect to cable and video competition, the General Assembly finds that:

(a) The economy in the State of Illinois will be enhanced by investment in new communications, cable services, and video services infrastructure, including broadband facilities, fiber optic, and Internet protocol technologies.

(b) Cable services and video services bring important daily benefits to Illinois consumers by providing news, education, and entertainment.

(c) Competitive cable service and video service providers are capable of providing new video programming services and competition to Illinois consumers and of decreasing the prices for video programming services paid by Illinois consumers.

(d) Although there has been some competitive entry into the facilities-based video programming market since current franchising requirements in this State were enacted, further entry by facilities-based providers could benefit consumers, provided cable and video services are equitably available to all Illinois consumers at reasonable prices.

(e) The provision of competitive cable services and video services is a matter of statewide concern that extends beyond the boundaries of individual local units of government. Notwithstanding the foregoing, public rights-of-way are limited resources over which the municipality has a custodial duty to ensure that they are used, repaired, and maintained in a manner that best serves the public interest.

(f) The State authorization process and uniform standards and procedures in this Article are intended to enable rapid and widespread entry by competitive providers, which will bring to Illinois consumers the benefits of video competition, including providing consumers with more choice, lower prices, higher speed and more advanced Internet access, more diverse and varied news, public information, education, and entertainment programming, and will bring to this State and its local units of government the benefits of new infrastructure investment, job growth, and innovation in broadband and Internet protocol technologies and deployment.

(g) Providing an incumbent cable or video service provider with the option to secure a State-issued authorization through the termination of existing cable franchises between incumbent cable and video service providers and any local franchising authority is part of the new regulatory framework established by this Article. This Article is intended to best ensure equal treatment and parity among providers and technologies.

(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)

(220 ILCS 5/21-101.1)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2030)

Sec. 21-101.1. Applicability. The provisions of Public Act 95-9 shall apply only to a holder of a cable service or video service authorization issued by the Commission pursuant to this Article, and shall not apply to any person or entity that provides cable television services under a cable television franchise issued by any municipality or county pursuant to Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11) or Section 5-1095 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1095), unless specifically provided for herein. A local unit of government that has an existing agreement for the provision of video services with a company or entity that uses its telecommunications facilities to provide video service as of May 30, 2007 may continue to operate under that agreement or may, at its discretion, terminate the existing agreement and require the video provider to obtain a State-issued authorization under this Article.

(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)

(220 ILCS 5/21-201)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2030)

Sec. 21-201. Definitions. As used in this Article:

(a) "Access" means that the cable or video provider is capable of providing cable services or video services at the household address using any technology, other than direct-to-home satellite service, that provides 2-way broadband Internet capability and video programming, content, and functionality, regardless of whether any customer has ordered service or whether the owner or landlord or other responsible person has granted access to the household. If more than one technology is used, the technologies shall provide similar 2-way broadband Internet accessibility and similar video programming.

(b) "Basic cable or video service" means any cable or video service offering or tier that includes the retransmission of local television broadcast signals.

(c) "Broadband service" means a high speed service connection to the public Internet capable of supporting, in at least one direction, a speed in excess of 200 kilobits per second (kbps) to the network demarcation point at the subscriber's premises.

(d) "Cable operator" means that term as defined in item (5) of 47 U.S.C. 522.

(e) "Cable service" means that term as defined in item (6) of 47 U.S.C. 522.

(f) "Cable system" means that term as defined in item (7) of 47 U.S.C. 522.

(g) "Commission" means the Illinois Commerce Commission.

(h) "Competitive cable service or video service provider" means a person or entity that is providing or seeks to provide cable service or video service in an area where there is at least one incumbent cable operator.

(i) "Designated market area" means a designated market area, as determined by Nielsen Media Research and published in the 1999-2000 Nielsen Station Index Directory and Nielsen Station Index United States Television Household Estimates or any successor publication. For any designated market area that crosses State lines, only households in the portion of the designated market area that is located within the holder's telecommunications service area in the State where access to video service will be offered shall be considered.

