Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB0651
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Full Text of SB0651  101st General Assembly

SB0651sam002 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford

Filed: 4/29/2019

 

 


 

 


 
10100SB0651sam002LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 651

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 651 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 1. This Act may be referred to as the Home Energy
5Affordability and Transparency (HEAT) Act.
 
6    Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing
7Sections 16-115A, 16-118, 16-123, 19-115, 19-130, 19-135, and
820-110 and by adding Sections 16-115E and 19-116 as follows:
 
9    (220 ILCS 5/16-115A)
10    Sec. 16-115A. Obligations of alternative retail electric
11suppliers.
12    (a) An alternative retail electric supplier shall:
13        (i) shall comply with the requirements imposed on
14    public utilities by Sections 8-201 through 8-207, 8-301,
15    8-505 and 8-507 of this Act, to the extent that these

 

 

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1    Sections have application to the services being offered by
2    the alternative retail electric supplier; and
3        (ii) shall continue to comply with the requirements for
4    certification stated in subsection (d) of Section 16-115.
5        (iii) beginning January 1, 2020 and every January 1
6    thereafter, shall submit to the Commission and the Office
7    of the Attorney General the rates the retail electric
8    supplier charged to residential customers in the prior
9    year, including each distinct rate charged and whether the
10    rate was a fixed or variable rate, the basis for the
11    variable rate, and any fees charged in addition to the
12    supply rate, including monthly fees, flat fees, or other
13    service charges; and
14        (iv) shall make publicly available on its website,
15    without the need for a customer login, rate information for
16    all of its variable, time-of-use, and fixed rate contracts
17    currently available to residential customers, including,
18    but not limited to, fixed monthly charges, early
19    termination fees, and kilowatt-hour charges.
20    (b) An alternative retail electric supplier shall obtain
21verifiable authorization from a customer, in a form or manner
22approved by the Commission consistent with Section 2EE of the
23Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, before the
24customer is switched from another supplier.
25    (c) No alternative retail electric supplier, or electric
26utility other than the electric utility in whose service area a

 

 

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1customer is located, shall (i) enter into or employ any
2arrangements which have the effect of preventing a retail
3customer with a maximum electrical demand of less than one
4megawatt from having access to the services of the electric
5utility in whose service area the customer is located or (ii)
6charge retail customers for such access. This subsection shall
7not be construed to prevent an arms-length agreement between a
8supplier and a retail customer that sets a term of service,
9notice period for terminating service and provisions governing
10early termination through a tariff or contract as allowed by
11Section 16-119.
12    (d) An alternative retail electric supplier that is
13certified to serve residential or small commercial retail
14customers shall not:
15        (1) deny service to a customer or group of customers
16    nor establish any differences as to prices, terms,
17    conditions, services, products, facilities, or in any
18    other respect, whereby such denial or differences are based
19    upon race, gender or income, except as provided in Section
20    16-115E.
21        (2) deny service to a customer or group of customers
22    based on locality nor establish any unreasonable
23    difference as to prices, terms, conditions, services,
24    products, or facilities as between localities.
25    (e) An alternative retail electric supplier shall comply
26with the following requirements with respect to the marketing,

 

 

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1offering and provision of products or services to residential
2and small commercial retail customers:
3        (i) All Any marketing materials, including, but not
4    limited to, electronic marketing materials, in-person
5    solicitations, and telephone solicitations, which make
6    statements concerning prices, terms and conditions of
7    service shall contain information that adequately
8    discloses the prices, terms, and conditions of the products
9    or services that the alternative retail electric supplier
10    is offering or selling to the customer and shall disclose
11    the current utility electric supply price to compare
12    applicable at the time the alternative retail electric
13    supplier is offering or selling the products or services to
14    the customer and shall disclose the date on which the
15    utility electric supply price to compare became effective
16    and the date on which it will expire. The utility electric
17    supply price to compare shall be the sum of the electric
18    supply charge and the transmission services charge and
19    shall not include the purchased electricity adjustment.
20    All marketing materials, including, but not limited to,
21    electronic marketing materials, in-person solicitations,
22    and telephone solicitations, shall include the following
23    statement: .
24            "(Name of the alternative retail electric
25        supplier) is not the same entity as your electric
26        delivery company. You are not required to enroll with

 

 

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1        (name of alternative retail electric supplier). On
2        (effective date), the electric supply price to compare
3        is (price in cents per kilowatt hour). The electric
4        utility electric supply price will expire on
5        (expiration date). The utility electric supply price
6        to compare does not include the purchased electricity
7        adjustment factor that may range between +.5 cents and -
8        .5 cents per kilowatt hour. For more information go to
9        the Illinois Commerce Commission's free website at
10        www.pluginillinois.org.".
11        This paragraph (i) does not apply to goodwill or
12    institutional advertising.
13        (ii) Before any customer is switched from another
14    supplier, the alternative retail electric supplier shall
15    give the customer written information that adequately
16    discloses, in plain language, the prices, terms and
17    conditions of the products and services being offered and
18    sold to the customer. This written information shall be
19    provided in a language in which the customer subject to the
20    marketing or solicitation is able to understand and
21    communicate, and the alternative retail electric supplier
22    shall comply with Section 2N of the Consumer Fraud and
23    Deceptive Business Practices Act.
24        (iii) An alternative retail electric supplier shall
25    provide documentation to the Commission and to customers
26    that substantiates any claims made by the alternative

 

 

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1    retail electric supplier regarding the technologies and
2    fuel types used to generate the electricity offered or sold
3    to customers.
4        (iv) The alternative retail electric supplier shall
5    provide to the customer (1) itemized billing statements
6    that describe the products and services provided to the
7    customer and their prices, and (2) an additional statement,
8    at least annually, that adequately discloses the average
9    monthly prices, and the terms and conditions, of the
10    products and services sold to the customer.
11        (v) All solicitations shall be conducted in,
12    translated into, and provided in a language in which the
13    customer subject to the marketing or solicitation is able
14    to understand and communicate. An alternative retail
15    electric supplier shall not solicit an enrollment of or
16    enroll any customer if the alternative retail electric
17    supplier is unable to communicate and provide marketing
18    materials in a language in which the customer subject to
19    the marketing or solicitation is able to understand and
20    communicate.
21    (f) An alternative retail electric supplier may limit the
22overall size or availability of a service offering by
23specifying one or more of the following: a maximum number of
24customers, maximum amount of electric load to be served, time
25period during which the offering will be available, or other
26comparable limitation, but not including the geographic

 

 

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1locations of customers within the area which the alternative
2retail electric supplier is certificated to serve. The
3alternative retail electric supplier shall file the terms and
4conditions of such service offering including the applicable
5limitations with the Commission prior to making the service
6offering available to customers.
7    (g) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as
8preventing an alternative retail electric supplier, which is an
9affiliate of, or which contracts with, (i) an industry or trade
10organization or association, (ii) a membership organization or
11association that exists for a purpose other than the purchase
12of electricity, or (iii) another organization that meets
13criteria established in a rule adopted by the Commission, from
14offering through the organization or association services at
15prices, terms and conditions that are available solely to the
16members of the organization or association.
17(Source: P.A. 90-561, eff. 12-16-97.)
 
18    (220 ILCS 5/16-115E new)
19    Sec. 16-115E. Alternative retail electric supplier utility
20assistance recipient.
21    (a) Beginning January 1, 2020, an alternative retail
22electric supplier shall not knowingly submit an enrollment to
23change a customer's electric supply service if the electric
24utility's records indicate that the customer received
25financial assistance in the last 12 months from either the Low

 

 

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1Income Home Energy Assistance Program or, at the time of
2enrollment, is participating in the Percentage of Income
3Payment Plan, unless: (1) the customer's change in electric
4supply service is pursuant to a government aggregation program
5adopted in accordance with Section 1-92 of the Illinois Power
6Agency Act; or (2) the customer's change in electric supply
7service is pursuant to a Commission-approved savings guarantee
8plan as described in subsection (b).
9    (b) Beginning July 1, 2020, an alternative retail electric
10supplier may apply to the Commission to offer a savings
11guarantee plan to recipients of the Low Income Home Energy
12Assistance Program or Percentage of Income Payment Plan
13funding. The Commission shall initiate a public, docketed
14proceeding to consider whether or not to approve an alternative
15retail electric supplier's application to offer a savings
16guarantee plan. At a minimum, the savings guarantee plan shall
17charge customers for electric supply less than the amount
18charged by the electric utility for electric supply. The
19Commission shall adopt rules to implement this subsection (b).
20    (c) An agreement entered into between an alternative retail
21electric supplier in violation of this Section is void and
22unenforceable. Before the electric utility executes a change in
23a customer's electric supplier, other than a change pursuant to
24a government aggregation program adopted in accordance with
25Section 1-92 of the Illinois Power Agency or pursuant to a
26Commission-approved savings guarantee plan as described in

 

 

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1subsection (b), the electric utility shall confirm at the time
2of the request whether its records indicate that the customer
3received financial assistance within the preceding 12 months
4from either the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or
5the Percentage of Income Payment Plan and, if its records so
6indicate, shall reject the change request. Absent willful or
7wanton misconduct, no electric utility shall be held liable for
8any error in acting or failing to act pursuant to this Section.
 
