102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB1605

 

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Bill Cunningham

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
220 ILCS 5/16-122
815 ILCS 505/2EE

    Amends the Public Utilities Act. Removes provisions requiring payment of reasonable fees for a customer, alternative retail electric supplier, or unit of local government to access specified information from an electric utility. Requires that each electric utility serving at least 100,000 customers that procures power to file a tariff with the Commission that modifies its current tariff to require all retail customer advanced metering infrastructure meter usage data used for electric power and energy supply service. Provides that the tariff shall provide for the utility to reconcile load serving entity wholesale settlement statements with any necessary regional transmission organization or independent system operator using actual customer meter data and also provide that such customer's validated interval meter usage data be provided the next calendar day for all retail customers enrolled with an alternative retail electric supplier according to the electric utility's records that have contractually authorized release of such data. Provides that an alternative retail electric supplier and its affiliates and contracted third parties shall use such interval meter usage data for the development, marketing, and provision of providing current and future products or services related to retail electric supply service. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that an alternative retail electric supplier shall not warrant or otherwise represent to an electric utility that the alternative retail electric supplier is authorized to access the interval data of a current or prospective residential or small commercial retail customer unless the alternative retail electric supplier has obtained authorization. Effective immediately.


LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1605LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Findings.
5    (a) The General Assembly finds that retail electricity
6supply products and services that vary by the time of day when
7electricity is consumed benefits all energy customers by
8providing greater opportunities for decreasing peak demand,
9reducing the strain on utility distribution assets, promoting
10energy efficiency, providing timely energy information alerts
11(one day lag), and supporting clean energy resources thereby
12thus promoting the health, safety, and welfare of all citizens
13of the State of Illinois.
14    (b) The General Assembly finds that significant barriers
15to adoption of retail electricity time-variant supply products
16and services, such as time of use pricing, time relevant
17informational alerts, and demand response products, by
18alternative retail electric suppliers serving residential and
19small commercial customers exist under present law and that
20the Illinois Commerce Commission has held that access to
21customer interval meter usage data to accurately price
22products and provide services based upon customer specific and
23unique electricity usage patterns is most appropriately
24resolved by the General Assembly.

 

 

SB1605- 2 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1    (c) The General Assembly finds that such advance metering
2infrastructure interval meter usage data can be utilized by
3alternative retail electric suppliers to develop product and
4service offerings to consumers that will provide consumers
5bill and usage alerts and a broader selection of specifically
6tailored renewable energy, energy efficiency, and vehicle
7electrification products that will further enhance the State's
8goals of moving toward a green economy.
9    (d) The General Assembly further finds that to enhance
10customer benefits of advanced metering infrastructure meter
11usage data and to facilitate alternative retail electric
12suppliers' ability to offer such products enabled by advanced
13metering infrastructure meters for the provision of
14competitive retail electric supply services certain
15modifications to existing utility tariffs relating to access
16to customer usage data are necessary in order for customers to
17have more frequent access to their monthly billing and daily
18real-time usage information to fully use the investments
19therein and to enable customers to more easily and effectively
20manage their energy consumption.
 
21    Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing
22Section 16-122 as follows:
 
23    (220 ILCS 5/16-122)
24    Sec. 16-122. Customer information.

 

 

SB1605- 3 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1    (a) Upon the request of a retail customer, or a person who
2presents verifiable authorization and is acting as the
3customer's agent, and payment of a reasonable fee, electric
4utilities shall provide to the customer or its authorized
5agent the customer's billing and usage data.
6    (b) Upon request from any alternative retail electric
7supplier and payment of a reasonable fee, an electric utility
8serving retail customers in its service area shall make
9available generic information concerning the usage, load shape
10curve or other general characteristics of customers by rate
11classification. Provided however, no customer specific
12billing, usage or load shape data shall be provided under this
13subsection unless authorization to provide such information is
14provided by the customer pursuant to subsection (a) of this
15Section or as otherwise authorized by this subsection (b).
16    Not later than 90 days after the effective date of this
17amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, each electric
18utility serving at least 100,000 customers that procures power
19and energy pursuant to Section 16-111.5 of this Act shall file
20a tariff with the Commission that modifies its current tariff
21to require all retail customer advanced metering
22infrastructure meter usage data used for electric power and
23energy supply service, including billing, settlement, and
24capacity requirements by a regional transmission organization
25or independent system operator with said meter usage data in
26intervals as recorded by the advanced metering be provided as

 

 