(j) "Footprint" means the geographic area designated by the cable service or video service provider as the geographic area in which it will offer cable services or video services during the period of its State-issued authorization. Each footprint shall be identified in terms of either (i) exchanges, as that term is defined in Section 13-206 of this Act; (ii) a collection of United States Census Bureau Block numbers (13 digit); (iii) if the area is smaller than the areas identified in either (i) or (ii), by geographic information system digital boundaries meeting or exceeding national map accuracy standards; or (iv) local units of government.

(k) "Holder" means a person or entity that has received authorization to offer or provide cable or video service from the Commission pursuant to Section 21-401 of this Article.

(l) "Household" means a house, an apartment, a mobile home, a group of rooms, or a single room that is intended for occupancy as separate living quarters. Separate living quarters are those in which the occupants live and eat separately from any other persons in the building and that have direct access from the outside of the building or through a common hall. This definition is consistent with the United States Census Bureau, as that definition may be amended thereafter.

(m) "Incumbent cable operator" means a person or entity that provided cable services or video services in a particular area under a franchise agreement with a local unit of government pursuant to Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11) or Section 5-1095 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1095) on January 1, 2007.

(n) "Local franchising authority" means the local unit of government that has or requires a franchise with a cable operator, a provider of cable services, or a provider of video services to construct or operate a cable or video system or to offer cable services or video services under Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11) or Section 5-1095 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1095).

(o) "Local unit of government" means a city, village, incorporated town, or county.

(p) "Low-income household" means those residential households located within the holder's existing telephone service area where the average annual household income is less than $35,000, based on the United States Census Bureau estimates adjusted annually to reflect rates of change and distribution.

(q) "Public rights-of-way" means the areas on, below, or above a public roadway, highway, street, public sidewalk, alley, waterway, or utility easements dedicated for compatible uses.

(r) "Service" means the provision of cable service or video service to subscribers and the interaction of subscribers with the person or entity that has received authorization to offer or provide cable or video service from the Commission pursuant to Section 21-401 of this Act.

(s) "Service provider fee" means the amount paid under Section 21-801 of this Act by the holder to a municipality, or in the case of an unincorporated service area to a county, for service areas within its territorial jurisdiction, but under no circumstances shall the service provider fee be paid to more than one local unit of government for the same portion of the holder's service area.

(t) "Telecommunications service area" means the area designated by the Commission as the area in which a telecommunications company was obligated to provide non-competitive local telephone service as of February 8, 1996 as incorporated into Section 13-202.5 of this Act.

(u) "Video programming" means that term as defined in item (20) of 47 U.S.C. 522.

(v) "Video service" means video programming provided by a video service provider and subscriber interaction, if any, that is required for the selection or use of such video programming services, and that is provided through wireline facilities located at least in part in the public rights-of-way without regard to delivery technology, including Internet protocol technology. This definition does not include the following: (1) any video programming provided by a commercial mobile service provider defined in subsection (d) of 47 U.S.C. 332; (2) direct-to-home satellite services defined in subsection (v) of 47 U.S.C. 303; or (3) any video programming accessed via a service that enables users to access content, information, electronic mail, or other services offered over the Internet, including Internet streaming content.

(Source: P.A. 103-360, eff. 1-1-24.)

(220 ILCS 5/21-301)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2030)

Sec. 21-301. Eligibility.

(a) A person or entity seeking to provide cable service or video service in this State after June 30, 2007 (the effective date of Public Act 95-9) shall either (1) obtain a State-issued authorization pursuant to Section 21-401 of the Public Utilities Act (220 ILCS 5/21-401); (2) obtain authorization pursuant to Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11); or (3) obtain authorization pursuant to Section 5-1095 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1095).

