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1 | AN ACT concerning regulation.
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2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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3 | represented in the General Assembly:
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4 | Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing | |||||||||||||||||||||
5 | Sections 8-406.1 and 8-509 as follows: | |||||||||||||||||||||
6 | (220 ILCS 5/8-406.1) | |||||||||||||||||||||
7 | Sec. 8-406.1. Certificate of public convenience and | |||||||||||||||||||||
8 | necessity; expedited procedure. | |||||||||||||||||||||
9 | (a) A public utility may apply for a certificate of public | |||||||||||||||||||||
10 | convenience and necessity pursuant to this Section for the | |||||||||||||||||||||
11 | construction of any new high voltage electric service line and | |||||||||||||||||||||
12 | related facilities (Project). To facilitate the expedited | |||||||||||||||||||||
13 | review process of an application filed pursuant to this | |||||||||||||||||||||
14 | Section, an application shall include all of the following: | |||||||||||||||||||||
15 | (1) Information in support of the application that | |||||||||||||||||||||
16 | shall include the following: | |||||||||||||||||||||
17 | (A) A detailed description of the Project, | |||||||||||||||||||||
18 | including location maps and plot plans to scale showing | |||||||||||||||||||||
19 | all major components. | |||||||||||||||||||||
20 | (B) The following engineering data: | |||||||||||||||||||||
21 | (i) a detailed Project description including: | |||||||||||||||||||||
22 | (I) name and destination of the Project; | |||||||||||||||||||||
23 | (II) design voltage rating (kV); |
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1 | (III) operating voltage rating (kV); and | ||||||
2 | (IV) normal peak operating current rating; | ||||||
3 | (ii) a conductor, structures, and substations | ||||||
4 | description including: | ||||||
5 | (I) conductor size and type; | ||||||
6 | (II) type of structures; | ||||||
7 | (III) height of typical structures; | ||||||
8 | (IV) an explanation why these structures | ||||||
9 | were selected; | ||||||
10 | (V) dimensional drawings of the typical | ||||||
11 | structures to be used in the Project; and | ||||||
12 | (VI) a list of the names of all new (and | ||||||
13 | existing if applicable) substations or | ||||||
14 | switching stations that will be associated | ||||||
15 | with the proposed new high voltage electric | ||||||
16 | service line; | ||||||
17 | (iii) the location of the site and | ||||||
18 | right-of-way including: | ||||||
19 | (I) miles of right-of-way; | ||||||
20 | (II) miles of circuit; | ||||||
21 | (III) width of the right-of-way; and | ||||||
22 | (IV) a brief description of the area | ||||||
23 | traversed by the proposed high voltage | ||||||
24 | electric service line, including a description | ||||||
25 | of the general land uses in the area and the | ||||||
26 | type of terrain crossed by the proposed line; |
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1 | (iv) assumptions, bases, formulae, and methods | ||||||
2 | used in the development and preparation of the | ||||||
3 | diagrams and accompanying data, and a technical | ||||||
4 | description providing the following information: | ||||||
5 | (I) number of circuits, with | ||||||
6 | identification as to whether the circuit is | ||||||
7 | overhead or underground; | ||||||
8 | (II) the operating voltage and frequency; | ||||||
9 | and | ||||||
10 | (III) conductor size and type and number | ||||||
11 | of conductors per phase; | ||||||
12 | (v) if the proposed interconnection is an | ||||||
13 | overhead line, the following additional | ||||||
14 | information also must be provided: | ||||||
15 | (I) the wind and ice loading design | ||||||
16 | parameters; | ||||||
17 | (II) a full description and drawing of a | ||||||
18 | typical supporting structure, including | ||||||
19 | strength specifications; | ||||||
20 | (III) structure spacing with typical | ||||||
21 | ruling and maximum spans; | ||||||
22 | (IV) conductor (phase) spacing; and | ||||||
23 | (V) the designed line-to-ground and | ||||||
24 | conductor-side clearances; | ||||||
25 | (vi) if an underground or underwater | ||||||
26 | interconnection is proposed, the following |
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1 | additional information also must be provided: | ||||||
2 | (I) burial depth; | ||||||
3 | (II) type of cable and a description of any | ||||||
4 | required supporting equipment, such as | ||||||
5 | insulation medium pressurizing or forced | ||||||
6 | cooling; | ||||||
7 | (III) cathodic protection scheme; and | ||||||
8 | (IV) type of dielectric fluid and | ||||||
9 | safeguards used to limit potential spills in | ||||||
10 | waterways; | ||||||
11 | (vii) technical diagrams that provide | ||||||
12 | clarification of any item under this item (1) | ||||||
13 | should be included; and | ||||||
14 | (viii) applicant shall provide and identify a | ||||||
15 | primary right-of-way and one or more alternate | ||||||
16 | rights-of-way for the Project as part of the | ||||||
17 | filing. To the extent applicable, for each | ||||||
18 | right-of-way, an applicant shall provide the | ||||||
19 | information described in this subsection (a). Upon | ||||||
20 | a showing of good cause in its filing, an applicant | ||||||
