State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
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91_HB3024

 
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 1        AN  ACT  to  amend  the  Public Utilities Act by changing
 2    Section 16-111.

 3        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:

 5        Section  5.   The  Public  Utilities  Act  is  amended by
 6    changing Section 16-111 as follows:

 7        (220 ILCS 5/16-111)
 8        Sec. 16-111. Rates and restructuring transactions  during
 9    mandatory transition period.
10        (a)  During     the    mandatory    transition    period,
11    notwithstanding any provision of Article IX of this Act,  and
12    except  as  provided in subsections (b), (d), (e), and (f) of
13    this  Section,  the  Commission  shall  not   (i)   initiate,
14    authorize  or order any change by way of increase (other than
15    in connection with a request  for  rate  increase  which  was
16    filed  after September 1, 1997 but prior to October 15, 1997,
17    by an electric utility serving less than 12,500 customers  in
18    this  State),  (ii)  initiate  or,  unless  requested  by the
19    electric utility, authorize or order any  change  by  way  of
20    decrease,  restructuring or unbundling (except as provided in
21    Section 16-109A), in the rates of any electric  utility  that
22    were  in  effect  on  October  1, 1996, or (iii) in any order
23    approving any application for a merger  pursuant  to  Section
24    7-204  that  was  pending  as  of  May  16,  1997, impose any
25    condition requiring any filing for an increase, decrease,  or
26    change in, or other review of, an electric utility's rates or
27    enforce  any  such  condition  of  any  such order; provided,
28    however,  that  this  subsection  shall  not   prohibit   the
29    Commission from:
30             (1)  approving   the   application  of  an  electric
31        utility to implement an alternative  to  rate  of  return
 
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 1        regulation  or  a  regulatory  mechanism  that rewards or
 2        penalizes the  electric  utility  through  adjustment  of
 3        rates  based  on utility performance, pursuant to Section
 4        9-244;
 5             (2)  authorizing an electric  utility  to  eliminate
 6        its  fuel  adjustment  clause  and  adjust  its base rate
 7        tariffs in accordance with subsection (b), (d), or (f) of
 8        Section 9-220 of this Act, to  fix  its  fuel  adjustment
 9        factor in accordance with subsection (c) of Section 9-220
10        of  this  Act, or to eliminate its fuel adjustment clause
11        in accordance with subsection (e)  of  Section  9-220  of
12        this Act;
13             (3)  ordering   into  effect  tariffs  for  delivery
14        services  and  transition  charges  in  accordance   with
15        Sections  16-104  and  16-108,  for  real-time pricing in
16        accordance with Section 16-107, or the  options  required
17        by Section 16-110 and subsection  (n) of 16-112, allowing
18        a  billing  experiment in accordance with Section 16-106,
19        or modifying delivery services tariffs in accordance with
20        Section 16-109; or
21             (4)  ordering or allowing into effect any tariff  to
22        recover  charges  pursuant  to Sections 9-201.5, 9-220.1,
23        9-221, 9-222 (except as  provided  in  Section  9-222.1),
24        16-108,  and  16-114  of  this  Act,  Section  5-5 of the
25        Electricity Infrastructure Maintenance Fee  Law,  Section
26        6-5  of the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Coal
27        Resources Development Law of 1997, and Section 13 of  the
28        Energy Assistance Act of 1989.
29        (b)  Notwithstanding  the provisions of subsection (a) of
30    this Section, each Illinois  electric  utility  serving  more
31    than  12,500  customers  in  Illinois  shall file tariffs (i)
32    reducing, effective August 1, 1998,  each  component  of  its
33    base  rates  to  residential retail customers by 15% from the
34    base rates in effect immediately prior to January 1, 1998 and
 
