HB2973eng 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2973 Engrossed LRB095 06413 MJR 26512 b

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding Section 16-131 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/16-131 new)

Sec. 16-131. Commission consumer education program for energy conservation.

(a) The Commission shall implement and maintain a consumer education program for energy conservation to provide residential and small commercial retail customers with information to help them understand their options concerning energy conservation.

(b) The Commission shall form a working group following the enactment of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly. This group shall consist of 5 representatives of the investor-owned electric utilities in this State, 2 of which shall be appointed by electric utilities serving over 1,000,000 retail customers in this State; 2 representatives of alternative retail electric suppliers; 3 representatives of organizations representing the interests of residential and small commercial retail customers; and the Commission.

(c) By January 1, 2008, educational materials for small commercial customers and residential customers, the working group appointed pursuant to this Section shall develop a package of printed educational materials which meet the requirements of subsection (d) and shall submit such package to the Commission for approval, along with recommendations for implementing this consumer education program for energy conservation. Such materials shall consider the needs of different types of consumers in this State, such as elderly, low-income, multilingual, minority, rural and disabled customers. The working group shall issue recommendations to the Commission on how such education program can be implemented through a variety of communication methods, including specifically mass media, distribution of printed material, public service announcements, and posting on the Internet.

(d) At a minimum, the materials constituting the consumer education program submitted to the Commission by the working group shall include concise explanations or descriptions of the following:

(1) information about how customers may conserve energy and

(2) additional information available from the Commission upon request.

(e) Within 45 days following the submission required of the working group by subsection (d) of this Section, the Commission shall approve or disapprove the educational materials and recommendations for program implementation. The Commission shall be deemed to have approved the educational program materials and recommendations unless the Commission disapproves of any such material or recommendation within 45 days following the date of receipt.

(f) Once approved by the Commission, materials comprising the consumer education program contemplated by this Section shall be distributed as follows:

(1) Electric utilities shall mail printed educational materials specified by the working group and approved by the Commission (a) to all residential and small commercial retail customers within a reasonable period as determined by the Commission; and (b) to all new residential and small commercial retail customers at the time that such customers begin taking services from the electric utility.

(2) Both electric utilities and alternative retail electric suppliers shall provide such materials at no charge to residential and small commercial retail customers upon request.

(g) The costs of printing educational materials approved by the Commission pursuant to this Section shall be payable solely from funding as provided in this subsection (g). Each year the General Assembly shall appropriate money to the Commission from the General Revenue Fund for the expenses of the Commission associated with this Section. The cost of the consumer education program for energy conservation contemplated by this Section shall not exceed the amount of such appropriation. In no event shall any electric utility, alternative retail electric supplier or customer be liable for the costs of printing consumer education program material in accordance with this Section. The obligations associated with this consumer education program shall not exceed the amounts appropriated for this program pursuant to this Section.

(h) The Commission shall study the effectiveness of the consumer education program for energy conservation. Such study shall include a notice and an opportunity for participation and comment by all interested and potentially affected parties. Such study shall be completed by June 30th of each year and a summary thereof, together with any legislative recommendations, shall be included in the Commission's Annual Report due in accordance with Section 4-304 of this Act.

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