9    (220 ILCS 5/16-118)
10    Sec. 16-118. Services provided by electric utilities to
11alternative retail electric suppliers.
12    (a) It is in the best interest of Illinois energy consumers
13to promote fair and open competition in the provision of
14electric power and energy and to prevent anticompetitive
15practices in the provision of electric power and energy.
16Therefore, to the extent an electric utility provides electric
17power and energy or delivery services to alternative retail
18electric suppliers and such services are not subject to the
19jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and
20are not competitive services, they shall be provided through
21tariffs that are filed with the Commission, pursuant to Article
22IX of this Act. Each electric utility shall permit alternative
23retail electric suppliers to interconnect facilities to those
24owned by the utility provided they meet established standards
25for such interconnection, and may provide standby or other

 

 

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1services to alternative retail electric suppliers. The
2alternative retail electric supplier shall sign a contract
3setting forth the prices, terms and conditions for
4interconnection with the electric utility and the prices, terms
5and conditions for services provided by the electric utility to
6the alternative retail electric supplier in connection with the
7delivery by the electric utility of electric power and energy
8supplied by the alternative retail electric supplier.
9    (b) An electric utility shall file a tariff pursuant to
10Article IX of the Act that would allow alternative retail
11electric suppliers or electric utilities other than the
12electric utility in whose service area retail customers are
13located to issue single bills to the retail customers for both
14the services provided by such alternative retail electric
15supplier or other electric utility and the delivery services
16provided by the electric utility to such customers. The tariff
17filed pursuant to this subsection shall (i) require partial
18payments made by retail customers to be credited first to the
19electric utility's tariffed services, (ii) impose commercially
20reasonable terms with respect to credit and collection,
21including requests for deposits, (iii) retain the electric
22utility's right to disconnect the retail customers, if it does
23not receive payment for its tariffed services, in the same
24manner that it would be permitted to if it had billed for the
25services itself, and (iv) require the alternative retail
26electric supplier or other electric utility that elects the

 

 

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1billing option provided by this tariff to include on each bill
2to retail customers an identification of the electric utility
3providing the delivery services and a listing of the charges
4applicable to such services. The tariff filed pursuant to this
5subsection may also include other just and reasonable terms and
6conditions. In addition, an electric utility, an alternative
7retail electric supplier or electric utility other than the
8electric utility in whose service area the customer is located,
9and a customer served by such alternative retail electric
10supplier or other electric utility, may enter into an agreement
11pursuant to which the alternative retail electric supplier or
12other electric utility pays the charges specified in Section
1316-108, or other customer-related charges, including taxes and
14fees, in lieu of such charges being recovered by the electric
15utility directly from the customer.
16    (c) An electric utility with more than 100,000 customers
17shall file a tariff pursuant to Article IX of this Act that
18provides alternative retail electric suppliers, and electric
19utilities other than the electric utility in whose service area
20the retail customers are located, with the option to have the
21electric utility purchase their receivables for power and
22energy service provided to residential retail customers and
23non-residential retail customers with a non-coincident peak
24demand of less than 400 kilowatts. Receivables for power and
25energy service of alternative retail electric suppliers or
26electric utilities other than the electric utility in whose

 

 

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1service area the retail customers are located shall be
2purchased by the electric utility at a just and reasonable
3discount rate to be reviewed and approved by the Commission
4after notice and hearing. The discount rate shall be based on
5the electric utility's historical bad debt and any reasonable
6start-up costs and administrative costs associated with the
7electric utility's purchase of receivables. The discounted
8rate for purchase of receivables shall be included in the
9tariff filed pursuant to this subsection (c). The discount rate
10filed pursuant to this subsection (c) shall be subject to
11periodic Commission review. The electric utility retains the
12right to impose the same terms on retail customers with respect
13to credit and collection, including requests for deposits, and
14retain the electric utility's right to disconnect the retail
15customers, if it does not receive payment for its tariffed
16services or purchased receivables, in the same manner that it
17would be permitted to if the retail customers purchased power
18and energy from the electric utility. The tariff filed pursuant
19to this subsection (c) shall permit the electric utility to
20recover from retail customers any uncollected receivables that
21may arise as a result of the purchase of receivables under this
22subsection (c), may also include other just and reasonable
23terms and conditions, and shall provide for the prudently
24incurred costs associated with the provision of this service
25pursuant to this subsection (c). Nothing in this subsection (c)
26permits the double recovery of bad debt expenses from

 

 

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1customers.
2    (d) An electric utility with more than 100,000 customers
3shall file a tariff pursuant to Article IX of this Act that
4would provide alternative retail electric suppliers or
5electric utilities other than the electric utility in whose
6service area retail customers are located with the option to
7have the electric utility produce and provide single bills to
8the retail customers for both the electric power and energy
9service provided by the alternative retail electric supplier or
10other electric utility and the delivery services provided by
11the electric utility to the customers. The tariffs filed
12pursuant to this subsection shall require the electric utility
13to collect and remit customer payments for electric power and
14energy service provided by alternative retail electric
15suppliers or electric utilities other than the electric utility
16in whose service area retail customers are located. The tariff
17filed pursuant to this subsection shall require the electric
18utility to include on each bill to retail customers an
19identification of the alternative retail electric supplier or
20other electric utility that elects the billing option. The
21tariff filed pursuant to this subsection (d) may also include
22other just and reasonable terms and conditions and shall
23provide for the recovery of prudently incurred costs associated
24with the provision of service pursuant to this subsection (d).
25The costs associated with the provision of service pursuant to
26this Section shall be subject to periodic Commission review.

 

 

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1    (e) An electric utility with more than 100,000 customers in
2this State shall file a tariff pursuant to Article IX of this
3Act that provides alternative retail electric suppliers, and
4electric utilities other than the electric utility in whose
5service area the retail customers are located, with the option
6to have the electric utility purchase 2 billing cycles worth of
7uncollectible receivables for power and energy service
8provided to residential retail customers and to
9non-residential retail customers with a non-coincident peak
10demand of less than 400 kilowatts upon returning that customer
11to that electric utility for delivery and energy service after
12that alternative retail electric supplier, or an electric
13utility other than the electric utility in whose service area
14the retail customer is located, has made reasonable collection
15efforts on that account. Uncollectible receivables for power
16and energy service of alternative retail electric suppliers, or
17electric utilities other than the electric utility in whose
18service area the retail customers are located, shall be
19purchased by the electric utility at a just and reasonable
20discount rate to be reviewed and approved by the Commission,
21after notice and hearing. The discount rate shall be based on
22the electric utility's historical bad debt for receivables that
23are outstanding for a similar length of time and any reasonable
24start-up costs and administrative costs associated with the
25electric utility's purchase of receivables. The discounted
26rate for purchase of uncollectible receivables shall be

 

 

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1included in the tariff filed pursuant to this subsection (e).
2The electric utility retains the right to impose the same terms
3on these retail customers with respect to credit and
4collection, including requests for deposits, and retains the
5right to disconnect these retail customers, if it does not
6receive payment for its tariffed services or purchased
7receivables, in the same manner that it would be permitted to
8if the retail customers had purchased power and energy from the
9electric utility. The tariff filed pursuant to this subsection
10(e) shall permit the electric utility to recover from retail
11customers any uncollectable receivables that may arise as a
12result of the purchase of uncollectible receivables under this
13subsection (e), may also include other just and reasonable
14terms and conditions, and shall provide for the prudently
15incurred costs associated with the provision of this service
16pursuant to this subsection (e). Nothing in this subsection (e)
17permits the double recovery of utility bad debt expenses from
18customers. The electric utility may file a joint tariff for
19this subsection (e) and subsection (c) of this Section.
20    (f) Every alternative retail electric supplier or electric
21utility other than the electric utility in whose service area
22retail customers are located that issues single bills to the
23retail customers for the services provided by the alternative
24retail electric supplier or other electric utility to the
25customers shall include on the single bills issued to
26residential customers the current utility electric supply

 

 

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1price to compare that would apply to the customer for the
2billing period if the customer obtained supply from the
3utility. The current utility electric supply price shall be the
4sum of the electric supply charge and the transmission services
5charge and shall disclose that the price does not include the
6monthly purchased electricity adjustment.
7    (g) Every electric utility that provides delivery and
8supply services shall include on each bill issued to
9residential customers who obtain supply from an alternative
10retail electric supplier the current utility electric supply
11price to compare that would apply to the customer for the
12billing period if the customer obtained supply from the
13utility. The current utility electric supply price to compare
14shall be the sum of the electric supply charge and the
15transmission services charge and shall disclose that the price
16does not include the monthly purchased electricity adjustment.
17(Source: P.A. 95-700, eff. 11-9-07.)
 
18    (220 ILCS 5/16-123)
19    Sec. 16-123. Establishment of customer information centers
20for electric utilities and alternative retail electric
21suppliers.
22    (a) All electric utilities and alternative retail electric
23suppliers shall be required to maintain a customer call center
24where customers can reach a representative and receive current
25information. Customers shall periodically be notified on how to

 

 

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1reach the call center. The Commission shall have the authority
2to establish reporting requirements for such centers.
3    (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, an electric
4utility may:
5        (1) disclose the current utility electric supply price
6    to a retail customer who takes electric power and energy
7    supply service from an alternative retail electric
8    supplier;
9        (2) disclose the supply price the customer is paying as
10    reflected on the customer's bill, if known;
11        (3) furnish to a retail customer a list of frequently
12    asked questions to be used by the retail customer in
13    evaluating electric power and energy supply rate offers by
14    alternative retail electric suppliers; this list may
15    include, but is not limited to, the following:
16            (A) length of the contract;
17            (B) the price per kilowatt hour, and whether the
18        contract price is fixed or variable, and if variable,
19        the circumstances under which the rate may change;
20            (C) whether penalties or early termination fees
21        apply if the customer terminates the contract before
22        the expiration of its term; and
23            (D) whether the customer may be subject to any
24        other adjustments, penalties, surcharges, or costs
25        beyond the electric power and energy supply rate;
26        (4) provide to a retail customer education information

 

 

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1    published by the Office of Retail Market Development and
2    the Office of the Attorney General regarding the selection
3    and evaluation of electric power and energy supply rate
4    offers by alternative retail electric suppliers; and
5        (5) place a restriction on a retail customer's account,
6    at the customer's request, that prohibits any switching of
7    the customer's electric power and energy supply service to
8    an alternative retail electric supplier; the restriction
9    shall only be removed at the customer's express direction.
10(Source: P.A. 90-561, eff. 12-16-97.)
 