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 1    (ii) if the public utility provides electric service  to  (A)
 2    more than 500,000 customers but less than 1,000,000 customers
 3    in  this State on January 1, 1999, reducing, effective May 1,
 4    2002, each component of its base rates to residential  retail
 5    customers  by  an additional 5% from the base rates in effect
 6    immediately prior  to  January  1,  1998,  or  (B)  at  least
 7    1,000,000  customers  in  this  State  on  January  1,  1999,
 8    reducing,  effective  October  1, 2001, each component of its
 9    base rates to residential retail customers by  an  additional
10    5% from the base rates in effect immediately prior to January
11    1, 1998. Provided, however, that (A) if an electric utility's
12    average  residential retail rate is less than or equal to the
13    average residential  retail  rate  for  a  group  of  Midwest
14    Utilities   (consisting   of   all   investor-owned  electric
15    utilities  with  annual  system  peaks  in  excess  of   1000
16    megawatts in the States of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky,
17    Michigan,  Missouri,  Ohio,  and  Wisconsin),  based  on data
18    reported  on  Form  1  to  the  Federal   Energy   Regulatory
19    Commission  for  calendar  year  1995,  then it shall only be
20    required to file tariffs (i) reducing,  effective  August  1,
21    1998,  each component of its base rates to residential retail
22    customers by 5% from the base  rates  in  effect  immediately
23    prior to January 1, 1998, (ii) reducing, effective October 1,
24    2000,  each component of its base rates to residential retail
25    customers by the lesser of 5% of the  base  rates  in  effect
26    immediately  prior  to  January  1, 1998 or the percentage by
27    which the electric utility's average residential retail  rate
28    exceeds  the  average  residential retail rate of the Midwest
29    Utilities, based on data reported on Form 1  to  the  Federal
30    Energy  Regulatory  Commission  for  calendar  year 1999, and
31    (iii) reducing, effective October 1, 2002, each component  of
32    its   base  rates  to  residential  retail  customers  by  an
33    additional amount equal to the lesser of 5% of the base rates
34    in effect  immediately  prior  to  January  1,  1998  or  the
 
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 1    percentage   by   which   the   electric   utility's  average
 2    residential  retail  rate  exceeds  the  average  residential
 3    retail rate of the Midwest Utilities, based on data  reported
 4    on  Form  1  to  the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for
 5    calendar year 2001; and (B) if the average residential retail
 6    rate of an  electric  utility  serving  between  150,000  and
 7    250,000  retail customers in this State on January 1, 1995 is
 8    less than or equal to 90% of the average  residential  retail
 9    rate  for  the  Midwest  Utilities, based on data reported on
10    Form 1  to  the  Federal  Energy  Regulatory  Commission  for
11    calendar  year  1995,  then it shall only be required to file
12    tariffs  (i)  reducing,  effective  August  1,   1998,   each
13    component  of  its base rates to residential retail customers
14    by 2% from the base rates  in  effect  immediately  prior  to
15    January  1,  1998;  (ii) reducing, effective October 1, 2000,
16    each component  of  its  base  rates  to  residential  retail
17    customers  by  2%  from  the  base rate in effect immediately
18    prior to January  1,  1998;  and  (iii)  reducing,  effective
19    October  1,  2002,  each  component  of  its  base  rates  to
20    residential  retail  customers  by  1% from the base rates in
21    effect  immediately  prior  to  January  1,  1998.  Provided,
22    further, that any electric utility for which  a  decrease  in
23    base  rates has been or is placed into effect between October
24    1, 1996 and the dates specified in the preceding sentences of
25    this subsection, other than pursuant to the  requirements  of
26    this  subsection,  shall  be entitled to reduce the amount of
27    any reduction or reductions in its  base  rates  required  by
28    this  subsection  by  the  amount of such other decrease. The
29    tariffs required under this subsection shall be filed 45 days
30    in advance of the effective date. Notwithstanding anything to
31    the contrary in Section 9-220 of this Act, no restatement  of
32    base  rates  in  conjunction  with  the elimination of a fuel
33    adjustment clause under that Section shall result in a lesser
34    decrease in base rates than customers would otherwise receive
 
