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90_HB1788
220 ILCS 5/8-303 from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 8-303
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Adds a caption to a
Section concerning tapped utility lines.
LRB9001649JSgc
LRB9001649JSgc
1 AN ACT to amend the Public Utilities Act by changing
2 Section 8-303.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by
6 changing Section 8-303 as follows:
7 (220 ILCS 5/8-303) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 8-303)
8 Sec. 8-303. Tapped lines; meter reading; remedies.
9 Where, within 30 days of receipt of a utility bill, a
10 customer alleges that the level of consumption reflected in
11 his utility bill is unreasonably high, it shall be the
12 responsibility of the public utility furnishing natural or
13 artificial gas, electricity or water to that customer to
14 investigate the allegation. If as a result of such an
15 investigation, the public utility determines that the
16 customer's line has been tapped, the utility shall attempt to
17 ascertain the identity of the third party benefiting from the
18 usage of the utility service or for payment for all or part
19 of the disputed charges. If the utility determines that the
20 landlord of the building or his agent is the party who
21 benefited from the usage of the utility service, either the
22 utility or the customer may petition the court for the
23 appointment of receiver to collect the rents due and to remit
24 a portion to the utility company for payment of bills for the
25 tapped service, for current bills and for any expenses
26 incurred by the utility as a result of the tap. The receiver
27 shall make all reasonable efforts, including the obtaining of
28 court orders, to provide to the utility access to the
29 building. Any changes in the building's piping which are
30 necessitated by the tap shall be at the expense of the person
31 benefiting from the tap.
-2- LRB9001649JSgc
1 If the utility determines that the landlord of the
2 building is not the party who benefited from the usage of the
3 utility service, the customer shall be so notified and shall
4 also be informed by the utility of a right to register a
5 dispute pursuant to procedures developed by the Commission
6 for resolution of disputed bills, including his right to
7 bring a complaint before the Commission if an agreement with
8 the utility cannot be reached.
9 In order to enable the customer to ascertain whether the
10 level of consumption is greater than the amounts billed in
11 other billing periods and to eliminate to the fullest extent
12 practicable consecutive estimated bills, the public utility
13 shall make an actual meter reading at least every second
14 billing period. If a meter reader is unable to gain access to
15 the meter for the purpose of making an actual reading, the
16 public utility shall take other appropriate and reasonable
17 measures to read the meter.
18 Nothing in this Section shall preclude either the
19 customer or the public utility from filing a complaint with
20 the State's Attorney located in the county where the utility
21 service is being rendered to allege an unlawful theft of the
22 customer's utility service.
23 (Source: P.A. 84-617.)