11    (220 ILCS 5/19-115)
12    Sec. 19-115. Obligations of alternative gas suppliers.
13    (a) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to
14alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve
15residential or small commercial customers and only to the
16extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to
17residential or small commercial customers.
18    (b) An alternative gas supplier shall:
19        (1) shall comply with the requirements imposed on
20    public utilities by Sections 8-201 through 8-207, 8-301,
21    8-505 and 8-507 of this Act, to the extent that these
22    Sections have application to the services being offered by
23    the alternative gas supplier;
24        (2) shall continue to comply with the requirements for
25    certification stated in Section 19-110;

 

 

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1        (3) shall comply with complaint procedures established
2    by the Commission;
3        (4) except as provided in subsection (h) of this
4    Section, shall file with the Chief Clerk of the Commission,
5    within 20 business days after the effective date of this
6    amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, a copy of bill
7    formats, standard customer contract and customer complaint
8    and resolution procedures, and the name and telephone
9    number of the company representative whom Commission
10    employees may contact to resolve customer complaints and
11    other matters. In the case of a gas supplier that engages
12    in door-to-door solicitation, the company shall file with
13    the Commission the consumer information disclosure
14    required by item (3) of subsection (c) of Section 2DDD of
15    the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and
16    shall file updated information within 10 business days
17    after changes in any of the documents or information
18    required to be filed by this item (4); and
19        (5) shall maintain a customer call center where
20    customers can reach a representative and receive current
21    information. At least once every 6 months, each alternative
22    gas supplier shall provide written information to
23    customers explaining how to contact the call center. The
24    average answer time for calls placed to the call center
25    shall not exceed 60 seconds where a representative or
26    automated system is ready to render assistance and/or

 

 

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1    accept information to process calls. The abandon rate for
2    calls placed to the call center shall not exceed 10%. Each
3    alternative gas supplier shall maintain records of the call
4    center's telephone answer time performance and abandon
5    call rate. These records shall be kept for a minimum of 2
6    years and shall be made available to Commission personnel
7    upon request. In the event that answer times and/or abandon
8    rates exceed the limits established above, the reporting
9    alternative gas supplier may provide the Commission or its
10    personnel with explanatory details. At a minimum, these
11    records shall contain the following information in monthly
12    increments:
13            (A) total number of calls received;
14            (B) number of calls answered;
15            (C) average answer time;
16            (D) number of abandoned calls; and
17            (E) abandon call rate.
18        Alternative gas suppliers that do not have electronic
19    answering capability that meets these requirements shall
20    notify the Manager of the Commission's Consumer Services
21    Division or its successor within 30 days following the
22    effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General
23    Assembly and work with Staff to develop individualized
24    reporting requirements as to the call volume and
25    responsiveness of the call center.
26        On or before March 1 of every year, each entity shall

 

 

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1    file a report with the Chief Clerk of the Commission for
2    the preceding calendar year on its answer time and abandon
3    call rate for its call center. A copy of the report shall
4    be sent to the Manager of the Consumer Services Division or
5    its successor; .
6        (6) beginning January 1, 2020 and every January 1
7    thereafter, shall submit to the Commission and the Office
8    of the Attorney General the rates the retail gas supplier
9    charged to residential customers in the prior quarter,
10    including each distinct rate charged and whether the rate
11    was a fixed or variable rate, the basis for the variable
12    rate, and any fees charged in addition to the supply rate,
13    including monthly fees, flat fees, or other service
14    charges; and
15        (7) shall make publicly available on its website,
16    without the need for a customer login, rate information for
17    all of its variable, time-of-use, and fixed rate contracts
18    currently available to residential customers, including
19    but not limited to, fixed monthly charges, early
20    termination fees, and per therm charges.
21    (c) An alternative gas supplier shall not submit or execute
22a change in a customer's selection of a natural gas provider
23unless and until (i) the alternative gas supplier first
24discloses all material terms and conditions of the offer,
25including price, to the customer; (ii) the alternative gas
26supplier has obtained the customer's express agreement to

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 22 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1accept the offer after the disclosure of all material terms and
2conditions of the offer; and (iii) the alternative gas supplier
3has confirmed the request for a change in accordance with one
4of the following procedures:
5        (1) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the
6    customer's written or electronically signed authorization
7    in a form that meets the following requirements:
8            (A) An alternative gas supplier shall obtain any
9        necessary written or electronically signed
10        authorization from a customer for a change in natural
11        gas service by using a letter of agency as specified in
12        this Section. Any letter of agency that does not
13        conform with this Section is invalid.
14            (B) The letter of agency shall be a separate
15        document (or an easily separable document containing
16        only the authorization language described in item (E)
17        of this paragraph (1)) whose sole purpose is to
18        authorize a natural gas provider change. The letter of
19        agency must be signed and dated by the customer
20        requesting the natural gas provider change.
21            (C) The letter of agency shall not be combined with
22        inducements of any kind on the same document.
23            (D) Notwithstanding items (A) and (B) of this
24        paragraph (1), the letter of agency may be combined
25        with checks that contain only the required letter of
26        agency language prescribed in item (E) of this

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 23 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1        paragraph (1) and the necessary information to make the
2        check a negotiable instrument. The letter of agency
3        check shall not contain any promotional language or
4        material. The letter of agency check shall contain in
5        easily readable, bold face type on the face of the
6        check a notice that the consumer is authorizing a
7        natural gas provider change by signing the check. The
8        letter of agency language also shall be placed near the
9        signature line on the back of the check.
10            (E) At a minimum, the letter of agency must be
11        printed with a print of sufficient size to be clearly
12        legible and must contain clear and unambiguous
13        language that confirms:
14                (i) the customer's billing name and address;
15                (ii) the decision to change the natural gas
16            provider from the current provider to the
17            prospective alternative gas supplier;
18                (iii) the terms, conditions, and nature of the
19            service to be provided to the customer, including,
20            but not limited to, the rates for the service
21            contracted for by the customer; and
22                (iv) that the customer understands that any
23            natural gas provider selection the customer
24            chooses may involve a charge to the customer for
25            changing the customer's natural gas provider.
26            (F) Letters of agency shall not suggest or require

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 24 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1        that a customer take some action in order to retain the
2        customer's current natural gas provider.
3            (G) If any portion of a letter of agency is
4        translated into another language, then all portions of
5        the letter of agency must be translated into that
6        language.
7        (2) An appropriately qualified independent third party
8    has obtained, in accordance with the procedures set forth
9    in this paragraph (2), the customer's oral authorization to
10    change natural gas providers that confirms and includes
11    appropriate verification data. The independent third party
12    must (i) not be owned, managed, controlled, or directed by
13    the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas
14    supplier's marketing agent; (ii) not have any financial
15    incentive to confirm provider change requests for the
16    alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's
17    marketing agent; and (iii) operate in a location physically
18    separate from the alternative gas supplier or the
19    alternative gas supplier's marketing agent. Automated
20    third-party verification systems and 3-way conference
21    calls may be used for verification purposes so long as the
22    other requirements of this paragraph (2) are satisfied. An
23    alternative gas supplier or alternative gas supplier's
24    sales representative initiating a 3-way conference call or
25    a call through an automated verification system must drop
26    off the call once the 3-way connection has been

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 25 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1    established. All third-party verification methods shall
2    elicit, at a minimum, the following information:
3            (A) the identity of the customer;
4            (B) confirmation that the person on the call is
5        authorized to make the provider change;
6            (C) confirmation that the person on the call wants
7        to make the provider change;
8            (D) the names of the providers affected by the
9        change;
10            (E) the service address of the service to be
11        switched; and
12            (F) the price of the service to be provided and the
13        material terms and conditions of the service being
14        offered, including whether any early termination fees
15        apply.
16        Third-party verifiers may not market the alternative
17    gas supplier's services by providing additional
18    information. All third-party verifications shall be
19    conducted in the same language that was used in the
20    underlying sales transaction and shall be recorded in their
21    entirety. Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall
22    maintain and preserve audio records of verification of
23    customer authorization for a minimum period of 2 years
24    after obtaining the verification. Automated systems must
25    provide customers with an option to speak with a live
26    person at any time during the call.

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 26 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1        (3) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the
2    customer's authorization via an automated verification
3    system to change natural gas service via telephone. An
4    automated verification system is an electronic system
5    that, through pre-recorded prompts, elicits voice
6    responses, touchtone responses, or both, from the customer
7    and records both the prompts and the customer's responses.
8    Such authorization must elicit the information in
9    paragraph (2)(A) through (F) of this subsection (c).
10    Alternative gas suppliers electing to confirm sales
11    electronically through an automated verification system
12    shall establish one or more toll-free telephone numbers
13    exclusively for that purpose. Calls to the number or
14    numbers shall connect a customer to a voice response unit,
15    or similar mechanism, that makes a date-stamped,
16    time-stamped recording of the required information
17    regarding the alternative gas supplier change.
18        The alternative gas supplier shall not use such
19    electronic authorization systems to market its services.
20        (4) When a consumer initiates the call to the
21    prospective alternative gas supplier, in order to enroll
22    the consumer as a customer, the prospective alternative gas
23    supplier must, with the consent of the customer, make a
24    date-stamped, time-stamped audio recording that elicits,
25    at a minimum, the following information:
26            (A) the identity of the customer;

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 27 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1            (B) confirmation that the person on the call is
2        authorized to make the provider change;
3            (C) confirmation that the person on the call wants
4        to make the provider change;
5            (D) the names of the providers affected by the
6        change;
7            (E) the service address of the service to be
8        switched; and
9            (F) the price of the service to be supplied and the
10        material terms and conditions of the service being
11        offered, including whether any early termination fees
12        apply.
13        Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall maintain
14    and preserve the audio records containing the information
15    set forth above for a minimum period of 2 years.
16        (5) In the event that a customer enrolls for service
17    from an alternative gas supplier via an Internet website,
18    the alternative gas supplier shall obtain an
19    electronically signed letter of agency in accordance with
20    paragraph (1) of this subsection (c) and any customer
21    information shall be protected in accordance with all
22    applicable statutes and regulations. In addition, an
23    alternative gas supplier shall provide the following when
24    marketing via an Internet website:
25            (A) The Internet enrollment website shall, at a
26        minimum, include:

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 28 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1                (i) a copy of the alternative gas supplier's
2            customer contract that clearly and conspicuously
3            discloses all terms and conditions; and
4                (ii) a conspicuous prompt for the customer to
5            print or save a copy of the contract.
6            (B) Any electronic version of the contract shall be
7        identified by version number, in order to ensure the
8        ability to verify the particular contract to which the
9        customer assents.
10            (C) Throughout the duration of the alternative gas
11        supplier's contract with a customer, the alternative
12        gas supplier shall retain and, within 3 business days
13        of the customer's request, provide to the customer an
14        e-mail, paper, or facsimile of the terms and conditions
15        of the numbered contract version to which the customer
16        assents.
17            (D) The alternative gas supplier shall provide a
18        mechanism by which both the submission and receipt of
19        the electronic letter of agency are recorded by time
20        and date.
21            (E) After the customer completes the electronic
22        letter of agency, the alternative gas supplier shall
23        disclose conspicuously through its website that the
24        customer has been enrolled, and the alternative gas
25        supplier shall provide the customer an enrollment
26        confirmation number.