(b) An incumbent cable operator shall be eligible to apply for a State-issued authorization as provided in subsection (c) of this Section. Upon expiration of its current franchise agreement, an incumbent cable operator may obtain State authorization from the Commission pursuant to this Article or may pursue a franchise renewal with the appropriate local franchise authority under State and federal law. An incumbent cable operator and any successor-in-interest that receives a State-issued authorization shall be obligated to provide access to cable services or video services within any local unit of government at the same levels required by the local franchising authorities for the local unit of government on June 30, 2007 (the effective date of Public Act 95-9).

(c)(1) An incumbent cable operator may elect to terminate its agreement with the local franchising authority and obtain a State-issued authorization by providing written notice to the Commission and the affected local franchising authority and any entity authorized by that franchising authority to manage public, education, and government access at least 180 days prior to its filing an application for a State-issued authorization. The existing agreement shall be terminated on the date that the Commission issues the State-issued authorization.

(2) An incumbent cable operator that elects to terminate an existing agreement with a local franchising authority under this Section is responsible for remitting to the affected local franchising authority and any entity designated by that local franchising authority to manage public, education, and government access before the 46th day after the date the agreement is terminated any accrued but unpaid fees due under the terminated agreement. If that incumbent cable operator has credit remaining from prepaid franchise fees, such amount of the remaining credit may be deducted from any future fees the incumbent cable operator must pay to the local franchising authority pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 21-801 of this Act.

(3) An incumbent cable operator that elects to terminate an existing agreement with a local franchising authority under this Section shall pay the affected local franchising authority and any entity designated by that franchising authority to manage public, education, and government access, at the time that they would have been due, all monetary payments for public, education, or government access that would have been due during the remaining term of the agreement had it not been terminated as provided in this paragraph. All payments made by an incumbent cable operator pursuant to the previous sentence of this paragraph may be credited against the fees that that operator owes under item (1) of subsection (d) of Section 21-801 of this Act.

(d) For purposes of this Article, the Commission shall be the franchising authority for cable service or video service providers that apply for and obtain a State-issued authorization under this Article with regard to the footprint covered by such authorization. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, holders using telecommunications facilities to provide cable service or video service are not obligated to provide that service outside the holder's telecommunications service area.

(e) Any person or entity that applies for and obtains a State-issued authorization under this Article shall not be subject to Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11) or Section 5-1095 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1095), except as provided in this Article. Except as provided under this Article, neither the Commission nor any local unit of government may require a person or entity that has applied for and obtained a State-issued authorization to obtain a separate franchise or pay any franchise fee on cable service or video service.

(Source: P.A. 100-20, eff. 7-1-17.)

(220 ILCS 5/21-401)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2030)

Sec. 21-401. Applications.

(a)(1) A person or entity seeking to provide cable service or video service pursuant to this Article shall not use the public rights-of-way for the installation or construction of facilities for the provision of cable service or video service or offer cable service or video service until it has obtained a State-issued authorization to offer or provide cable or video service under this Section, except as provided for in item (2) of this subsection (a). All cable or video providers offering or providing service in this State shall have authorization pursuant to either (i) the Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007 (220 ILCS 5/21-100 et seq.); (ii) Section 11-42-11 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/11-42-11); or (iii) Section 5-1095 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1095).

(2) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a local unit of government from granting a permit to a person or entity for the use of the public rights-of-way to install or construct facilities to provide cable service or video service, at its sole discretion. No unit of local government shall be liable for denial or delay of a permit prior to the issuance of a State-issued authorization.

(b) The application to the Commission for State-issued authorization shall contain a completed affidavit submitted by the applicant and signed by an officer or general partner of the applicant affirming all of the following:

(1) That the applicant has filed or will timely file with the Federal Communications Commission all forms required by that agency in advance of offering cable service or video service in this State.

(2) That the applicant agrees to comply with all applicable federal and State statutes and regulations.

(3) That the applicant agrees to comply with all applicable local unit of government regulations.

