Rep. Yehiel M. Kalish

Filed: 5/18/2020

 

 


 

 


 
10100HB0395ham001LRB101 03018 JLS 70969 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 395

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 395 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Water
5Rate Review Commission Act.
 
6    Section 5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly
7finds that:
8    (a) Water, wastewater, and storm water services in Illinois
9are largely provided through various forms of public entities.
10While private water service rate setting is regulated by the
11Illinois Commerce Commission, rate setting for
12publicly-delivered water services, including wastewater and
13storm water services, is largely the province of units of local
14government. This rate setting includes the establishment of
15wholesale service rates between units of local government and
16the establishment of retail service rates across different

 

 

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1customer classes.
2    (b) Over the last decade water service rates have risen
3faster than the rate of inflation or incomes, leading to
4increasing concerns about water affordability. In addition,
5rising costs have heightened the potential for unregulated
6local governments to inappropriately employ monopoly power and
7unequal water service rate setting.
8    (c) The water sector has established a number of rate
9setting principles to help ensure that rates are set through an
10equitable distribution of cost responsibilities and are in
11conformance with established laws calling for "just,
12reasonable, and non-discriminatory" rate setting. While
13industry standard practices continue to evolve, these
14principles are intended to serve as a benchmark for local
15government rate setting practices.
16    (d) In light of the rising costs and the potential for
17inequitable rate setting for water services, which are
18essential for human life, regular and consistent review of
19local government rate setting practices is warranted. Rather
20than impose a new regulatory mandate or inappropriately expand
21the purview of the Illinois Commerce Commission to units of
22local government, it is reasonable to establish a Water Rate
23Review Commission.
 
24    Section 10. Water Rate Review Commission.
25    (a) There is created the Water Rate Review Commission

 

 

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1consisting of members representing State agencies and 5 members
2appointed by the Governor.
3    (b) The members representing State agencies shall be:
4        (1) the Attorney General or his or her designee;
5        (2) the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
6    or his or her designee;
7        (3) the Director of Natural Resources or his or her
8    designee; and
9        (4) the Director of the Environmental Protection
10    Agency or his or her designee.
11    (c) The Governor shall appoint 5 members as follows:
12        (1) one member representing units of local government
13    that provide water service;
14        (2) one member representing water service
15    affordability advocates;
16        (3) one member representing academicians with
17    expertise in public policy;
18        (4) one member who is a representative of an
19    environmental justice advocacy organization; and
20        (5) one member who is a representative of a consumer
21    advocacy organization.
22    Members appointed by the Governor shall serve a term of 5
23years. Members may be reappointed to the Commission. In the
24event of a vacancy, the Governor shall appoint a qualified
25person to serve the remainder of the vacated term. The Governor
26shall designate a member to serve as chairperson of the

 

 

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1Commission.
2    (d) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Commerce
3and Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative and
4other necessary support to the Commission.
 
5    Section 15. Functions of the Commission.
6    (a) The Commission shall compile, review, and provide
7guidance on rate and billing issues relating to
8publicly-delivered water services. The guidance shall include
9data, calculations, and cost allocation procedures necessary
10to appropriately establish rates and charges by customer class.
11In determining the guidance, the Commission shall consider the
12following:
13        (1) the components of a water service bill;
14        (2) justifications for a change in rates;
15        (3) ranges of affordability throughout the State;
16        (4) practices that contribute to inappropriate rate
17    setting;
18        (5) the extent to which State or local policies
19    contribute to cost increases or variations in rate setting;
20    and
21        (6) challenges with respect to economically
22    disadvantaged communities in setting water service rates.
23    (b) The Commission shall provide guidance on customer
24service practices to improve water service affordability and
25access.

 

 

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1    (c) The Commission shall provide a non-binding mechanism to
2review rate disputes between units of local government and
3consumers.".