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 29 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1        (6) When a customer is solicited in person by the
2    alternative gas supplier's sales agent, the alternative
3    gas supplier may only obtain the customer's authorization
4    to change natural gas service through the method provided
5    for in paragraph (2) of this subsection (c).
6    Alternative gas suppliers must be in compliance with this
7subsection (c) within 90 days after the effective date of this
8amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly.
9    (d) Complaints may be filed with the Commission under this
10Section by a customer whose natural gas service has been
11provided by an alternative gas supplier in a manner not in
12compliance with subsection (c) of this Section. If, after
13notice and hearing, the Commission finds that an alternative
14gas supplier has violated subsection (c), then the Commission
15may in its discretion do any one or more of the following:
16        (1) Require the violating alternative gas supplier to
17    refund the customer charges collected in excess of those
18    that would have been charged by the customer's authorized
19    natural gas provider.
20        (2) Require the violating alternative gas supplier to
21    pay to the customer's authorized natural gas provider the
22    amount the authorized natural gas provider would have
23    collected for natural gas service. The Commission is
24    authorized to reduce this payment by any amount already
25    paid by the violating alternative gas supplier to the
26    customer's authorized natural gas provider.

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 30 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1        (3) Require the violating alternative gas supplier to
2    pay a fine of up to $1,000 into the Public Utility Fund for
3    each repeated and intentional violation of this Section.
4        (4) Issue a cease and desist order.
5        (5) For a pattern of violation of this Section or for
6    intentionally violating a cease and desist order, revoke
7    the violating alternative gas supplier's certificate of
8    service authority.
9    (e) No alternative gas supplier shall:
10        (1) enter into or employ any arrangements which have
11    the effect of preventing any customer from having access to
12    the services of the gas utility in whose service area the
13    customer is located;
14        (2) charge customers for such access;
15        (3) bill for goods or services not authorized by the
16    customer; or
17        (4) bill for a disputed amount where the alternative
18    gas supplier has been provided notice of such dispute. The
19    supplier shall attempt to resolve a dispute with the
20    customer. When the dispute is not resolved to the
21    customer's satisfaction, the supplier shall inform the
22    customer of the right to file an informal complaint with
23    the Commission and provide contact information. While the
24    pending dispute is active at the Commission, an alternative
25    gas supplier may bill only for the undisputed amount until
26    the Commission has taken final action on the complaint.

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 31 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1    (f) An alternative gas supplier that is certified to serve
2residential or small commercial customers shall not:
3        (1) deny service to a customer or group of customers
4    nor establish any differences as to prices, terms,
5    conditions, services, products, facilities, or in any
6    other respect, whereby such denial or differences are based
7    upon race, gender, or income, except as provided in Section
8    19-116;
9        (2) deny service based on locality, nor establish any
10    unreasonable difference as to prices, terms, conditions,
11    services, products, or facilities as between localities;
12        (3) include in any agreement a provision that obligates
13    a customer to the terms of the agreement if the customer
14    (i) moves outside the State of Illinois; (ii) moves to a
15    location without a transportation service program; or
16    (iii) moves to a location where the customer will not
17    require natural gas service, provided that nothing in this
18    subsection precludes an alternative gas supplier from
19    taking any action otherwise available to it to collect a
20    debt that arises out of service provided to the customer
21    before the customer moved; or
22        (4) assign the agreement to any alternative natural gas
23    supplier, unless:
24            (A) the supplier is an alternative gas supplier
25        certified by the Commission;
26            (B) the rates, terms, and conditions of the

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 32 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1        agreement being assigned do not change during the
2        remainder of the time covered by the agreement;
3            (C) the customer is given no less than 30 days
4        prior written notice of the assignment and contact
5        information for the new supplier; and
6            (D) the supplier assigning the contract provides
7        contact information that a customer can use to resolve
8        a dispute.
9    (g) An alternative gas supplier shall comply with the
10following requirements with respect to the marketing,
11offering, and provision of products or services:
12        (1) All Any marketing materials, including, but not
13    limited to, electronic marketing materials, in-person
14    solicitations, and telephone solicitations which make
15    statements concerning prices, terms, and conditions of
16    service shall contain information that adequately
17    discloses the prices, terms and conditions of the products
18    or services and shall disclose the utility gas supply cost
19    rates per therm price to compare available from the
20    Illinois Commerce Commission website applicable at the
21    time the alternative retail gas supplier is offering or
22    selling the products or services to the customer. All
23    marketing materials, including, but not limited to,
24    electronic marketing materials, in-person solicitations,
25    and telephone solicitations, shall include the following
26    statement: .

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 33 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1            "(Name of the alternative retail gas supplier) is
2        not the same entity as your gas delivery company. You
3        are not required to enroll with (name of alternative
4        retail gas supplier). On (effective date), the utility
5        gas supply cost rate per therm is (cost). The utility
6        gas supply cost will expire on (expiration date). For
7        more information go to the Illinois Commerce
8        Commission's free website at
9        www.icc.illinois.gov/ags/consumereducation.aspx.".
10        This paragraph (1) does not apply to goodwill or
11    institutional advertising.
12        (2) Before any customer is switched from another
13    supplier, the alternative gas supplier shall give the
14    customer written information that clearly and
15    conspicuously discloses, in plain language, the prices,
16    terms, and conditions of the products and services being
17    offered and sold to the customer. Nothing in this paragraph
18    (2) may be read to relieve an alternative gas supplier from
19    the duties imposed on it by item (3) of subsection (c) of
20    Section 2DDD of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business
21    Practices Act.
22        (3) The alternative gas supplier shall provide to the
23    customer:
24            (A) accurate, timely, and itemized billing
25        statements that describe the products and services
26        provided to the customer and their prices and that

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 34 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1        specify the gas consumption amount and any service
2        charges and taxes; provided that this item (g)(3)(A)
3        does not apply to small commercial customers;
4            (B) billing statements that clearly and
5        conspicuously discloses the name and contact
6        information for the alternative gas supplier;
7            (C) an additional statement, at least annually,
8        that adequately discloses the average monthly prices,
9        and the terms and conditions, of the products and
10        services sold to the customer; provided that this item
11        (g)(3)(C) does not apply to small commercial
12        customers;
13            (D) refunds of any deposits with interest within 30
14        days after the date that the customer changes gas
15        suppliers or discontinues service if the customer has
16        satisfied all of his or her outstanding financial
17        obligations to the alternative gas supplier at an
18        interest rate set by the Commission which shall be the
19        same as that required of gas utilities; and
20            (E) refunds, in a timely fashion, of all undisputed
21        overpayments upon the oral or written request of the
22        customer.
23        (4) An alternative gas supplier and its sales agents
24    shall refrain from any direct marketing or soliciting to
25    consumers on the gas utility's "Do Not Contact List", which
26    the alternative gas supplier shall obtain on the 15th

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 35 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1    calendar day of the month from the gas utility in whose
2    service area the consumer is provided with gas service. If
3    the 15th calendar day is a non-business day, then the
4    alternative gas supplier shall obtain the list on the next
5    business day following the 15th calendar day of that month.
6        (5) Early Termination.
7            (A) Any agreement that contains an early
8        termination clause shall disclose the amount of the
9        early termination fee, provided that any early
10        termination fee or penalty shall not exceed $50 total,
11        regardless of whether or not the agreement is a
12        multiyear agreement.
13            (B) In any agreement that contains an early
14        termination clause, an alternative gas supplier shall
15        provide the customer the opportunity to terminate the
16        agreement without any termination fee or penalty
17        within 10 business days after the date of the first
18        bill issued to the customer for products or services
19        provided by the alternative gas supplier. The
20        agreement shall disclose the opportunity and provide a
21        toll-free phone number that the customer may call in
22        order to terminate the agreement.
23        (6) Within 2 business days after electronic receipt of
24    a customer switch from the alternative gas supplier and
25    confirmation of eligibility, the gas utility shall provide
26    the customer written notice confirming the switch. The gas

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 36 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1    utility shall not switch the service until 10 business days
2    after the date on the notice to the customer.
3        (7) The alternative gas supplier shall provide each
4    customer the opportunity to rescind its agreement without
5    penalty within 10 business days after the date on the gas
6    utility notice to the customer. The alternative gas
7    supplier shall disclose all of the following:
8            (A) that the gas utility shall send a notice
9        confirming the switch;
10            (B) that from the date the utility issues the
11        notice confirming the switch, the customer shall have
12        10 business days to rescind the switch without penalty;
13            (C) that the customer shall contact the gas utility
14        or the alternative gas supplier to rescind the switch;
15        and
16            (D) the contact information for the gas utility.
17        The alternative gas supplier disclosure shall be
18    included in its sales solicitations, contracts, and all
19    applicable sales verification scripts.
20        (8) All solicitations shall be conducted in,
21    translated into, and provided in a language in which the
22    customer subject to the marketing or solicitation is able
23    to understand and communicate. An alternative retail gas
24    supplier shall not solicit an enrollment of or enroll any
25    customer if the alternative gas supplier is unable to
26    communicate and provide marketing materials in a language

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 37 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1    in which the customer subject to the marketing or
2    solicitation is able to understand and communicate.
3    (h) An alternative gas supplier may limit the overall size
4or availability of a service offering by specifying one or more
5of the following:
6        (1) a maximum number of customers and maximum amount of
7    gas load to be served;
8        (2) time period during which the offering will be
9    available; or
10        (3) other comparable limitation, but not including the
11    geographic locations of customers within the area which the
12    alternative gas supplier is certificated to serve.
13    The alternative gas supplier shall file the terms and
14conditions of such service offering including the applicable
15limitations with the Commission prior to making the service
16offering available to customers.
17    (i) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as
18preventing an alternative gas supplier that is an affiliate of,
19or which contracts with, (i) an industry or trade organization
20or association, (ii) a membership organization or association
21that exists for a purpose other than the purchase of gas, or
22(iii) another organization that meets criteria established in a
23rule adopted by the Commission from offering through the
24organization or association services at prices, terms and
25conditions that are available solely to the members of the
26organization or association.

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 38 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09.)
 