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 1    under  this  subsection  had  the  electric  utility's   fuel
 2    adjustment clause not been eliminated.
 3        (c)  Any utility reducing its base rates by 15% on August
 4    1,   1998  pursuant  to  subsection  (b)  shall  include  the
 5    following statement on its bills  for  residential  customers
 6    from August 1 through December 31, 1998: "Effective August 1,
 7    1998,  your  rates  have  been reduced by 15% by the Electric
 8    Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997 passed by
 9    the Illinois General Assembly.".  Any  utility  reducing  its
10    base  rates  by  5% on August 1, 1998, pursuant to subsection
11    (b) shall include the following statement on  its  bills  for
12    residential  customers  from  August  1  through December 31,
13    1998:  "Effective  August  1,  1998,  your  rates  have  been
14    reduced  by  5%  by  the Electric Service Customer Choice and
15    Rate Relief Law  of  1997  passed  by  the  Illinois  General
16    Assembly.".
17        Any  utility  reducing  its base rates by 2% on August 1,
18    1998 pursuant to subsection (b) shall include  the  following
19    statement  on its bills for residential customers from August
20    1 through December 31, 1998: "Effective August 1, 1998,  your
21    rates  have  been  reduced  by  2%  by  the  Electric Service
22    Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of  1997  passed  by  the
23    Illinois General Assembly.".
24        (d)  During  the  mandatory  transition  period,  but not
25    before January 1, 2000, and notwithstanding   the  provisions
26    of  subsection  (a),  an  electric  utility  may  request  an
27    increase   in   its   base  rates  if  the  electric  utility
28    demonstrates that the 2-year average of its  earned  rate  of
29    return  on  common  equity,  calculated  as  its  net  income
30    applicable  to  common  stock  divided  by the average of its
31    beginning and ending balances of  common  equity  using  data
32    reported  in  the  electric  utility's  Form  1 report to the
33    Federal Energy Regulatory Commission but adjusted  to  remove
34    the  effects  of  accelerated depreciation or amortization or
 
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 1    other transition or mitigation measures  implemented  by  the
 2    electric  utility  pursuant to subsection (g) of this Section
 3    and the effect of any refund paid pursuant to subsection  (e)
 4    of  this  Section, is below the 2-year average for the same 2
 5    years of the monthly average yields of 30-year  U.S. Treasury
 6    bonds published by the Board of Governors  of  the    Federal
 7    Reserve  System  in  its  weekly  H.15 Statistical Release or
 8    successor  publication.  The  Commission  shall  review   the
 9    electric  utility's  request, and may review the justness and
10    reasonableness  of  all  rates  for  tariffed  services,   in
11    accordance  with  the  provisions  of Article IX of this Act,
12    provided that the Commission shall consider  any  special  or
13    negotiated  adjustments  to the revenue requirement agreed to
14    between the electric utility and the  other  parties  to  the
15    proceeding.    In  setting  rates  under  this  Section,  the
16    Commission shall exclude the  costs  and  revenues  that  are
17    associated  with  competitive  services  and  any  billing or
18    pricing experiments conducted under Section 16-106.
19        (e)  For  the  purposes  of  this  subsection   (e)   all
20    calculations  and  comparisons  shall  be  performed  for the
21    Illinois operations of multijurisdictional utilities.  During
22    the  mandatory   transition   period,   notwithstanding   the
23    provisions  of  subsection  (a),  if the 2-year average of an
24    electric utility's earned rate of return  on  common  equity,
25    calculated  as  its  net  income  applicable  to common stock
26    divided by the average of its beginning and  ending  balances
27    of   common  equity  using  data  reported  in  the  electric
28    utility's Form 1 report  to  the  Federal  Energy  Regulatory
29    Commission  but  adjusted  to remove the effect of any refund
30    paid under this  subsection  (e),  and  further  adjusted  to
31    include the annual amortization of any difference between the
32    consideration  received  by  an  affiliated  interest  of the
33    electric utility in the sale of an asset which had been  sold
34    or  transferred  by  the  electric  utility to the affiliated
 
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 1    interest subsequent to the effective date of this  amendatory
 2    Act  of  1997  and the consideration for which such asset had
 3    been sold or transferred to  the  affiliated  interest,  with
 4    such  difference to be amortized ratably from the date of the
 5    sale by the affiliated interest to December 31, 2006, exceeds
 6    the 2-year average of the Index for the same 2 years  by  1.5
 7    or  more  percentage  points, the electric utility shall make
 8    refunds to customers beginning the first billing day of April
 9    in the following year in the manner  described  in  paragraph
10    (3)  of this subsection. For purposes of this subsection (e),
11    the "Index" shall be the sum of (A) the average  for  the  12
12    months  ended  September  30 of the monthly average yields of
13    30-year  U.S.  Treasury  bonds  published  by  the  Board  of
14    Governors of the Federal Reserve System in  its  weekly  H.15
15    Statistical  Release  or  successor publication for each year
16    1998 through 2004, and (B) (i)  4.00  percentage  points  for
17    each  of  the  12-month  periods  ending  September  30, 1998
18    through September 30, 1999 or 8.00 percentage points  if  the
19    electric  utility's  average  residential retail rate is less
20    than or equal to 90% of the average residential  retail  rate
21    for  the  "Midwest  Utilities",  as  that  term is defined in
22    subsection (b) of this Section, based  on  data  reported  on
23    Form  1  to  the  Federal  Energy  Regulatory  Commission for
24    calendar year 1995, and the electric utility  served  between
25    150,000 and 250,000 retail customers on January 1, 1995, (ii)
26    7.00  percentage  points  for  each  of  the 12-month periods
27    ending September 30, 2000 through September 30, 2004  if  the
28    electric  utility was providing service to at least 1,000,000
29    customers  in  this  State  on  January  1,  1999,  or   9.00
30    percentage   points   if   the   electric  utility's  average
31    residential retail rate is less than or equal to 90%  of  the
32    average  residential retail rate for the "Midwest Utilities",
33    as that term is defined in subsection (b)  of  this  Section,
34    based  on  data  reported  on  Form  1  to the Federal Energy
 
