Bill Amendment: IL SB1312 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly

NOTE: For additional amemendments please see the Bill Drafting List

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Bill Title: UTILITIES ACT-SOLAR ENERGY

Status: 2015-07-22 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0107 [SB1312 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-SB1312-House_Amendment_001.html

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Rep. Kelly Burke

Filed: 5/11/2015

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AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1312
AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 1312 by replacing
everything after the enacting clause with the following:
"Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing
Section 4-304 as follows:
(220 ILCS 5/4-304) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 4-304)
Sec. 4-304. Beginning in 1986, the Commission shall prepare
an annual report which shall be filed by January 31 of each
year with the Joint Committee on Legislative Support Services
of the General Assembly, the Public Counsel and the Governor
and which shall be publicly available. Such report shall
include:
(1) A general review of agency activities and changes,
including:
(a) a review of significant decisions and other
regulatory actions for the preceding year, and pending

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cases, and an analysis of the impact of such decisions and
actions, and potential impact of any significant pending
cases;
(b) for each significant decision, regulatory action
and pending case, a description of the positions advocated
by major parties, including Commission staff, and for each
such decision rendered or action taken, the position
adopted by the Commission and reason therefor;
(c) a description of the Commission's budget,
caseload, and staff levels, including specifically:
(i) a breakdown by type of case of the cases
resolved and filed during the year and of pending
cases;
(ii) a description of the allocation of the
Commission's budget, identifying amounts budgeted for
each significant regulatory function or activity and
for each department, bureau, section, division or
office of the Commission and its employees;
(iii) a description of current employee levels,
identifying any change occurring during the year in the
number of employees, personnel policies and practices
or compensation levels; and identifying the number and
type of employees assigned to each Commission
regulatory function and to each department, bureau,
section, division or office of the Commission;
(d) a description of any significant changes in

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Commission policies, programs or practices with respect to
agency organization and administration, hearings and
procedures or substantive regulatory activity.
(2) A discussion and analysis of the state of each utility
industry regulated by the Commission and significant changes,
trends and developments therein, including the number and types
of firms offering each utility service, existing, new and
prospective technologies, variations in the quality,
availability and price for utility services in different
geographic areas of the State, and any other industry factors
or circumstances which may affect the public interest or the
regulation of such industries.
(3) A specific discussion of the energy planning
responsibilities and activities of the Commission and energy
utilities, including:
(a) the extent to which conservation, cogeneration,
renewable energy technologies and improvements in energy
efficiency are being utilized by energy consumers, the
extent to which additional potential exists for the
economical utilization of such supplies, and a description
of existing and proposed programs and policies designed to
promote and encourage such utilization;
(b) a description of each energy plan filed with the
Commission pursuant to the provisions of this Act, and a
copy, or detailed summary of the most recent energy plans
adopted by the Commission; and

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(c) a discussion of the powers by which the Commission
is implementing the planning responsibilities of Article
VIII, including a description of the staff and budget
assigned to such function, the procedures by which
Commission staff reviews and analyzes energy plans
submitted by the utilities, the Department of Natural
Resources, and any other person or party; and .
(d) 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.
(4) A discussion of the extent to which utility services
are available to all Illinois citizens including:
(a) the percentage and number of persons or households
requiring each such service who are not receiving such
service, and the reasons therefore, including specifically
the number of such persons or households who are unable to
afford such service;
(b) a critical analysis of existing programs designed
to promote and preserve the availability and affordability
of utility services; and
(c) an analysis of the financial impact on utilities
and other ratepayers of the inability of some customers or
potential customers to afford utility service, including

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the number of service disconnections and reconnections,
and cost thereof and the dollar amount of uncollectible
accounts recovered through rates.
(5) A detailed description of the means by which the
Commission is implementing its new statutory responsibilities
under this Act, and the status of such implementation,
including specifically:
(a) Commission reorganization resulting from the
addition of an Executive Director and hearing examiner
qualifications and review;
(b) Commission responsibilities for construction and
rate supervision, including construction cost audits,
management audits, excess capacity adjustments, phase-ins
of new plant and the means and capability for monitoring
and reevaluating existing or future construction projects;
(c) promulgation and application of rules concerning
ex parte communications, circulation of recommended orders
and transcription of closed meetings.
(6) A description of all appeals taken from Commission
orders, findings or decisions and the status and outcome of
such appeals.
(7) A description of the status of all studies and
investigations required by this Act, including those ordered
pursuant to Sections 8-304, 9-242, 9-244 and 13-301 and all
such subsequently ordered studies or investigations.
(8) A discussion of new or potential developments in

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federal legislation, and federal agency and judicial decisions
relevant to State regulation of utility services.
(9) All recommendations for appropriate legislative action
by the General Assembly.
The Commission may include such other information as it
deems to be necessary or beneficial in describing or explaining
its activities or regulatory responsibilities. The report
required by this Section shall be adopted by a vote of the full
Commission prior to filing.
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.".