2    (220 ILCS 5/19-116 new)
3    Sec. 19-116. Alternative retail gas supplier utility
4assistance recipient.
5    (a) Beginning January 1, 2020, an alternative retail gas
6supplier shall not knowingly submit an enrollment to change a
7customer's gas supply service if the gas utility's records
8indicate that the customer received financial assistance in the
9last 12 months from either the Low Income Home Energy
10Assistance Program or, at the time of enrollment, is
11participating in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan, unless:
12(1) the customer's change in gas supply service is pursuant to
13a government aggregation program adopted in accordance with
14Section 1-92 of the Illinois Power Agency Act; or (2) the
15customer's change in gas supply service is pursuant to a
16Commission-approved savings guarantee plan as described in
17subsection (b).
18    (b) Beginning July 1, 2020, an alternative retail gas
19supplier may apply to the Commission to offer a savings
20guarantee plan to recipients of the Low Income Home Energy
21Assistance Program or Percentage of Income Payment Plan
22funding. The Commission shall initiate a public, docketed
23proceeding to consider whether or not to approve an alternative
24retail gas supplier's application to offer a savings guarantee
25plan. At a minimum, the savings guarantee plan shall charge

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 39 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1customers for gas supply at an amount that is less than the gas
2utility supply rate. The Commission shall adopt rules to
3implement this subsection (b).
4    (c) An agreement entered into between an alternative retail
5gas supplier and a consumer who received financial assistance
6in the last 12 months from the Low Income Home Energy
7Assistance Program or at the time of enrollment is
8participating in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan is void
9and unenforceable. Before the gas utility executes a change in
10a customer's supplier, other than a change pursuant to a
11government aggregation program adopted in accordance with
12Section 1-92 of the Illinois Power Agency or pursuant to a
13Commission-approved savings guarantee plan as described in
14subsection (b), the gas utility shall confirm at the time of
15the request that its records do not indicate that the customer
16received financial assistance within the preceding 12 months
17from either the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or
18the Percentage of Income Payment Plan and, if its records so
19indicate, shall reject the change request. Absent willful or
20wanton misconduct, no gas utility shall be held liable for any
21error in acting or failing to act pursuant to this Section.
 
22    (220 ILCS 5/19-130)
23    Sec. 19-130. Commission study and report. The Commission's
24Office of Retail Market Development shall prepare an annual
25report regarding the development of competitive retail natural

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 40 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1gas markets in Illinois. The Office shall monitor existing
2competitive conditions in Illinois, identify barriers to
3retail competition for all customer classes, and actively
4explore and propose to the Commission and to the General
5Assembly solutions to overcome identified barriers. Solutions
6proposed by the Office to promote retail competition must also
7promote safe, reliable, and affordable natural gas service.
8    On or before October 1 of each year, beginning in 2015, the
9Director shall submit a report to the Commission, the General
10Assembly, and the Governor, that includes, at a minimum, the
11following information:
12        (1) an analysis of the status and development of the
13    retail natural gas market in the State of Illinois; and
14        (2) a discussion of any identified barriers to the
15    development of competitive retail natural gas markets in
16    Illinois and proposed solutions to overcome identified
17    barriers; and
18        (3) any other information the Office considers
19    significant in assessing the development of natural gas
20    markets in the State of Illinois.
21    Beginning in 2021, the report shall also include the
22information submitted to the Commission pursuant to paragraph
23(6) of subsection (b) of Section 19-115.
24(Source: P.A. 97-223, eff. 1-1-12; 98-1121, eff. 8-26-14.)
 
25    (220 ILCS 5/19-135)

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 41 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1    Sec. 19-135. Single billing.
2    (a) It is the intent of the General Assembly that in any
3service area where customers are able to choose their natural
4gas supplier, a single billing option shall be offered to
5customers for both the services provided by the alternative gas
6supplier and the delivery services provided by the gas utility.
7A gas utility shall file a tariff pursuant to Article IX of
8this Act that allows alternative gas suppliers to issue single
9bills to residential and small commercial customers for both
10the services provided by the alternative gas supplier and the
11delivery services provided by the gas utility to customers;
12provided that if a form of single billing is being offered in a
13gas utility's service area on the effective date of this
14amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, that form of
15single billing shall remain in effect unless and until
16otherwise ordered by the Commission.
17    (b) Every alternative gas supplier that issues a single
18bill for delivery and supply shall include on the single bill
19issued to a residential customer the current utility gas supply
20cost rate per therm that would apply to the customer for the
21billing period if the customer obtained supply from the
22utility, including all fixed or monthly supply charges and
23other charges, credits, or rates that are part of the gas
24supply price.
25    (c) Every gas utility that offers supply choice and
26provides delivery and alternative gas supply service on a

 

 

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1single bill to its residential customers shall include on the
2bill of each residential customer who purchases supply services
3from an alternative gas supplier the total supply charge of the
4gas utility for the billing period that would apply to the
5customer for the billing period if the customer obtained supply
6from the utility, including all fixed or monthly supply charges
7and other charges, credits, or rates that are part of the gas
8supply price.
9(Source: P.A. 92-852, eff. 8-26-02.)
 
10    (220 ILCS 5/20-110)
11    Sec. 20-110. Office of Retail Market Development. Within 90
12days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
1394th General Assembly, subject to appropriation, the
14Commission shall establish an Office of Retail Market
15Development and employ on its staff a Director of Retail Market
16Development to oversee the Office. The Director shall have
17authority to employ or otherwise retain at least 2
18professionals dedicated to the task of actively seeking out
19ways to promote retail competition in Illinois to benefit all
20Illinois consumers.
21    The Office shall actively seek input from all interested
22parties and shall develop a thorough understanding and critical
23analyses of the tools and techniques used to promote retail
24competition in other states.
25    The Office shall monitor existing competitive conditions

 

 

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1in Illinois, identify barriers to retail competition for all
2customer classes, and actively explore and propose to the
3Commission and to the General Assembly solutions to overcome
4identified barriers. The Director may include municipal
5aggregation of customers and creating and designing customer
6choice programs as tools for retail market development.
7Solutions proposed by the Office to promote retail competition
8must also promote safe, reliable, and affordable electric
9service.
10    On or before June 30 of each year, the Director shall
11submit a report to the Commission, the General Assembly, and
12the Governor, that details specific accomplishments achieved
13by the Office in the prior 12 months in promoting retail
14electric competition and that suggests administrative and
15legislative action necessary to promote further improvements
16in retail electric competition. On or before June 30, 2021 and
17every year thereafter, the report shall include the information
18submitted to the Commission pursuant to paragraph (iii) of
19subsection (a) of Section 16-115A.
20(Source: P.A. 94-1095, eff. 2-2-07.)
 
21    Section 10. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business
22Practices Act is amended by changing Sections 2EE and 2DDD as
23follows:
 
24    (815 ILCS 505/2EE)

 

 

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1    Sec. 2EE. Alternative retail electric supplier Electric
2service provider selection.
3    (a) An alternative retail electric supplier electric
4service provider shall not submit or execute a change in a
5consumer's subscriber's selection of a provider of electric
6service unless and until:
7        (i) the alternative retail electric supplier provider
8    first discloses all material terms and conditions of the
9    offer to the consumer subscriber;
10        (ii) the alternative retail electric supplier
11    discloses the utility electric supply price to compare,
12    which shall be the sum of the electric supply charge and
13    the transmission services charge, and shall not include the
14    purchased electricity adjustment, applicable at the time
15    the offer is made to the consumer;
16        (iii) the alternative retail electric provider
17    discloses the following statement:
18            "(Name of the alternative retail electric
19        supplier) is not the same entity as your electric
20        delivery company. You are not required to enroll with
21        (name of alternative retail electric supplier). As of
22        (effective date), the electric supply price to compare
23        is currently (price in cents per kilowatt hour). The
24        electric utility electric supply price will expire on
25        (expiration date). The utility electric supply price
26        to compare does not include the purchased electricity

 

 

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1        adjustment factor that may range between +.5 cents and -
2        .5 cents per kilowatt hour. For more information go to
3        the Illinois Commerce Commission's free website at
4        www.pluginillinois.org.";
5        (iv) the alternative retail electric supplier has
6    obtained the consumer's express agreement to accept the
7    offer after the disclosure of all material terms and
8    conditions of the offer; and
9        (v) the alternative retail electric supplier has
10    confirmed the request for a change in accordance with one
11    of the following procedures: (ii) the provider has obtained
12    the subscriber's express agreement to accept the offer
13    after the disclosure of all material terms and conditions
14    of the offer; and (iii) the provider has confirmed the
15    request for a change in accordance with one of the
16    following procedures:
17            (A) (a) The new alternative retail electric
18        supplier electric service provider has obtained the
19        consumer's subscriber's written or electronically
20        signed authorization in a form that meets the following
21        requirements:
22                (1) An alternative retail electric supplier
23            electric service provider shall obtain any
24            necessary written or electronically signed
25            authorization from a consumer subscriber for a
26            change in electric service by using a letter of

 

 

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1            agency as specified in this Section. Any letter of
2            agency that does not conform with this Section is
3            invalid.
4                (2) The letter of agency shall be a separate
5            document (an easily separable document containing
6            only the authorization language described in
7            subparagraph (5) (a)(5) of this Section) whose
8            sole purpose is to authorize an electric service
9            provider change. The letter of agency must be
10            signed and dated by the consumer subscriber
11            requesting the electric service provider change.
12                (3) The letter of agency shall not be combined
13            with inducements of any kind on the same document.
14                (4) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (1) (a)(1)
15            and (2) (a)(2) of this Section, the letter of
16            agency may be combined with checks that contain
17            only the required letter of agency language
18            prescribed in subparagraph (5) (a)(5) of this
19            Section and the necessary information to make the
20            check a negotiable instrument. The letter of
21            agency check shall not contain any promotional
22            language or material. The letter of agency check
23            shall contain in easily readable, bold-face type
24            on the face of the check, a notice that the
25            consumer is authorizing an electric service
26            provider change by signing the check. The letter of

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 47 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1            agency language also shall be placed near the
2            signature line on the back of the check.
3                (5) At a minimum, the letter of agency must be
4            printed with a print of sufficient size to be
5            clearly legible, and must contain clear and
6            unambiguous language that confirms:
7                    (i) The consumer's subscriber's billing
8                name and address;
9                    (ii) The decision to change the electric
10                service provider from the current provider to
11                the prospective provider;
12                    (iii) The terms, conditions, and nature of
13                the service to be provided to the consumer
14                subscriber must be clearly and conspicuously
15                disclosed, in writing, and an alternative
16                retail electric supplier electric service
17                provider must directly establish the rates for
18                the service contracted for by the consumer
19                subscriber; and
20                    (iv) That the consumer subscriber
21                understand that any alternative retail
22                electric supplier electric service provider
23                selection the consumer subscriber chooses may
24                involve a charge to the consumer subscriber for
25                changing the consumer's subscriber's electric
26                service provider.