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 1    Regulatory Commission for calendar year 1995 and the electric
 2    utility served between 150,000 and 250,000  retail  customers
 3    in  this  State  on  January  1, 1995, (iii) 11.00 percentage
 4    points for each of the 12-month periods ending September  30,
 5    2000  through  September  30,  2004, but only if the electric
 6    utility's average residential retail rate  is  less  than  or
 7    equal  to  90% of the average residential retail rate for the
 8    "Midwest Utilities", as that term is  defined  in  subsection
 9    (b)  of this Section, based on data reported on Form 1 to the
10    Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for calendar year  1995,
11    the  electric  utility  served  between  150,000  and 250,000
12    retail customers in this State on January 1,  1995,  and  the
13    electric  utility  offers delivery services on or before June
14    1, 2000 to retail customers whose annual electric energy  use
15    comprises  33%  of  the  kilowatt hour sales to that group of
16    retail customers that are classified under Division D, Groups
17    20 through 39 of the Standard Industrial Classifications  set
18    forth   in  the  Standard  Industrial  Classification  Manual
19    published by the  United  States  Office  of  Management  and
20    Budget,  excluding the kilowatt hour sales to those customers
21    that are eligible for delivery services pursuant  to  Section
22    16-104(a)(1)(i),   and   offers   delivery  services  to  its
23    remaining  retail  customers  classified  under  Division  D,
24    Groups 20 through 39 on  or  before  October  1,  2000,  and,
25    provided  further,  that  the electric utility commits not to
26    petition pursuant to Section 16-108(f) for entry of an  order
27    by   the  Commission  authorizing  the  electric  utility  to
28    implement transition charges for an additional  period  after
29    December 31, 2006, or (iv) 5.00 percentage points for each of
30    the  12-month  periods  ending  September  30,  2000  through
31    September  30,  2004 for all other electric utilities or 7.00
32    percentage points for such utilities for each of the 12-month
33    periods ending September 30, 2000 through September 30,  2004
34    for any such utility that commits not to petition pursuant to
 
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 1    Section  16-108(f)  for  entry  of an order by the Commission
 2    authorizing the  electric  utility  to  implement  transition
 3    charges for an additional period after December 31, 2006.
 4             (1)  For  purposes  of  this subsection (e), "excess
 5        earnings" means the difference  between  (A)  the  2-year
 6        average  of  the electric utility's earned rate of return
 7        on common equity, less (B) the 2-year average of the  sum
 8        of  (i)  the  Index applicable to each of the 2 years and
 9        (ii)  1.5  percentage  points;  provided,  that   "excess
10        earnings" shall never be less than zero.
11             (2)  On or before March 31 of each year 2000 through
12        2005  each  electric utility shall file a report with the
13        Commission showing its earned rate of  return  on  common
14        equity,  calculated  in  accordance with this subsection,
15        for the preceding calendar year and the average  for  the
16        preceding 2 calendar years.
17             (3)  If  an  electric  utility  has excess earnings,
18        determined in accordance with paragraphs (1) and  (2)  of
19        this  subsection,  the refunds which the electric utility
20        shall pay  to its customers beginning the  first  billing
21        day  of  April  in the following year shall be calculated
22        and applied as follows:
23                  (i)  The  electric  utility's  excess  earnings
24             shall be multiplied by the average of the  beginning
25             and ending balances of the electric utility's common
26             equity   for  the  2-year  period  in  which  excess
27             earnings occurred.
28                  (ii)  The result  of  the  calculation  in  (i)
29             shall  be  multiplied  by 0.50 and then divided by a
30             number equal  to  1  minus  the  electric  utility's
31             composite federal and State income tax rate.
32                  (iii)  The  result  of  the calculation in (ii)
33             shall  be  divided  by  the  sum  of  the   electric
34             utility's  projected  total  kilowatt-hour  sales to
 