SB1605- 4 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1the standard meter data to an alternative retail electric
2supplier upon express authorization by the customer of record.
3The tariff shall provide for the utility to reconcile load
4serving entity wholesale settlement statements with any
5necessary regional transmission organization or independent
6system operator using actual customer meter data. The tariff
7shall also provide that such customer's validated interval
8meter usage data of not less than 15-minute basis intervals be
9provided the next calendar day for all retail customers
10enrolled with an alternative retail electric supplier
11according to the electric utility's records that have
12contractually authorized release of such data. Any contractual
13term or contract authorizing such release must include
14instructions on how to contact the alternative retail electric
15supplier and electric utility to opt out of release of the data
16at any time. An alternative retail electric supplier and its
17affiliates and contracted third parties shall use such
18interval meter usage data for the development, marketing, and
19provision of providing current and future products or services
20related to retail electric supply service, including, but not
21limited to, onsite or community generation, energy efficiency
22or management, time of use pricing, demand response, vehicle
23electrification, or any other electricity-related products or
24services. An alternative retail electric supplier and its
25affiliates and contracted third parties shall be prohibited
26from selling, licensing, or disclosing such information to a

 

 

SB1605- 5 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1third party for any other purpose.
2    Such electric utility shall file a tariff in accordance
3with this subsection to provide an alternative retail electric
4supplier with 24 consecutive months of historical AMI interval
5data and 24 months of interval meter usage data for each of the
6following 24 monthly billing periods effective with the month
7the utility receives such request and upon authorization from
8the alternative retail electric supplier on behalf of its
9prospective customer that is not a customer of record. Such
10tariff shall also allow an alternative retail electric
11supplier, their affiliates, and contracted third parties,
12access to 12 months of historical interval meter usage data
13for new customers and daily access, in the normal course of
14business, to all existing retail customers of that alternative
15retail electric supplier, in bulk, using a web portal or
16comparable interface provided by the electric utility. An
17alternative retail electric supplier and its affiliates and
18contracted third parties shall use such data for the
19development, marketing, and provision of current and future
20products or services related to retail electric supply
21service, including, but not limited to, onsite or community
22generation, energy efficiency or management, time of use
23pricing, demand response, vehicle electrification, or any
24other electricity-related products or services. An alternative
25retail electric supplier and its affiliates and contracted
26third parties shall be prohibited from selling, licensing, or

 

 

SB1605- 6 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1disclosing such information to a third party for any other
2purpose.
3    Use of such interval meter usage data by an alternative
4retail electric supplier contrary to the purposes and
5provisions of this subsection shall constitute a violation of
6Section 16-115A of this Act.
7    (c) Upon request from a unit of local government and
8payment of a reasonable fee, an electric utility shall make
9available information concerning the usage, load shape curves,
10and other characteristics of customers by customer
11classification and location within the boundaries of the unit
12of local government, however, no customer specific billing,
13usage, or load shape data shall be provided under this
14subsection unless authorization to provide that information is
15provided by the customer.
16    (d) All such customer information shall be made available
17in a timely fashion in an electronic format, if available.
18(Source: P.A. 92-585, eff. 6-26-02.)
 
19    Section 10. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business
20Practices Act is amended by changing Section 2EE as follows:
 
21    (815 ILCS 505/2EE)
22    Sec. 2EE. Alternative retail electric supplier selection.
23    (a) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
24submit or execute a change in a consumer's selection of a

 

 

SB1605- 7 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1provider of electric service unless and until:
2        (i) the alternative retail electric supplier first
3    discloses all material terms and conditions of the offer
4    to the consumer;
5        (ii) if the consumer is a small commercial retail
6    customer as that term is defined in subsection (c) of this
7    Section or a residential consumer, the alternative retail
8    electric supplier discloses the utility electric supply
9    price to compare, which shall be the sum of the electric
10    supply charge and the transmission services charge, and
11    shall not include the purchased electricity adjustment,
12    applicable at the time the offer is made to the consumer;
13        (iii) if the consumer is a small commercial retail
14    customer as that term is defined in subsection (c) of this
15    Section or a residential consumer, the alternative retail
16    electric provider discloses the following statement:
17            "(Name of the alternative retail electric
18        supplier) is not the same entity as your electric
19        delivery company. You are not required to enroll with
20        (name of alternative retail electric supplier). As of
21        (effective date), the electric supply price to compare
22        is currently (price in cents per kilowatt hour). The
23        electric utility electric supply price will expire on
24        (expiration date). The utility electric supply price
25        to compare does not include the purchased electricity
26        adjustment factor. For more information go to the

 

 

SB1605- 8 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1        Illinois Commerce Commission's free website at
2        www.pluginillinois.org.".
3        If applicable, the statement shall include the
4    following statement:
5            "The purchased electricity adjustment factor may
6        range between +.5 cents and -.5 cents per kilowatt
7        hour.";
8        (iv) the alternative retail electric supplier has
9    obtained the consumer's express agreement to accept the
10    offer after the disclosure of all material terms and
11    conditions of the offer; and
12        (v) the alternative retail electric supplier has
13    confirmed the request for a change in accordance with one
14    of the following procedures:
15            (A) The new alternative retail electric supplier
16        has obtained the consumer's written or electronically
17        signed authorization in a form that meets the
18        following requirements:
19                (1) An alternative retail electric supplier
20            shall obtain any necessary written or
21            electronically signed authorization from a
22            consumer for a change in electric service by using
23            a letter of agency as specified in this Section.
24            Any letter of agency that does not conform with
25            this Section is invalid.
26                (2) The letter of agency shall be a separate