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 48 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1                (6) Letters of agency shall not suggest or
2            require that a consumer subscriber take some
3            action in order to retain the consumer's
4            subscriber's current electric service provider.
5                (7) If any portion of a letter of agency is
6            translated into another language, then all
7            portions of the letter of agency must be translated
8            into that language.
9            (B) (b) An appropriately qualified independent
10        third party has obtained, in accordance with the
11        procedures set forth in this subsection (b), the
12        consumer's subscriber's oral authorization to change
13        electric suppliers that confirms and includes
14        appropriate verification data. The independent third
15        party (i) must not be owned, managed, controlled, or
16        directed by the supplier or the supplier's marketing
17        agent; (ii) must not have any financial incentive to
18        confirm supplier change requests for the supplier or
19        the supplier's marketing agent; and (iii) must operate
20        in a location physically separate from the supplier or
21        the supplier's marketing agent.
22            Automated third-party verification systems and
23        3-way conference calls may be used for verification
24        purposes so long as the other requirements of this
25        subsection (b) are satisfied.
26            A supplier or supplier's sales representative

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 49 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1        initiating a 3-way conference call or a call through an
2        automated verification system must drop off the call
3        once the 3-way connection has been established.
4            All third-party verification methods shall elicit,
5        at a minimum, the following information: (i) the
6        identity of the consumer subscriber; (ii) confirmation
7        that the person on the call is authorized to make the
8        supplier change; (iii) confirmation that the person on
9        the call wants to make the supplier change; (iv) the
10        names of the suppliers affected by the change; (v) the
11        service address of the supply to be switched; and (vi)
12        the price of the service to be supplied and the
13        material terms and conditions of the service being
14        offered, including whether any early termination fees
15        apply. Third-party verifiers may not market the
16        supplier's services by providing additional
17        information, including information regarding
18        procedures to block or otherwise freeze an account
19        against further changes.
20            All third-party verifications shall be conducted
21        in the same language that was used in the underlying
22        sales transaction and shall be recorded in their
23        entirety. Submitting suppliers shall maintain and
24        preserve audio records of verification of subscriber
25        authorization for a minimum period of 2 years after
26        obtaining the verification. Automated systems must

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 50 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1        provide consumers with an option to speak with a live
2        person at any time during the call. Each disclosure
3        made during the third-party verification must be made
4        individually to obtain clear acknowledgment of each
5        disclosure. The alternative retail electric supplier
6        must be in a location where he or she cannot hear the
7        customer while the third-party verification is
8        conducted. The alternative retail electric supplier
9        shall not contact the customer after the third-party
10        verification for a period of 24 hours unless the
11        customer initiates the contact.
12            (C) (c) When a consumer subscriber initiates the
13        call to the prospective alternative retail electric
14        supplier electric supplier, in order to enroll the
15        consumer subscriber as a customer, the prospective
16        alternative retail electric supplier must, with the
17        consent of the customer, make a date-stamped,
18        time-stamped audio recording that elicits, at a
19        minimum, the following information:
20                (1) the identity of the customer subscriber;
21                (2) confirmation that the person on the call is
22            authorized to make the supplier change;
23                (3) confirmation that the person on the call
24            wants to make the supplier change;
25                (4) the names of the suppliers affected by the
26            change;

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 51 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1                (5) the service address of the supply to be
2            switched; and
3                (6) the price of the service to be supplied and
4            the material terms and conditions of the service
5            being offered, including whether any early
6            termination fees apply.
7            Submitting suppliers shall maintain and preserve
8        the audio records containing the information set forth
9        above for a minimum period of 2 years.
10    (b) An alternative retail electric supplier electric
11service provider also shall not submit or execute a change in a
12consumer's selection of a provider of electric service unless
13it complies with the following requirements of this subsection
14(b). It is a violation of this Section for an alternative
15retail electric supplier to fail to comply with this subsection
16(b).
17        (1) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
18    utilize the name of a public utility in any manner that is
19    deceptive or misleading, including, but not limited to,
20    implying or otherwise leading a customer to believe that an
21    alternative retail electric supplier is soliciting on
22    behalf of or is an agent of a utility. An alternative
23    retail electric supplier shall not utilize the name, or any
24    other identifying insignia, graphics, or wording that has
25    been used at any time to represent a public utility company
26    or its services, to identify, label, or define any of its

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 52 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1    electric power and energy service offers. An alternative
2    retail electric supplier that is an affiliate of an
3    Illinois public utility and that was doing business in
4    Illinois providing alternative retail electric service on
5    January 1, 2016 may continue to use that public utility's
6    name, logo, identifying insignia, graphics, or wording in
7    its business operations occurring outside the service
8    territory of the public utility with which it is
9    affiliated.
10        (2) During a solicitation, an alternative retail
11    electric supplier shall state that he or she represents an
12    independent seller of electric power and energy service
13    certified by the Illinois Commerce Commission and that he
14    or she is not employed by, representing, endorsed by, or
15    acting on behalf of, a utility, or a utility program, a
16    consumer group or consumer group program, or a governmental
17    body, unless the alternative retail electric supplier has
18    entered into a contractual arrangement with the
19    governmental body and has been authorized by the
20    governmental body to make the statements.
21        (3) Alternative retail electric suppliers who engage
22    in in-person solicitation for the purpose of selling
23    electric power and energy service offered by the
24    alternative retail electric supplier shall display
25    identification on an outer garment. This identification
26    shall be visible at all times and prominently display the

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 53 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1    following: (i) the alternative retail electric supplier
2    agent's full name in reasonable size font; (ii) an agent
3    identification number; (iii) a photograph of the
4    alternative retail electric supplier agent; and (iv) the
5    trade name and logo of the alternative retail electric
6    supplier the agent is representing. If the agent is selling
7    electric power and energy services from multiple
8    alternative retail electric supplier to the customer, the
9    identification shall display the trade name and logo of the
10    agent, broker, or consultant entity as that entity is
11    defined in Section 16-115C of the Public Utilities Act.
12        An alternative retail electric supplier agent shall
13    leave the premises at the customer's, owner's, or
14    occupant's request. The alternative retail electric
15    supplier agent shall, during the sales presentation to the
16    customer, verbally disclose all material terms and
17    conditions of the offer. A copy of the Uniform Disclosure
18    Statement described in 83 Ill. Adm. Code 412.115 and
19    412.Appendix A is to be left with the customer at the
20    conclusion of the visit unless a customer refuses to accept
21    a copy. An alternative retail electric supplier agent may
22    provide the Uniform Disclosure Statement electronically
23    instead of in paper form to a customer upon that customer's
24    request. The alternative retail electric supplier shall
25    also offer, at the time of the initiation of the
26    solicitation, a business card or other material that lists

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 54 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1    the agent's name, identification number and title, and the
2    alternative retail electric suppliers' name and contact
3    information, including telephone number. The alternative
4    retail electric supplier shall not conduct any in-person
5    solicitations at any building or premises where any sign,
6    notice, or declaration of any description whatsoever is
7    posted that prohibits sales, marketing, or solicitations.
8    The alternative retail electric supplier agent shall
9    obtain consent to enter multi-unit residential dwellings.
10    Consent obtained to enter a multi-unit dwelling from one
11    prospective customer or occupant of the dwelling shall not
12    constitute consent to market to any other prospective
13    customers in the dwelling without separate consent.
14        (4) An alternative retail electric supplier who
15    contacts customers by telephone for the purpose of selling
16    electric power and energy service shall provide the agent's
17    name and identification number. An alternative retail
18    electric supplier agent shall, during the sales
19    presentation to the customer, disclose all material terms
20    and conditions of the offer unless the sales presentation
21    is terminated by the customer before the disclosures are
22    completed. Any telemarketing solicitations that lead to a
23    telephone enrollment must be recorded and retained for a
24    minimum of 2 years. All telemarketing calls that do not
25    lead to a telephone enrollment, but last at least 2
26    minutes, shall be recorded and retained for a minimum of 6

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 55 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1    months.
2        (5) An alternative retail electric supplier shall
3    state that he or she represents an independent seller of
4    electric power and energy service certified by the Illinois
5    Commerce Commission. An alternative retail electric
6    supplier shall not state or otherwise imply that he or she
7    is employed by, representing, endorsed by, or acting on
8    behalf of a utility or a utility program, a consumer group
9    or consumer group program, or a governmental body, unless
10    the alternative retail electric supplier has entered into a
11    contractual arrangement with the governmental body and has
12    been authorized by the governmental body to make the
13    statements. The alternative retail electric supplier shall
14    verbally disclose all material terms and conditions of the
15    offer. All inbound enrollment calls that lead to an
16    enrollment shall be recorded, and the recordings shall be
17    retained for a minimum of 2 years. An inbound enrollment
18    call that does not lead to an enrollment, but lasts at
19    least 2 minutes, shall be retained for a minimum of 6
20    months. The alternative retail electric supplier shall
21    send the Uniform Disclosure Statement and contract to the
22    customer within 3 business days after the electric
23    utility's confirmation to the alternative retail electric
24    supplier of an accepted enrollment.
25        (6) If an alternative retail electric supplier
26    contacts customers for enrollment for electric power and