(4) An exact description of the cable service or video service area where the cable service or video service will be offered during the term of the State-issued authorization. The service area shall be identified in terms of either (i) exchanges, as that term is defined in Section 13-206 of this Act; (ii) a collection of United States Census Bureau Block numbers (13 digit); (iii) if the area is smaller than the areas identified in either (i) or (ii), by geographic information system digital boundaries meeting or exceeding national map accuracy standards; or (iv) local unit of government. The description shall include the number of low-income households within the service area or footprint. If an applicant is an incumbent cable operator, the incumbent cable operator and any successor-in-interest shall be obligated to provide access to cable services or video services within any local units of government at the same levels required by the local franchising authorities for the local unit of government on June 30, 2007 (the effective date of Public Act 95-9), and its application shall provide a description of an area no smaller than the service areas contained in its franchise or franchises within the jurisdiction of the local unit of government in which it seeks to offer cable or video service.

(5) The location and telephone number of the applicant's principal place of business within this State and the names of the applicant's principal executive officers who are responsible for communications concerning the application and the services to be offered pursuant to the application, the applicant's legal name, and any name or names under which the applicant does or will provide cable services or video services in this State.

(6) A certification that the applicant has concurrently delivered a copy of the application to all local units of government that include all or any part of the service area identified in item (4) of this subsection (b) within such local unit of government's jurisdictional boundaries.

(7) The expected date that cable service or video service will be initially offered in the area identified in item (4) of this subsection (b). In the event that a holder does not offer cable services or video services within 3 months after the expected date, it shall amend its application and update the expected date service will be offered and explain the delay in offering cable services or video services.

(8) For any entity that received State-issued authorization prior to this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly as a cable operator and that intends to proceed as a cable operator under this Article, the entity shall file a written affidavit with the Commission and shall serve a copy of the affidavit with any local units of government affected by the authorization within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly stating that the holder will be providing cable service under the State-issued authorization.

The application shall include adequate assurance that the applicant possesses the financial, managerial, legal, and technical qualifications necessary to construct and operate the proposed system, to promptly repair any damage to the public right-of-way caused by the applicant, and to pay the cost of removal of its facilities. To accomplish these requirements, the applicant may, at the time the applicant seeks to use the public rights-of-way in that jurisdiction, be required by the State of Illinois or later be required by the local unit of government, or both, to post a bond, produce a certificate of insurance, or otherwise demonstrate its financial responsibility.

The application shall include the applicant's general standards related to customer service required by Section 22-501 of this Act, which shall include, but not be limited to, installation, disconnection, service and repair obligations; appointment hours; employee ID requirements; customer service telephone numbers and hours; procedures for billing, charges, deposits, refunds, and credits; procedures for termination of service; notice of deletion of programming service and changes related to transmission of programming or changes or increases in rates; use and availability of parental control or lock-out devices; complaint procedures and procedures for bill dispute resolution and a description of the rights and remedies available to consumers if the holder does not materially meet their customer service standards; and special services for customers with visual, hearing, or mobility disabilities.

(c)(1) The applicant may designate information that it submits in its application or subsequent reports as confidential or proprietary, provided that the applicant states the reasons the confidential designation is necessary. The Commission shall provide adequate protection for such information pursuant to Section 4-404 of this Act. If the Commission, a local unit of government, or any other party seeks public disclosure of information designated as confidential, the Commission shall consider the confidential designation in a proceeding under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, and the burden of proof to demonstrate that the designated information is confidential shall be upon the applicant. Designated information shall remain confidential pending the Commission's determination of whether the information is entitled to confidential treatment. Information designated as confidential shall be provided to local units of government for purposes of assessing compliance with this Article as permitted under a Protective Order issued by the Commission pursuant to the Commission's rules and to the Attorney General pursuant to Section 6.5 of the Attorney General Act (15 ILCS 205/6.5). Information designated as confidential under this Section or determined to be confidential upon Commission review shall only be disclosed pursuant to a valid and enforceable subpoena or court order or as required by the Freedom of Information Act. Nothing herein shall delay the application approval timeframes set forth in this Article.

(2) Information regarding the location of video services that have been or are being offered to the public and aggregate information included in the reports required by this Article shall not be designated or treated as confidential.