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 1             retail customers plus projected kilowatt-hours to be
 2             delivered to delivery services customers over a  one
 3             year period beginning with the first billing date in
 4             April  in  the  succeeding year to determine a cents
 5             per kilowatt-hour refund factor.
 6                  (iv)  The cents per kilowatt-hour refund factor
 7             calculated  in  (iii)  shall  be  credited  to   the
 8             electric  utility's customers by applying the factor
 9             on   the   customer's   monthly   bills   to    each
10             kilowatt-hour  sold  or  delivered  until  the total
11             amount  calculated  in  (ii)  has   been   paid   to
12             customers.
13        (f)  During  the mandatory transition period, an electric
14    utility may file revised tariffs reducing the  price  of  any
15    tariffed  service  offered  by  the  electric utility for all
16    customers  taking  that  tariffed  service,  which  shall  be
17    effective 7 days after filing.
18        (g)  During the mandatory transition period, an  electric
19    utility may, without obtaining any approval of the Commission
20    other   than   that  provided  for  in  this  subsection  and
21    notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or  any  rule
22    or  regulation  of  the  Commission  that  would require such
23    approval:
24             (1)  implement a reorganization, other than a merger
25        of 2 or more public utilities as defined in Section 3-105
26        or their holding companies;
27             (2)  retire generating plants from service;
28             (3)  sell,  assign,  lease  or  otherwise   transfer
29        assets  to  an  affiliated  or unaffiliated entity and as
30        part of such transaction enter into  service  agreements,
31        power  purchase  agreements, or other agreements with the
32        transferee; provided, however, that the prices, terms and
33        conditions  of  any  power  purchase  agreement  must  be
34        approved or allowed into effect  by  the  Federal  Energy
 
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 1        Regulatory Commission; or
 2             (4)  use   any   accelerated  cost  recovery  method
 3        including    accelerated    depreciation,     accelerated
 4        amortization or other capital recovery methods, or record
 5        reductions to the original cost of its assets.
 6        In order to implement a reorganization, retire generating
 7    plants  from  service,  or  sell,  assign, lease or otherwise
 8    transfer  assets  pursuant  to  this  Section,  the  electric
 9    utility shall comply with subsections (c) and (d) of  Section
10    16-128, if applicable, and subsection (k) of this Section, if
11    applicable,  and provide the Commission with at least 30 days
12    notice of the proposed reorganization or  transaction,  which
13    notice shall include the following information:
14                  (i)  a  complete  statement of the entries that
15             the electric utility will  make  on  its  books  and
16             records   of   account  to  implement  the  proposed
17             reorganization  or  transaction  together   with   a
18             certification  from  an independent certified public
19             accountant that such  entries  are  in  accord  with
20             generally accepted accounting principles and, if the
21             Commission  has  previously  approved guidelines for
22             cost  allocations  between  the  utility   and   its
23             affiliates,   a   certification   from   the   chief
24             accounting  officer of the utility that such entries
25             are in accord with those cost allocation guidelines;
26                  (ii)  a description of how the electric utility
27             will use proceeds of any sale, assignment, lease  or
28             transfer  to  retire  debt  or  otherwise  reduce or
29             recover the  costs  of  services  provided  by  such
30             electric utility;
31                  (iii)  a  list  of  all  federal  approvals  or
32             approvals  required from departments and agencies of
33             this State, other  than  the  Commission,  that  the
34             electric   utility   has   or   will  obtain  before
 