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 56 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1    energy service by direct mail, the direct mail material
2    shall include all material terms and conditions of the
3    products or services offered. Statements in direct mail
4    material shall not claim that the alternative retail
5    electric supplier represents, is endorsed by, or is acting
6    on behalf of a utility or a utility program, a consumer
7    group or program, or a governmental body or program, unless
8    the alternative retail electric supplier has entered into a
9    contractual arrangement with the governmental body and has
10    been authorized by the governmental body to make the
11    statements. If a direct mail solicitation includes a
12    written letter of agency, it shall include the Uniform
13    Disclosure Statement described in 83 Ill. Adm. Code 412.115
14    and 412.Appendix A. The Uniform Disclosure Statement shall
15    be provided on a separate page from the other marketing
16    materials included in the direct mail solicitation. If a
17    written letter of agency is being used to authorize a
18    customer's enrollment, the written letter of agency shall
19    comply with this Section. A copy of the contract must be
20    sent to the customer within 3 business days after the
21    electric utility's confirmation to the alternative retail
22    electric supplier of an accepted enrollment.
23        (7) Each alternative retail electric supplier offering
24    electric power and energy service to customers online shall
25    clearly and conspicuously make all disclosures for any
26    services offered through online enrollment before

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 57 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1    requiring the customer to enter any personal information
2    other than zip code, electric utility service territory, or
3    type of service sought. Alternative retail electric
4    suppliers' marketing material shall not make any
5    statements that it is a representative of, endorsed by, or
6    acting on behalf of, a utility or a utility program, a
7    consumer group or a program run by a consumer group, a
8    governmental body or a program run by a governmental body,
9    unless the alternative retail electric supplier has
10    entered into a contractual arrangement with the
11    governmental body and has been authorized by the
12    governmental body to make the statements. The Uniform
13    Disclosure Statement must be printable in a portable
14    document format (PDF) and shall be available
15    electronically to the customer. The enrollment website of
16    the alternative retail electric supplier shall, at a
17    minimum, include: (i) disclosure of all material terms and
18    conditions of the offer; (ii) a statement that electronic
19    acceptance of the terms and conditions is an agreement to
20    initiate service and begin enrollment; (iii) a statement
21    that the customer should review the contract or contact the
22    current supplier to learn if any early termination fees are
23    applicable; and (iv) an e-mail address and toll-free phone
24    number of the alternative retail electric supplier where
25    the customer can express a decision to rescind the
26    contract.

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 58 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1        (8) If an alternative retail electric supplier seeks to
2    renew a customer's contract, then at least 30 days, but no
3    more than 60 days, before the end of the current contract
4    term the alternative retail electric supplier shall
5    provide to the customer a written notice that includes a
6    side-by-side comparison of the rate the customer is being
7    charged pursuant to the current contract and the rate the
8    customer would be charged pursuant to the renewed contract.
9    An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
10    automatically renew a customer's enrollment after the
11    current term of the contract expires if the customer does
12    not expressly consent to the contract renewal in writing or
13    by electronic signature at least 30 days, but no more than
14    60 days, before the current contract term expires and (i)
15    the rate the customer would be charged pursuant to the
16    renewed contract is greater than the rate of the current
17    contract, or (ii) the current contract provides that the
18    customer will be charged a fixed rate and the renewed
19    contract provides the customer will be charged a variable
20    rate.
21        (9) All solicitations shall be conducted in,
22    translated into, and provided in a language in which the
23    customer subject to the marketing or solicitation is able
24    to understand and communicate. An alternative retail
25    electric supplier shall not solicit an enrollment of or
26    enroll any customer if the alternative retail electric

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 59 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1    supplier is unable to communicate and provide marketing
2    materials in a language in which the customer subject to
3    the marketing or solicitation is able to understand and
4    communicate and shall comply with Section 2N of this Act.
5        (10) Customers on a month-to-month variable rate or
6    time-of-use product shall have the right to terminate their
7    contract with the alternative retail electric supplier at
8    any time without any termination fee.
9        (11) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
10    submit a change to a customer's electric service provider
11    in violation of Section 16-115E of the Public Utilities
12    Act.
13    (c) (d) Complaints may be filed with the Illinois Commerce
14Commission under this Section by a consumer subscriber whose
15electric service has been provided by an alternative retail
16electric supplier electric service supplier in a manner not in
17compliance with this Section. If, after notice and hearing, the
18Commission finds that an alternative retail electric supplier
19electric service provider has violated this Section, the
20Commission may in its discretion do any one or more of the
21following:
22        (1) Require the violating alternative retail electric
23    supplier electric service provider to refund to the
24    consumer subscriber charges collected in excess of those
25    that would have been charged by the consumer's subscriber's
26    authorized electric service provider.

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 60 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1        (2) Require the violating alternative retail electric
2    supplier electric service provider to pay to the consumer's
3    subscriber's authorized electric service provider supplier
4    the amount the authorized electric service provider
5    electric supplier would have collected for the electric
6    service. The Commission is authorized to reduce this
7    payment by any amount already paid by the violating
8    alternative retail electric supplier electric supplier to
9    the consumer's subscriber's authorized provider for
10    electric service.
11        (3) Require the violating alternative retail electric
12    supplier subscriber to pay a fine of up to $1,000 into the
13    Public Utility Fund for each repeated and intentional
14    violation of this Section.
15        (4) Issue a cease and desist order.
16        (5) For a pattern of violation of this Section or for
17    intentionally violating a cease and desist order, revoke
18    the violating alternative retail electric supplier's
19    provider's certificate of service authority.
20    (d) (e) For purposes of this Section:
21    "Electric" , "electric service provider" shall have the
22meaning given that phrase in Section 6.5 of the Attorney
23General Act.
24    "Alternative retail electric supplier" has the meaning
25given to that term in Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities
26Act.

 

 

10100SB0651sam002- 61 -LRB101 04244 RJF 59909 a

1(Source: P.A. 95-700, eff. 11-9-07.)
 
2    (815 ILCS 505/2DDD)
3    Sec. 2DDD. Alternative gas suppliers.
4    (a) Definitions.
5        (1) "Alternative gas supplier" has the same meaning as
6    in Section 19-105 of the Public Utilities Act.
7        (2) "Gas utility" has the same meaning as in Section
8    19-105 of the Public Utilities Act.
9    (b) It is an unfair or deceptive act or practice within the
10meaning of Section 2 of this Act for any person to violate any
11provision of this Section.
12    (c) Solicitation.
13        (1) An alternative gas supplier shall not utilize the
14    name of a public utility in any manner that is deceptive or
15    misleading, including, but not limited to, implying or
16    otherwise leading a customer to believe that an alternative
17    retail gas supplier is soliciting on behalf of or is an
18    agent of a utility. An alternative retail gas supplier
19    shall not utilize the name, or any other identifying
20    insignia, graphics, or wording, that has been used at any
21    time to represent a public utility company or its services
22    or to identify, label, or define any of its electric power
23    and energy service offers and shall not misrepresent the
24    affiliation of any alternative supplier with the gas
25    utility, governmental bodies, or consumer groups.

 

 

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1        (2) If any sales solicitation, agreement, contract, or
2    verification is translated into another language and
3    provided to a customer, all of the documents must be
4    provided to the customer in that other language.
5        (2.3) An alternative retail gas supplier shall state
6    that it represents an independent seller of gas certified
7    by the Illinois Commerce Commission and that he or she is
8    not employed by, representing, endorsed by, or acting on
9    behalf of a utility, or a utility program.
10        (2.5) All solicitations shall be conducted in,
11    translated into, and provided in a language in which the
12    customer subject to the marketing or solicitation is able
13    to understand and communicate. An alternative retail
14    electric supplier shall not solicit an enrollment of or
15    enroll any customer if the alternative retail electric
16    supplier is unable to communicate and provide marketing
17    materials in a language in which the customer subject to
18    the marketing or solicitation is able to understand and
19    communicate and shall comply with Section 2N of this Act.
20        (3) An alternative gas supplier shall clearly and
21    conspicuously disclose the following information to all
22    customers:
23            (A) the prices, terms, and conditions of the
24        products and services being sold to the customer;
25            (B) where the solicitation occurs in person,
26        including through door-to-door solicitation, the

 

 

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1        salesperson's name;
2            (C) the alternative gas supplier's contact
3        information, including the address, phone number, and
4        website;
5            (D) contact information for the Illinois Commerce
6        Commission, including the toll-free number for
7        consumer complaints and website;
8            (E) a statement of the customer's right to rescind
9        the offer within 10 business days of the date on the
10        utility's notice confirming the customer's decision to
11        switch suppliers, as well as phone numbers for the
12        supplier and utility that the consumer may use to
13        rescind the contract; and
14            (F) the amount of the early termination fee, if
15        any; and .
16            (G) the utility gas supply cost rates per therm
17        price to compare available from the Illinois Commerce
18        Commission website applicable at the time the
19        alternative retail gas supplier is offering or selling
20        the products or services to the customer and shall
21        disclose the following statement:
22            "(Name of the alternative retail gas supplier) is
23        not the same entity as your gas delivery company. You
24        are not required to enroll with (name of alternative
25        retail gas supplier). On (effective date), the utility
26        gas supply cost rate per therm is (cost). The utility

 

 

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1        gas supply cost will expire on (expiration date). For
2        more information go to the Illinois Commerce
3        Commission's free website at
4        www.icc.illinois.gov/ags/consumereducation.aspx.".
5        (4) Except as provided in paragraph (5) of this
6    subsection (c), an alternative gas supplier shall send the
7    information described in paragraph (3) of this subsection
8    (c) to all customers within one business day of the
9    authorization of a switch.
10        (5) An alternative gas supplier engaging in
11    door-to-door solicitation of consumers shall provide the
12    information described in paragraph (3) of this subsection
13    (c) during all door-to-door solicitations that result in a
14    customer deciding to switch their supplier.
15    (d) Customer Authorization. An alternative gas supplier
16shall not submit or execute a change in a customer's selection
17of a natural gas provider unless and until (i) the alternative
18gas supplier first discloses all material terms and conditions
19of the offer to the customer; (ii) the alternative gas supplier
20has obtained the customer's express agreement to accept the
21offer after the disclosure of all material terms and conditions
22of the offer; and (iii) the alternative gas supplier has
23confirmed the request for a change in accordance with one of
24the following procedures:
25        (1) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the
26    customer's written or electronically signed authorization

 

 