21 | may be excused from providing and identifying | ||||||
22 | alternate rights-of-way. | ||||||
23 | (2) An application fee of $100,000, which shall be paid | ||||||
24 | into the Public Utility Fund at the time the Chief Clerk of | ||||||
25 | the Commission deems it complete and accepts the filing. | ||||||
26 | (3) A complete record of Information showing that the |
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1 | utility has held a minimum of 3 pre-filing public meetings | ||||||
2 | to receive public comment concerning the Project in each | ||||||
3 | county where the Project is to be located, no earlier than | ||||||
4 | 6 months prior to the filing of the application. The | ||||||
5 | applicant must provide and identify a proposed primary | ||||||
6 | right-of-way and one or more alternate rights-of-way for | ||||||
7 | the Project at the first public meeting held in each | ||||||
8 | county. The public shall be provided the opportunity to | ||||||
9 | comment on the proposed primary and alternate | ||||||
10 | rights-of-way. Notice of the public meeting shall be | ||||||
11 | published in a newspaper of general circulation within the | ||||||
12 | affected county once a week for 3 consecutive weeks, | ||||||
13 | beginning no earlier than one month prior to the first | ||||||
14 | public meeting. Notice of the time and place scheduled for | ||||||
15 | the public meeting must also be provided by registered mail | ||||||
16 | to each owner of record of land, as identified in the | ||||||
17 | records of the relevant county tax assessor, included in | ||||||
18 | the proposed primary and alternate rights-of-way over | ||||||
19 | which the utility seeks to construct a high-voltage | ||||||
20 | electric line. If the Project traverses 2 contiguous | ||||||
21 | counties and where in one county the transmission line | ||||||
22 | mileage and number of landowners over whose property the | ||||||
23 | proposed route traverses is 1/5 or less of the transmission | ||||||
24 | line mileage and number of such landowners of the other | ||||||
25 | county, then the utility may combine the 3 pre-filing | ||||||
26 | meetings in the county with the greater transmission line |
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1 | mileage and affected landowners. All other requirements | ||||||
2 | regarding pre-filing meetings shall apply in both | ||||||
3 | counties. Notice of the public meeting, including a | ||||||
4 | description of the Project, must be provided in writing to | ||||||
5 | the clerk of each county where the Project is to be | ||||||
6 | located. A representative of the Commission shall be | ||||||
7 | invited to each pre-filing public meeting. | ||||||
8 | For applications filed after the effective date of this | ||||||
9 | amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly, the Commission | ||||||
10 | shall by registered mail notify each owner of record of the | ||||||
11 | land, as identified in the records of the relevant county tax | ||||||
12 | assessor, included in the primary or alternate rights-of-way | ||||||
13 | identified in the utility's application of the time and place | ||||||
14 | scheduled for the initial hearing upon the public utility's | ||||||
15 | application. The utility shall reimburse the Commission for the | ||||||
16 | cost of the postage and supplies incurred for mailing the | ||||||
17 | notice. | ||||||
18 | (b) At the first status hearing the administrative law | ||||||
19 | judge shall set a schedule for discovery that shall take into | ||||||
20 | consideration the expedited nature of the proceeding. | ||||||
21 | (c) Nothing in this Section prohibits a utility from | ||||||
22 | requesting, or the Commission from approving, protection of | ||||||
23 | confidential or proprietary information under applicable law. | ||||||
24 | The public utility may seek confidential protection of any of | ||||||
25 | the information provided pursuant to this Section, subject to | ||||||
26 | Commission approval. |
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1 | (d) The public utility shall publish notice of its | ||||||
2 | application in the official State newspaper within 10 days | ||||||
3 | following the date of the application's filing. | ||||||
4 | (e) The public utility shall establish a dedicated website | ||||||
5 | for the Project 3 weeks prior to the first public meeting and | ||||||
6 | maintain the website until construction of the Project is | ||||||
7 | complete. The website address shall be included in all public | ||||||
8 | notices. | ||||||
9 | (f) The Commission shall, after notice and hearing, grant a | ||||||
10 | certificate of public convenience and necessity filed in | ||||||
11 | accordance with the requirements of this Section if, based upon | ||||||
12 | the application filed with the Commission and the evidentiary | ||||||
13 | record, it finds the Project will promote the public | ||||||
14 | convenience and necessity and that all of the following | ||||||
15 | criteria are satisfied: | ||||||
16 | (1) That the Project is necessary to provide adequate, | ||||||
17 | reliable, and efficient service to the public utility's | ||||||
18 | customers and is the least-cost means of satisfying the | ||||||
19 | service needs of the public utility's customers or that the | ||||||
20 | Project will promote the development of an effectively | ||||||
21 | competitive electricity market that operates efficiently, | ||||||
