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91_SB0423eng
SB423 Engrossed LRB9101348JSpc
1 AN ACT to amend the Public Utilities Act by adding
2 Section 8-505.1.
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 adding
6 Section 8-505.1 as follows:
7 (220 ILCS 5/8-505.1 new)
8 Sec. 8-505.1. Non-emergency vegetation management
9 activities.
10 (a) In conducting its non-emergency vegetation
11 management activities in incorporated municipalities a public
12 utility shall:
13 (1) Follow guidelines set forth by the
14 International Society of Arboriculture in effect January
15 1, 1999 and any applicable OSHA or ANSI standards in
16 effect January 1, 1999.
17 (2) Provide no fewer than 21 days notice to the
18 municipality prior to vegetation management activity
19 beginning in the municipality. Maps or a description of
20 the affected area shall be provided to the municipality.
21 Notification shall continue until the municipality
22 requests termination. Requests by the municipality to
23 terminate notifications shall be in writing.
24 (3) Notify affected customers within the
25 municipality no fewer than 7 days before the activity is
26 scheduled to begin.
27 (4) Provide notified customers with a toll-free
28 telephone number to call regarding the vegetation
29 management activities.
30 (b) A public utility shall not be required to comply
31 with the requirements of subsections (a)(2), (a)(3), or
SB423 Engrossed -2- LRB9101348JSpc
1 (a)(4) when (i) it is taking actions to restore reliable
2 service after interruptions of service; (ii) there is a
3 franchise, contract, or written agreement in effect prior to
4 January 1, 1999 between a public utility and a municipality
5 mandating specific vegetation management practices; or (iii)
6 there is a mutual agreement between a municipality and a
7 public utility to waive the requirements of all or part of
8 subsection (a). The Commission shall have sole authority to
9 investigate and issue complaints against the utility under
10 this Section.
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