HB3609ham001 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Ann M. Williams

Filed: 3/13/2025

10400HB3609ham001 LRB104 12086 AAS 23627 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 3609

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 3609 on page 6, line 20, by replacing "supplies thermal energy." with "supplies non-combusting thermal energy. "Thermal energy network" includes real estate, fixtures, and personal property that is operated, owned, or used by multiple parties."; and

on page 8, lines 24 and 25, by replacing "be focused on existing electric heat customers." with "include an industrial heat application that may additionally include residential and commercial applications. Priority shall be given to pilot proposals that replace leak-prone natural gas distribution infrastructure with distribution infrastructure that supplies non-combusting thermal energy or that replaces thermal energy for buildings currently heated with electric resistance heat."; and

on page 9, immediately above line 16, by inserting the following:

"(c-5) Each public utility shall hold at least one pre-filing public meeting to receive public comment concerning the proposed thermal energy network in the municipality where the thermal energy network is to be located. Notice of the public meeting shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation for 3 consecutive weeks, beginning no earlier than one month before the first public meeting. Notice of the public meeting, including a description of the thermal energy network, must be provided in writing to the clerk of the county where the project is to be located and to the Chief Clerk of the Commission. A representative of the Commission shall be invited to each pre-filing public meeting."; and

on page 10, immediately below line 7, by inserting the following:

"(d-5) The Commission shall require projects submitted to the utility-scale renewable thermal energy network program for approval to include a proposed rate structure for thermal energy services supplied to network end users and consumer protection plans for end users. The Commission may approve the proposed rate structure if the projected heating and cooling costs for end users is not greater than the heating and cooling costs the end users would have incurred if the end users had not participated in the program."; and

on page 11, lines 10 through 12, by replacing "after the completion of the construction of all thermal energy network projects under this Section" with "after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly"; and

on page 12, line 6, after "16-108.18.", by inserting "A gas public utility, electric public utility, or combination public utility developing a thermal energy network project that includes an industrial heat application may recover rates proportionally from each class of customer.".