HB2427 EngrossedLRB098 09433 JLS 39574 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning public utilities.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended  by adding 
5Section 20-125 as follows:
 
6    (220 ILCS 5/20-125 new)
7    Sec. 20-125. Residential and small commercial retail 
8natural gas competition.  Within 12 months after the effective 
9date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, the 
10Director shall conduct research, gather input from all 
11interested parties, and develop and present to the Commission, 
12the General Assembly, and the Governor a detailed plan designed 
13to promote, in the most expeditious manner possible, retail 
14natural gas competition for residential and small commercial 
15natural gas consumers while maintaining safe, reliable, and 
16affordable service. The plan shall include an analysis of the 
17municipal aggregation of electric consumers, its impact on 
18savings to consumers, any suggested improvements, and how a 
19municipal aggregation program could assist natural gas 
20consumers.
21    Interested parties shall be given the opportunity to review 
22the plan and provide written comments regarding the plan prior 
23to its submission to the Commission, the General Assembly, and 
 
 
HB2427 Engrossed- 2 -LRB098 09433 JLS 39574 b

1the Governor. Any written comments received by the Office shall 
2be posted on the Commission's website. The final plan submitted 
3to the Commission, the General Assembly, and the Governor must 
4include summaries of any written comments and must also be 
5posted on the Commission's website.
6    To the extent the plan calls for Commission action, the 
7Commission shall initiate any proceeding or proceedings called 
8for in the final plan within 60 days after receipt of the final 
9plan and complete those proceedings within 11 months after 
10their initiation.
11    Nothing in this Section shall prevent the Commission from 
12acting earlier to remove identified barriers to retail natural 
13gas competition for residential and small commercial 
14consumers. 
 
 
15    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
16becoming law.