HB4514 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 17067 AAS 30482 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4514

Introduced 1/26/2026, by Rep. Nabeela Syed

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

220 ILCS 5/9-226.5 new

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that, for any general rate increase requested by a gas, electric, water, or sewer public utility under the provisions of the Act, the Commission shall hold at least one public hearing during which members of the public can provide input on the requested general rate increase. Provides that any affected ratepayer of a requested general rate increase may testify at the public hearing and may file statements that pertain to the subject matter of the public hearing with the person or persons conducting the public hearing. Provides that a public hearing shall be held in the service territory of the public utility that requested a general rate increase at a time and location to be determined by the Commission. Requires the Commission to comply with certain requirements when determining the location of a public hearing. Provides that the Commission shall provide reasonable notice that complies with the Open Meetings Act to members of the public regarding a public hearing. Provides that "reasonable notice" means notice that is provided at least 14 days before a public hearing. Provides that public hearings shall be conducted by the full Commission, a single commissioner, or an administrative law judge from the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall take into consideration any testimony or comments received from members of the public during the public hearing in its deliberations on the requested general rate increase. Makes other changes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding Section 9-226.5 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/9-226.5 new)

Sec. 9-226.5. General rate increase requests; public hearings.

(a) For any general rate increase requested by a gas, electric, water, or sewer public utility under the provisions of this Act, the Commission shall hold at least one public hearing during which members of the public can provide input on the requested general rate increase. Members of the public may use a telephone or electronic conferencing to attend the public hearing as long as the public hearing is conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.

(b) Any affected ratepayer of a requested general rate increase may testify at the public hearing and may file statements regarding the subject matter of the public hearing with the person or persons conducting the public hearing. Any testimony or filed statements shall become part of the evidentiary record for the Commission's proceedings for the requested general rate increase. The Commission shall give each member of the public a reasonable amount of time to testify and be heard by the Commission at the public hearing. The Commission shall give an intervenor or a representative of an intervenor the same amount of time for presentation as the Commission gives to the public utility that requested the general rate increase.

(c) A public hearing under this Section shall be held in the service territory of the public utility that requested the general rate increase at a time and location to be determined by the Commission. In determining the location of the public hearing, the Commission shall comply with the following requirements:

(1) The public hearing shall be located in a city that is within the service territory of the public utility and that has a high population density for that service territory.

(2) The Commission shall consider the ability of members of the public to attend the public hearing and the ease of access, including the availability of public transit, to the area where the public hearing will be held.

(d) The Commission shall provide reasonable notice that complies with the Open Meetings Act to the public and to each customer of the applicable public utility regarding a public hearing under this Section. For the purposes of this subsection (d), "reasonable notice" means notice that is provided at least 14 days before a public hearing.

(e) Public hearings shall be conducted by the full Commission, a single commissioner, or an administrative law judge from the Commission. The Commission shall take into consideration any testimony or comments received from members of the public during a public hearing in its deliberations on the requested general rate increase and shall include its consideration of the public hearing as part of the formal record of the proceeding for the requested general rate increase. In each general rate case, the final order of the Commission shall include findings that describe how the Commission's decision was impacted by the testimony and comments received from members of the public during the public hearing.