98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB2922

 

Introduced , by Rep. Laura Fine

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
220 ILCS 5/16-115E new

    Amends the Public Utilities Act. Creates a provision concerning renewable energy source options. Defines "renewable energy source". Provides that an electric utility or alternative retail electric supplier shall provide to its customers one or more renewable energy source options, which may include renewable energy source default service provided by the electric utility or alternative retail electric supplier. Provides that a renewable energy source default service shall have either all or a portion of its service attributable to a renewable energy source component procured by the electric utility or alternative retail electric supplier, with any remainder filled by standard default service, and that the price of any renewable energy source default service shall be approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Provides that under any option offered, the customer shall be purchasing electricity generated by renewable energy sources or the attributes of such generation, either in connection with or separately from the electricity produced. Provides that an electric utility or alternative retail electric supplier shall include educational materials to their customers that explain renewable energy source options being offered. Provides that reasonable efforts shall be made to ensure that the renewable energy source component of an renewable energy source option is not separately advertised, claimed, or sold as part of any other electricity service or transaction. Provides that the Commission shall implement this Section through utility-specific filings, and that an electric utility or alternative retail electric supplier may require that a minimum number of customers choose to participate in the program or a minimum load amount.


LRB098 07565 CEL 37636 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2922LRB098 07565 CEL 37636 b

1    AN ACT concerning utilities.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding
5Section 16-115E as follows:
 
6    (220 ILCS 5/16-115E new)
7    Sec. 16-115E. Renewable energy source option.
8    (a) For the purposes of this Section, "renewable energy
9source" means a source of electricity that would qualify to
10receive renewable energy credit.
11    (b) An electric utility or alternative retail electric
12supplier shall provide to its customers one or more renewable
13energy source options, as approved by the Commission, which may
14include renewable energy source default service provided by the
15electric utility or alternative retail electric supplier.
16Costs associated with selecting a renewable energy source shall
17be paid for by those customers choosing to take such an option.
18An electric utility or alternative retail electric supplier may
19recover all prudently incurred administrative costs of a
20renewable energy source option from all customers, as approved
21by the Commission.
22    (c) Renewable energy source default service shall have
23either all or a portion of its service attributable to a

 

 

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1renewable energy source component procured by the electric
2utility or alternative retail electric supplier, with any
3remainder filled by standard default service. The price of any
4renewable energy source default service shall be approved by
5the Commission.
6    (d) Under any option offered, the customer shall be
7purchasing electricity generated by renewable energy sources
8or the attributes of such generation, either in connection with
9or separately from the electricity produced.
10    (e) An electric utility or alternative retail electric
11supplier that is required by statute to provide default service
12from its generation assets shall use any of its owned
13generation assets that are powered by renewable energy for the
14provision of standard default service, rather than for the
15provision of a renewable energy source component.
16    (f) An electric utility or alternative retail electric
17supplier shall include educational materials in their normal
18communications to their customers that explain renewable
19energy source options being offered and the health and
20environmental benefits associated with them. The educational
21materials shall be compatible with any environmental
22disclosure requirements established by the Commission.
23    (g) For the purposes of consumer protection and the
24maintenance of program integrity, reasonable efforts shall be
25made to ensure that the renewable energy source component of an
26renewable energy source option is not separately advertised,

 

 

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1claimed, or sold as part of any other electricity service or
2transaction.
3    (h) If renewable energy source default service is not
4available for purchase at a reasonable cost on behalf of
5consumers choosing a renewable energy source default service
6option, an electric utility or alternative retail electric
7supplier may, as approved by the Commission, make payments to
8the renewable energy fund on behalf of customers to comply with
9this Section.
10    (i) The Commission shall implement this Section through
11utility-specific filings. Approved renewable energy source
12options shall be included in individual tariff filings by the
13electric utilities or alternative retail electric supplier.
14    (j) An electric utility or alternative retail electric
15supplier, with the Commission's approval, may require that a
16minimum number of customers choose to participate in the
17program in order to offer a renewable energy source option or a
18minimum load amount.