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 1             implementing the reorganization or transaction;
 2                  (iv)  an irrevocable commitment by the electric
 3             utility that  it  will  not,  as  a  result  of  the
 4             transaction,  impose  any stranded cost charges that
 5             it might  otherwise  be  allowed  to  charge  retail
 6             customers   under   federal   law  or  increase  the
 7             transition charges that it is otherwise entitled  to
 8             collect under this Article XVI; and
 9                  (v)  if  the electric utility proposes to sell,
10             assign, lease or  otherwise  transfer  a  generating
11             plant  that  brings  the  amount  of  net dependable
12             generating capacity  transferred  pursuant  to  this
13             subsection to an amount equal to or greater than 15%
14             of the electric utility's net dependable capacity as
15             of  the  effective  date  of  this amendatory Act of
16             1997, and enters into  a  power  purchase  agreement
17             with  the  entity  to which such generating plant is
18             sold, assigned, leased,  or  otherwise  transferred,
19             the  electric  utility  also  agrees,  if   its fuel
20             adjustment clause has not already  been  eliminated,
21             to   eliminate   its   fuel   adjustment  clause  in
22             accordance with subsection (b) of Section 9-220  for
23             a  period  of  time  equal to the length of any such
24             power purchase agreement or successor agreement,  or
25             until  January  1, 2005, whichever is longer; if the
26             capacity of the generating plant so transferred  and
27             related  power purchase agreement does not result in
28             the elimination of the fuel adjustment clause  under
29             this  subsection, and the fuel adjustment clause has
30             not already been eliminated,  the  electric  utility
31             shall  agree  that  the  costs  associated  with the
32             transferred  plant  that   are   included   in   the
33             calculation  of  the  rate  per  kilowatt-hour to be
34             applied pursuant  to  the  electric  utility's  fuel
 
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 1             adjustment  clause  during  such  period  shall  not
 2             exceed  the  per  kilowatt-hour cost associated with
 3             such  generating  plant  included  in  the  electric
 4             utility's fuel adjustment  clause  during  the  full
 5             calendar  year  preceding  the  transfer,  with such
 6             limit to be  adjusted each year  thereafter  by  the
 7             Gross Domestic Product Implicit Price Deflator.
 8                  (vi)  In  addition,  if  the  electric  utility
 9             proposes  to  sell, assign, or lease, (A) either (1)
10             an amount of generating plant that brings the amount
11             of net dependable  generating  capacity  transferred
12             pursuant to this subsection to an amount equal to or
13             greater  than  15% of its net dependable capacity on
14             the effective date of this amendatory Act  of  1997,
15             or  (2)  one  or more generating plants with a total
16             net dependable capacity of 1100  megawatts,  or  (B)
17             transmission and distribution facilities that either
18             (1)   bring   the   amount   of   transmission   and
19             distribution facilities transferred pursuant to this
20             subsection to an amount equal to or greater than 15%
21             of the electric utility's total depreciated original
22             cost investment in such facilities, or (2) represent
23             an  investment  of  $25,000,000  in  terms  of total
24             depreciated  original  cost,  the  electric  utility
25             shall provide, in addition to the information listed
26             in subparagraphs  (i)  through  (v),  the  following
27             information:  (A)  a description of how the electric
28             utility will meet its service obligations under this
29             Act in a  safe  and  reliable  manner  and  (B)  the
30             electric  utility's  projected earned rate of return
31             on common  equity,  calculated  in  accordance  with
32             subsection  (d)  of this Section, for each year from
33             the date of the notice  through  December  31,  2004
34             both  with and without the proposed transaction.  If
 
                            -14-               LRB9109971JSpc
 1             the Commission has not issued an order initiating  a
 2             hearing  on  the proposed transaction within 30 days
 3             after the date  the  electric  utility's  notice  is
 4             filed,  the  transaction  shall  be deemed approved.
 5             The  Commission  may,  after  notice  and   hearing,
 6             prohibit the proposed transaction if it makes either
 7             or  both  of  the  following  findings: (1) that the
 8             proposed  transaction  will  render   the   electric
 9             utility unable to provide its tariffed services in a
10             safe  and  reliable  manner,  or (2) that there is a
11             strong likelihood that consummation of the  proposed
12             transaction  will  result  in  the  electric utility
13             being entitled to request an increase  in  its  base
14             rates   during   the   mandatory  transition  period
15             pursuant to subsection (d)  of  this  Section.   Any
16             hearing   initiated   by  the  Commission  into  the
17             proposed transaction shall  be  completed,  and  the
18             Commission's  final  order  approving or prohibiting
19             the proposed transaction shall be entered, within 90
20             days after the date the  electric  utility's  notice
21             was   filed.   Provided,   however,   that  a  sale,
22             assignment, or lease of transmission  facilities  to
23             an   independent  system  operator  that  meets  the
24             requirements of Section 16-126 shall not be  subject
25             to Commission approval under this Section.
26                  In  any  proceeding conducted by the Commission
27             pursuant to  this  subparagraph  (vi),  intervention
28             shall  be  limited to parties with a direct interest
29             in the transaction  which  is  the  subject  of  the
30             hearing and any statutory consumer protection agency
31             as  defined  in  subsection  (d) of Section 9-102.1.
32             Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10-113  of
33             this  Act,  any  application seeking rehearing of an
34             order issued under this subparagraph  (vi),  whether
 
