Bill Text: IL HB4118 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that each electric and gas utility serving more than 500,000 customers in the State shall implement a Disconnection Protection Program. Provides that where customers have applied for assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP), the customer shall be temporarily protected from disconnection for 30 days after the utility receives notice from a local administrative agency that the customer has submitted an application to LIHEAP or PIPP. Provides that, in cases where LIHEAP or PIPP assistance is received, the customer shall be protected from disconnection for another 45 days after receiving the notice. Provides that any customer who applies for, but does not receive, LIHEAP or PIPP assistance shall only be temporarily protected from disconnection once in any program year. Provides that each electric and gas utility may recover costs for implementation, administration, and ongoing operation of the utility's Disconnection Protection Program through the utility's revenue requirement, subject to a review for prudence and reasonableness by the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-07-19 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0661 [HB4118 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB4118-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB4118 Introduced , by Rep. Maurice A. West, II SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
220 ILCS 5/8-206.5 new
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that no electric or gas public utility shall disconnect service for nonpayment of a bill or deposit to any residential customer or master metered apartment building if gas or electricity is used as the primary source of space heating or is used to control or operate the primary source of space heating equipment at the premises and the customer has provided documentation that he or she is applying for grants or financial resources to pay the utility bill until 75 days after the customer provides documented proof of the grant or financial resource application. Provides that during the grace period the electric or gas public utility shall waive any late fees. Provides that an electric or gas public utility is not required to provide a grace period for a 12-month period after the conclusion of the preceding grace period.
LRB103 32782 SPS 62586 b
A BILL FOR
HB4118 LRB103 32782 SPS 62586 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 8-206.5 as follows:
(220 ILCS 5/8-206.5 new)
Sec. 8-206.5. Financial resources and termination for
nonpayment.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, no
electric or gas public utility shall disconnect service for
nonpayment of a bill or deposit to any residential customer or
master metered apartment building if gas or electricity is
used as the primary source of space heating or is used to
control or operate the primary source of space heating
equipment at the premises and the customer has provided
documentation that he or she is applying for grants or
financial resources to pay the utility bill until 75 days
after the customer provides documented proof of the grant or
financial resource application.
(b) During the grace period described in subsection (a)
the electric or gas public utility shall waive any late fees.
(c) An electric or gas public utility is not required to
provide a grace period described in subsection (a) for a

HB4118 - 2 - LRB103 32782 SPS 62586 b
12-month period after the conclusion of the preceding grace
period.