22 | is equitable to all customers, and is the least cost means | ||||||
23 | of satisfying those objectives. | ||||||
24 | (2) That the public utility is capable of efficiently | ||||||
25 | managing and supervising the construction process and has | ||||||
26 | taken sufficient action to ensure adequate and efficient |
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1 | construction and supervision of the construction. | ||||||
2 | (3) That the public utility is capable of financing the | ||||||
3 | proposed construction without significant adverse | ||||||
4 | financial consequences for the utility or its customers. | ||||||
5 | (g) The Commission shall issue its decision with findings | ||||||
6 | of fact and conclusions of law granting or denying the | ||||||
7 | application no later than 150 days after the application is | ||||||
8 | filed. The Commission may extend the 150-day deadline upon | ||||||
9 | notice by an additional 75 days if, on or before the 30th day | ||||||
10 | after the filing of the application, the Commission finds that | ||||||
11 | good cause exists to extend the 150-day period. | ||||||
12 | (h) In the event the Commission grants a public utility's | ||||||
13 | application for a certificate pursuant to this Section, the | ||||||
14 | public utility shall pay a one-time construction fee to each | ||||||
15 | county in which the Project is constructed within 30 days after | ||||||
16 | the completion of construction. The construction fee shall be | ||||||
17 | $20,000 per mile of high voltage electric service line | ||||||
18 | constructed in that county, or a proportionate fraction of that | ||||||
19 | fee. The fee shall be in lieu of any permitting fees that | ||||||
20 | otherwise would be imposed by a county. Counties receiving a | ||||||
21 | payment under this subsection (h) may distribute all or | ||||||
22 | portions of the fee to local taxing districts in that county. | ||||||
23 | (i) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, a | ||||||
24 | decision granting a certificate under this Section shall | ||||||
25 | include an order pursuant to Section 8-503 of this Act | ||||||
26 | authorizing or directing the construction of the high voltage |
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1 | electric service line and related facilities as approved by the | ||||||
2 | Commission, in the manner and within the time specified in said | ||||||
3 | order.
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4 | (j) For applications filed after the effective date of this | ||||||
5 | amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, certificates | ||||||
6 | granted under this Section for Projects that will impact | ||||||
7 | agricultural land shall be conditioned on the applicant | ||||||
8 | adhering to an agricultural impact mitigation agreement that he | ||||||
9 | or she has entered into with the Department of Agriculture that | ||||||
10 | outlines the mitigative actions the applicant will take to | ||||||
11 | preserve the integrity of agricultural land impacted by the | ||||||
12 | Project. | ||||||
13 | (Source: P.A. 99-399, eff. 8-18-15.) | ||||||
14 | (220 ILCS 5/8-509) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 8-509) | ||||||
15 | Sec. 8-509. When necessary for the construction of any | ||||||
16 | alterations,
additions, extensions or improvements ordered or | ||||||
17 | authorized under Section 8-406.1,
8-503, or 12-218 of this Act, | ||||||
18 | any public utility may enter upon, take or
damage private | ||||||
19 | property in the manner provided for by the law of eminent | ||||||
20 | domain. If a public utility seeks relief under this Section in | ||||||
21 | the same proceeding in which it seeks a certificate of public | ||||||
22 | convenience and necessity under Section 8-406.1 of this Act, | ||||||
23 | the Commission shall enter its order under this Section either | ||||||
24 | as part of the Section 8-406.1 order or at the same time it | ||||||
25 | enters the Section 8-406.1 order. If a public utility seeks |
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1 | relief under this Section after the Commission enters its order | ||||||
2 | in the Section 8-406.1 proceeding, the Commission shall issue | ||||||
3 | its order under this Section within 180 45 days after the | ||||||
4 | utility files its petition under this Section. | ||||||
5 | This Section applies to the exercise of eminent domain | ||||||
6 | powers by
telephone companies or telecommunications carriers | ||||||
7 | only when the facilities
to be constructed are intended to be | ||||||
8 | used in whole or in part for providing
one or more intrastate | ||||||
9 | telecommunications services classified as
"noncompetitive" | ||||||
10 | under Section 13-502 in a tariff filed by the condemnor.
The | ||||||
11 | exercise of eminent domain powers by telephone companies or
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12 | telecommunications carriers in all other cases shall be | ||||||
13 | governed solely by
"An Act relating to the powers, duties and | ||||||
14 | property of telephone
companies", approved May 16, 1903, as now | ||||||
15 | or hereafter amended. | ||||||
16 | (Source: P.A. 96-1348, eff. 7-28-10.)
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17 | Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||||||
18 | becoming law.
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