                            -15-               LRB9109971JSpc
 1             filed  by  the electric utility or by an intervening
 2             party, shall be filed within 10 days  after  service
 3             of the order.
 4        The  Commission shall not in any subsequent proceeding or
 5    otherwise, review such a reorganization or other  transaction
 6    authorized by this Section, but shall retain the authority to
 7    allocate  costs  as stated in Section 16-111(i). An entity to
 8    which an electric utility sells, assigns, leases or transfers
 9    assets pursuant to this subsection (g) shall not, as a result
10    of the transactions specified  in  this  subsection  (g),  be
11    deemed a public utility as defined in Section 3-105.  Nothing
12    in this subsection (g) shall change any requirement under the
13    jurisdiction  of  the  Illinois  Department of Nuclear Safety
14    including, but not limited to, the payment of  fees.  Nothing
15    in  this subsection (g) shall exempt a utility from obtaining
16    a certificate pursuant to Section 8-406 of this Act  for  the
17    construction  of a new electric generating facility.  Nothing
18    in this subsection (g) is intended to exempt the transactions
19    hereunder  from  the  operation  of  the  federal  or   State
20    antitrust  laws. Nothing in this subsection (g) shall require
21    an electric utility to use the procedures specified  in  this
22    subsection for any of the transactions specified herein.  Any
23    other procedure available under this Act may, at the electric
24    utility's election, be used for any such transaction.
25        (h)  During   the   mandatory   transition   period,  the
26    Commission  shall  not  establish  or  use   any   rates   of
27    depreciation,  which  for  purposes  of this subsection shall
28    include amortization, for any  electric  utility  other  than
29    those established pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 5-104
30    of  this  Act  or utilized pursuant to subsection (g) of this
31    Section.  Provided, however, that in any proceeding to review
32    an electric utility's rates for tariffed services pursuant to
33    Section 9-201, 9-202, 9-250 or 16-111(d)  of  this  Act,  the
34    Commission  may  establish  new rates of depreciation for the
 
                            -16-               LRB9109971JSpc
 1    electric utility in the same manner  provided  in  subsection
 2    (d)  of  Section  5-104  of  this  Act.  An  electric utility
 3    implementing an accelerated cost  recovery  method  including
 4    accelerated  depreciation,  accelerated amortization or other
 5    capital recovery methods,  or  recording  reductions  to  the
 6    original  cost  of  its assets, pursuant to subsection (g) of
 7    this Section, shall file  a  statement  with  the  Commission
 8    describing   the  accelerated  cost  recovery  method  to  be
 9    implemented or the reduction in  the  original  cost  of  its
10    assets  to  be  recorded.  Upon the filing of such statement,
11    the accelerated cost recovery method or the reduction in  the
12    original cost of assets shall be deemed to be approved by the
13    Commission  as  though  an  order  had  been  entered  by the
14    Commission.
15        (i)  Subsequent to the mandatory transition  period,  the
16    Commission,  in any proceeding to establish rates and charges
17    for tariffed services offered by an electric  utility,  shall
18    consider  only  (1)  the  then current or projected revenues,
19    costs, investments and cost of capital directly or indirectly
20    associated with the provision of such tariffed services;  (2)
21    collection  of transition charges in accordance with Sections
22    16-102 and 16-108 of this Act; (3) recovery of  any  employee
23    transition  costs  as  described  in Section 16-128 which the
24    electric utility is continuing to incur,  including  recovery
25    of  any unamortized portion of such costs previously incurred
26    or committed, with such costs to be equitably allocated among
27    bundled  services,  delivery  services,  and  contracts  with
28    alternative retail electric suppliers; and  (4)  recovery  of
29    the  costs  associated with the electric utility's compliance
30    with decommissioning  funding  requirements;  and  shall  not
31    consider  any  other  revenues, costs, investments or cost of
32    capital of either the electric utility or of any affiliate of
33    the  electric  utility  that  are  not  associated  with  the
34    provision  of  tariffed  services.   In  setting  rates   for
 