(d)(1) The Commission shall post all applications it receives under this Article on its web site within 5 business days.

(2) The Commission shall notify an applicant for a cable service or video service authorization whether the applicant's application and affidavit are complete on or before the 15th business day after the applicant submits the application. If the application and affidavit are not complete, the Commission shall state in its notice all of the reasons the application or affidavit are incomplete, and the applicant shall resubmit a complete application. The Commission shall have 30 days after submission by the applicant of a complete application and affidavit to issue the service authorization. If the Commission does not notify the applicant regarding the completeness of the application and affidavit or issue the service authorization within the time periods required under this subsection, the application and affidavit shall be considered complete and the service authorization issued upon the expiration of the 30th day.

(e) Any authorization issued by the Commission will expire on December 31, 2029 and shall contain or include all of the following:

(1) A grant of authority, including an authorization issued prior to this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, to provide cable service or video service in the service area footprint as requested in the application, subject to the provisions of this Article in existence on the date the grant of authority was issued, and any modifications to this Article enacted at any time prior to the date in Section 21-1601 of this Act, and to the laws of the State and the ordinances, rules, and regulations of the local units of government.

(2) A grant of authority to use, occupy, and construct facilities in the public rights-of-way for the delivery of cable service or video service in the service area footprint, subject to the laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations of this State and local units of governments.

(3) A statement that the grant of authority is subject to lawful operation of the cable service or video service by the applicant, its affiliated entities, or its successors-in-interest.

(e-5) The Commission shall notify a local unit of government within 3 business days of the grant of any authorization within a service area footprint if that authorization includes any part of the local unit of government's jurisdictional boundaries and state whether the holder will be providing video service or cable service under the authorization.

(f) The authorization issued pursuant to this Section by the Commission may be transferred to any successor-in-interest to the applicant to which it is initially granted without further Commission action if the successor-in-interest (i) submits an application and the information required by subsection (b) of this Section for the successor-in-interest and (ii) is not in violation of this Article or of any federal, State, or local law, ordinance, rule, or regulation. A successor-in-interest shall file its application and notice of transfer with the Commission and the relevant local units of government no less than 15 business days prior to the completion of the transfer. The Commission is not required or authorized to act upon the notice of transfer; however, the transfer is not effective until the Commission approves the successor-in-interest's application. A local unit of government or the Attorney General may seek to bar a transfer of ownership by filing suit in a court of competent jurisdiction predicated on the existence of a material and continuing breach of this Article by the holder, a pattern of noncompliance with customer service standards by the potential successor-in-interest, or the insolvency of the potential successor-in-interest. If a transfer is made when there are violations of this Article or of any federal, State, or local law, ordinance, rule, or regulation, the successor-in-interest shall be subject to 3 times the penalties provided for in this Article.

(g) The authorization issued pursuant to this Section by the Commission may be terminated, or its cable service or video service area footprint may be modified, by the cable service provider or video service provider by submitting notice to the Commission and to the relevant local unit of government containing a description of the change on the same terms as the initial description pursuant to item (4) of subsection (b) of this Section. The Commission is not required or authorized to act upon that notice. It shall be a violation of this Article for a holder to discriminate against potential residential subscribers because of the race or income of the residents in the local area in which the group resides by terminating or modifying its cable service or video service area footprint. It shall be a violation of this Article for a holder to terminate or modify its cable service or video service area footprint if it leaves an area with no cable service or video service from any provider.

(h) The Commission's authority to administer this Article is limited to the powers and duties explicitly provided under this Article. Its authority under this Article does not include or limit the powers and duties that the Commission has under the other Articles of this Act, the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, or any other law or regulation to conduct proceedings, other than as provided in subsection (c), or has to promulgate rules or regulations. The Commission shall not have the authority to limit or expand the obligations and requirements provided in this Section or to regulate or control a person or entity to the extent that person or entity is providing cable service or video service, except as provided in this Article.

(Source: P.A. 101-639, eff. 6-12-20; 102-9, eff. 6-3-21.)