HB4118eng 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4118 Engrossed 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. Disconnection Protection Program.

(a) No later than June 1, 2025, each electric and gas utility serving more than 500,000 customers in this State shall implement a Disconnection Protection Program, whereby customers who have applied for assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) 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 and, in cases where LIHEAP or PIPP assistance is received, for another 45 days after receiving the notice. Any customer who applies for, but does not receive, LIHEAP or PIPP assistance shall, by operation of this Section, only be temporarily protected from disconnection once in any program year.

(b) Each electric and gas utility may recover costs for implementation, administration, and ongoing operation of its Disconnection Protection Program through the utility's revenue requirement, subject to a review for prudence and reasonableness by the Commission.