                            -17-               LRB9109971JSpc
 1    tariffed  services,  the  Commission shall equitably allocate
 2    joint and common costs and investments between  the  electric
 3    utility's  competitive and tariffed services.  In determining
 4    the justness and reasonableness of  the  electric  power  and
 5    energy  component of an electric utility's rates for tariffed
 6    services subsequent to the mandatory  transition  period  and
 7    prior  to  the time that the provision of such electric power
 8    and energy is  declared  competitive,  the  Commission  shall
 9    consider  the extent to which the electric utility's tariffed
10    rates for such component for each customer class  exceed  the
11    market  value  determined pursuant to Section 16-112, and, if
12    the electric power and energy component of such tariffed rate
13    exceeds the market value by more than 10%  for  any  customer
14    class, may establish such electric power and energy component
15    at  a  rate  equal  to the market value plus 10%. In any such
16    case, the Commission may also elect to extend the  provisions
17    of  Section  16-111(e)  for  any period in which the electric
18    utility is collecting transition charges,  using  information
19    applicable to such period.
20        (j)  During  the mandatory transition period, an electric
21    utility may elect  to  transfer  to  a  non-operating  income
22    account  under  the  Commission's  Uniform System of Accounts
23    either or both of (i) an amount of unamortized investment tax
24    credit that is in addition to the  ratable  amount  which  is
25    credited  to  the electric utility's operating income account
26    for the year in  accordance  with  Section  46(f)(2)  of  the
27    federal  Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect prior to
28    P.L. 101-508, or (ii) "excess tax reserves", as that term  is
29    defined in Section 203(e)(2)(A) of the federal Tax Reform Act
30    of  1986,  provided  that  (A) the amount transferred may not
31    exceed the amount of the electric utility's assets that  were
32    created   pursuant   to  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting
33    Standards No. 71 which the electric utility has  written  off
34    during  the mandatory transition period, and (B) the transfer
 
                            -18-               LRB9109971JSpc
 1    shall not be effective until approved by the Internal Revenue
 2    Service.   An  electric  utility  electing  to  make  such  a
 3    transfer shall file a statement with the  Commission  stating
 4    the amount and timing of the transfer for which it intends to
 5    request  approval of the Internal Revenue Service, along with
 6    a copy of  its  proposed  request  to  the  Internal  Revenue
 7    Service  for  a  ruling.  The Commission shall issue an order
 8    within 14 days after the electric utility's filing approving,
 9    subject to receipt of  approval  from  the  Internal  Revenue
10    Service, the proposed transfer.
11        (k)  If an electric utility is selling or transferring to
12    a  single  buyer  5 or more generating plants located in this
13    State with a total net dependable capacity of 5000  megawatts
14    or  more  pursuant  to subsection (g) of this Section and has
15    obtained a sale price or consideration that exceeds  200%  of
16    the  book  value  of  such  plants, the electric utility must
17    provide to  the  Governor,  the  President  of  the  Illinois
18    Senate,  the  Minority  Leader  of  the  Illinois Senate, the
19    Speaker of the Illinois House  of  Representatives,  and  the
20    Minority  Leader  of the Illinois House of Representatives no
21    later than 15 days after filing its notice  under  subsection
22    (g)  of  this  Section or 5 days after the date on which this
23    subsection (k) becomes law, whichever  is  later,  a  written
24    commitment in which such electric utility agrees to expend $2
25    billion outside the corporate limits of any municipality with
26    1,000,000  or more inhabitants within such electric utility's
27    service  area,  over  a  6-year  period  beginning  with  the
28    calendar year in which the  notice  is  filed,  on  projects,
29    programs,  and  improvements within its service area relating
30    to   transmission   and   distribution   including,   without
31    limitation, infrastructure expansion, repair and replacement,
32    capital  investments,   operations   and   maintenance,   and
33    vegetation management.
34    (Source:  P.A.  90-561, eff. 12-16-97; 90-563, eff. 12-16-97;
 
                            -19-               LRB9109971JSpc
 1    91-50, eff. 6-30-99.)

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