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1    in a form that meets the following requirements:
2            (A) An alternative gas supplier shall obtain any
3        necessary written or electronically signed
4        authorization from a customer for a change in natural
5        gas service by using a letter of agency as specified in
6        this Section. Any letter of agency that does not
7        conform with this Section is invalid.
8            (B) The letter of agency shall be a separate
9        document (or an easily separable document containing
10        only the authorization language described in item (E)
11        of this paragraph (1)) whose sole purpose is to
12        authorize a natural gas provider change. The letter of
13        agency must be signed and dated by the customer
14        requesting the natural gas provider change.
15            (C) The letter of agency shall not be combined with
16        inducements of any kind on the same document.
17            (D) Notwithstanding items (A) and (B) of this
18        paragraph (1), the letter of agency may be combined
19        with checks that contain only the required letter of
20        agency language prescribed in item (E) of this
21        paragraph (1) and the necessary information to make the
22        check a negotiable instrument. The letter of agency
23        check shall not contain any promotional language or
24        material. The letter of agency check shall contain in
25        easily readable, bold face type on the face of the
26        check, a notice that the consumer is authorizing a

 

 

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1        natural gas provider change by signing the check. The
2        letter of agency language also shall be placed near the
3        signature line on the back of the check.
4            (E) At a minimum, the letter of agency must be
5        printed with a print of sufficient size to be clearly
6        legible, and must contain clear and unambiguous
7        language that confirms:
8                (i) the customer's billing name and address;
9                (ii) the decision to change the natural gas
10            provider from the current provider to the
11            prospective alternative gas supplier;
12                (iii) the terms, conditions, and nature of the
13            service to be provided to the customer, including,
14            but not limited to, the rates for the service
15            contracted for by the customer; and
16                (iv) that the customer understands that any
17            natural gas provider selection the customer
18            chooses may involve a charge to the customer for
19            changing the customer's natural gas provider.
20            (F) Letters of agency shall not suggest or require
21        that a customer take some action in order to retain the
22        customer's current natural gas provider.
23            (G) If any portion of a letter of agency is
24        translated into another language, then all portions of
25        the letter of agency must be translated into that
26        language.

 

 

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1        (2) An appropriately qualified independent third party
2    has obtained, in accordance with the procedures set forth
3    in this paragraph (2), the customer's oral authorization to
4    change natural gas providers that confirms and includes
5    appropriate verification data. The independent third party
6    must (i) not be owned, managed, controlled, or directed by
7    the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas
8    supplier's marketing agent; (ii) not have any financial
9    incentive to confirm provider change requests for the
10    alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's
11    marketing agent; and (iii) operate in a location physically
12    separate from the alternative gas supplier or the
13    alternative gas supplier's marketing agent. Automated
14    third-party verification systems and 3-way conference
15    calls may be used for verification purposes so long as the
16    other requirements of this paragraph (2) are satisfied. A
17    alternative gas supplier or alternative gas supplier's
18    sales representative initiating a 3-way conference call or
19    a call through an automated verification system must drop
20    off the call once the 3-way connection has been
21    established. All third-party verification methods shall
22    elicit, at a minimum, the following information:
23            (A) the identity of the customer;
24            (B) confirmation that the person on the call is
25        authorized to make the provider change;
26            (C) confirmation that the person on the call wants

 

 

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1        to make the provider change;
2            (D) the names of the providers affected by the
3        change;
4            (E) the service address of the service to be
5        switched; and
6            (F) the price of the service to be provided and the
7        material terms and conditions of the service being
8        offered, including whether any early termination fees
9        apply.
10        Third-party verifiers may not market the alternative
11    gas supplier's services. All third-party verifications
12    shall be conducted in the same language that was used in
13    the underlying sales transaction and shall be recorded in
14    their entirety. Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall
15    maintain and preserve audio records of verification of
16    customer authorization for a minimum period of 2 years
17    after obtaining the verification. Automated systems must
18    provide customers with an option to speak with a live
19    person at any time during the call. Each disclosure made
20    during the third-party verification must be made
21    individually to obtain clear acknowledgment of each
22    disclosure. The alternative retail gas supplier must be in
23    a location where he or she cannot hear the customer while
24    the third-party verification is conducted. The alternative
25    retail gas supplier shall not contact the customer after
26    the third-party verification for a period of 24 hours

 

 

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1    unless the customer initiates the contact.
2        (3) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the
3    customer's electronic authorization to change natural gas
4    service via telephone. Such authorization must elicit the
5    information in paragraph (2)(A) through (F) of this
6    subsection (d). Alternative gas suppliers electing to
7    confirm sales electronically shall establish one or more
8    toll-free telephone numbers exclusively for that purpose.
9    Calls to the number or numbers shall connect a customer to
10    a voice response unit, or similar mechanism, that makes a
11    date-stamped, time-stamped recording of the required
12    information regarding the alternative gas supplier change.
13        The alternative gas supplier shall not use such
14    electronic authorization systems to market its services.
15        (4) When a consumer initiates the call to the
16    prospective alternative gas supplier, in order to enroll
17    the consumer as a customer, the prospective alternative gas
18    supplier must, with the consent of the customer, make a
19    date-stamped, time-stamped audio recording that elicits,
20    at a minimum, the following information:
21            (A) the identity of the customer;
22            (B) confirmation that the person on the call is
23        authorized to make the provider change;
24            (C) confirmation that the person on the call wants
25        to make the provider change;
26            (D) the names of the providers affected by the

 

 

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1        change;
2            (E) the service address of the service to be
3        switched; and
4            (F) the price of the service to be supplied and the
5        material terms and conditions of the service being
6        offered, including whether any early termination fees
7        apply.
8        Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall maintain
9    and preserve the audio records containing the information
10    set forth above for a minimum period of 2 years.
11        (5) In the event that a customer enrolls for service
12    from an alternative gas supplier via an Internet website,
13    the alternative gas supplier shall obtain an
14    electronically signed letter of agency in accordance with
15    paragraph (1) of this subsection (d) and any customer
16    information shall be protected in accordance with all
17    applicable statutes and rules. In addition, an alternative
18    gas supplier shall provide the following when marketing via
19    an Internet website:
20            (A) The Internet enrollment website shall, at a
21        minimum, include:
22                (i) a copy of the alternative gas supplier's
23            customer contract, which clearly and conspicuously
24            discloses all terms and conditions; and
25                (ii) a conspicuous prompt for the customer to
26            print or save a copy of the contract.

 

 

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1            (B) Any electronic version of the contract shall be
2        identified by version number, in order to ensure the
3        ability to verify the particular contract to which the
4        customer assents.
5            (C) Throughout the duration of the alternative gas
6        supplier's contract with a customer, the alternative
7        gas supplier shall retain and, within 3 business days
8        of the customer's request, provide to the customer an
9        e-mail, paper, or facsimile of the terms and conditions
10        of the numbered contract version to which the customer
11        assents.
12            (D) The alternative gas supplier shall provide a
13        mechanism by which both the submission and receipt of
14        the electronic letter of agency are recorded by time
15        and date.
16            (E) After the customer completes the electronic
17        letter of agency, the alternative gas supplier shall
18        disclose conspicuously through its website that the
19        customer has been enrolled and the alternative gas
20        supplier shall provide the customer an enrollment
21        confirmation number.
22        (6) When a customer is solicited in person by the
23    alternative gas supplier's sales agent, the alternative
24    gas supplier may only obtain the customer's authorization
25    to change natural gas service through the method provided
26    for in paragraph (2) of this subsection (d).

 

 

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1    Alternative gas suppliers must be in compliance with the
2provisions of this subsection (d) within 90 days after the
3effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General
4Assembly.
5    (e) Early Termination.
6        (1) Any agreement that contains an early termination
7    clause shall disclose the amount of the early termination
8    fee, provided that any early termination fee or penalty
9    shall not exceed $50 total, regardless of whether or not
10    the agreement is a multiyear agreement. Customers on a
11    month-to-month variable rate or time-of-use product shall
12    have the right to terminate their contract with the
13    alternative retail gas supplier at any time without any
14    termination fee.
15        (2) In any agreement that contains an early termination
16    clause, an alternative gas supplier shall provide the
17    customer the opportunity to terminate the agreement
18    without any termination fee or penalty within 10 business
19    days after the date of the first bill issued to the
20    customer for products or services provided by the
21    alternative gas supplier. The agreement shall disclose the
22    opportunity and provide a toll-free phone number that the
23    customer may call in order to terminate the agreement.
24    (f) The alternative gas supplier shall provide each
25customer the opportunity to rescind its agreement without
26penalty within 10 business days after the date on the gas

 

 

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1utility notice to the customer. The alternative gas supplier
2shall disclose to the customer all of the following:
3        (1) that the gas utility shall send a notice confirming
4    the switch;
5        (2) that from the date the utility issues the notice
6    confirming the switch, the customer shall have 10 business
7    days before the switch will become effective;
8        (3) that the customer may contact the gas utility or
9    the alternative gas supplier to rescind the switch within
10    10 business days; and
11        (4) the contact information for the gas utility and the
12    alternative gas supplier.
13    The alternative gas supplier disclosure shall be included
14in its sales solicitations, contracts, and all applicable sales
15verification scripts.
16    (f-5) An alternative retail gas supplier must also comply
17with the following requirements of this subsection (f-5). It is
18a violation of this Section for an alternative retail electric
19supplier to fail to comply with this subsection (f-5).
20        (1) If an alternative retail gas supplier seeks to
21    renew a customer's contract, then at least 30 days, but no
22    more than 60 days, before the end of the current contract
23    term the alternative retail gas supplier shall provide to
24    the customer a written notice that includes a side-by-side
25    comparison of the rate the customer is being charged
26    pursuant to the current contract and the rate the customer

 

 

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1    would be charged pursuant to the renewed contract. An
2    alternative retail gas supplier shall not automatically
3    renew a customer's enrollment after the current term of the
4    contract expires if the customer does not expressly consent
5    to the contract renewal in writing or by electronic
6    signature at least 30 days, but no more than 60 days,
7    before the current contract term expires and (i) the rate
8    the customer would be charged pursuant to the renewed
9    contract is greater than the rate of the current contract,
10    or (ii) the current contract provides that the customer
11    will be charged a fixed rate and the renewed contract
12    provides the customer will be charged a variable rate.
13        (2) An alternative retail electric gas shall not submit
14    a change to a customer's gas service provider in violation
15    of Section 19-116 of the Public Utilities Act.
16    (g) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to
17alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve
18residential and small commercial customers and only to the
19extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to
20residential and small commercial customers.
21(Source: P.A. 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)".