 

 

SB1605- 9 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1            document (an easily separable document containing
2            only the authorization language described in
3            subparagraph (5)) whose sole purpose is to
4            authorize an electric service provider change. The
5            letter of agency must be signed and dated by the
6            consumer requesting the electric service provider
7            change.
8                (3) The letter of agency shall not be combined
9            with inducements of any kind on the same document.
10                (4) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (1) and (2),
11            the letter of agency may be combined with checks
12            that contain only the required letter of agency
13            language prescribed in subparagraph (5) and the
14            necessary information to make the check a
15            negotiable instrument. The letter of agency check
16            shall not contain any promotional language or
17            material. The letter of agency check shall contain
18            in easily readable, bold-face type on the face of
19            the check, a notice that the consumer is
20            authorizing an electric service provider change by
21            signing the check. The letter of agency language
22            also shall be placed near the signature line on
23            the back of the check.
24                (5) At a minimum, the letter of agency must be
25            printed with a print of sufficient size to be
26            clearly legible, and must contain clear and

 

 

SB1605- 10 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1            unambiguous language that confirms:
2                    (i) The consumer's billing name and
3                address;
4                    (ii) The decision to change the electric
5                service provider from the current provider to
6                the prospective provider;
7                    (iii) The terms, conditions, and nature of
8                the service to be provided to the consumer
9                must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed,
10                in writing, and an alternative retail electric
11                supplier must directly establish the rates for
12                the service contracted for by the consumer;
13                and
14                    (iv) That the consumer understand that any
15                alternative retail electric supplier selection
16                the consumer chooses may involve a charge to
17                the consumer for changing the consumer's
18                electric service provider.
19                (6) Letters of agency shall not suggest or
20            require that a consumer take some action in order
21            to retain the consumer's current electric service
22            provider.
23                (7) If any portion of a letter of agency is
24            translated into another language, then all
25            portions of the letter of agency must be
26            translated into that language.

 

 

SB1605- 11 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1            (B) An appropriately qualified independent third
2        party has obtained, in accordance with the procedures
3        set forth in this subsection (b), the consumer's oral
4        authorization to change electric suppliers that
5        confirms and includes appropriate verification data.
6        The independent third party (i) must not be owned,
7        managed, controlled, or directed by the supplier or
8        the supplier's marketing agent; (ii) must not have any
9        financial incentive to confirm supplier change
10        requests for the supplier or the supplier's marketing
11        agent; and (iii) must operate in a location physically
12        separate from the supplier or the supplier's marketing
13        agent.
14            Automated third-party verification systems and
15        3-way conference calls may be used for verification
16        purposes so long as the other requirements of this
17        subsection (b) are satisfied.
18            A supplier or supplier's sales representative
19        initiating a 3-way conference call or a call through
20        an automated verification system must drop off the
21        call once the 3-way connection has been established.
22            All third-party verification methods shall elicit,
23        at a minimum, the following information: (i) the
24        identity of the consumer; (ii) confirmation that the
25        person on the call is the account holder, has been
26        specifically and explicitly authorized by the account

 

 

SB1605- 12 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1        holder, or possesses lawful authority to make the
2        supplier change; (iii) confirmation that the person on
3        the call wants to make the supplier change; (iv) the
4        names of the suppliers affected by the change; (v) the
5        service address of the supply to be switched; and (vi)
6        the price of the service to be supplied and the
7        material terms and conditions of the service being
8        offered, including whether any early termination fees
9        apply. Third-party verifiers may not market the
10        supplier's services by providing additional
11        information, including information regarding
12        procedures to block or otherwise freeze an account
13        against further changes.
14            All third-party verifications shall be conducted
15        in the same language that was used in the underlying
16        sales transaction and shall be recorded in their
17        entirety. Submitting suppliers shall maintain and
18        preserve audio records of verification of subscriber
19        authorization for a minimum period of 2 years after
20        obtaining the verification. Automated systems must
21        provide consumers with an option to speak with a live
22        person at any time during the call. Each disclosure
23        made during the third-party verification must be made
24        individually to obtain clear acknowledgment of each
25        disclosure. The alternative retail electric supplier
26        must be in a location where he or she cannot hear the

 

 

SB1605- 13 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1        customer while the third-party verification is
2        conducted. The alternative retail electric supplier
3        shall not contact the customer after the third-party
4        verification for a period of 24 hours unless the
5        customer initiates the contact.
6            (C) When a consumer initiates the call to the
7        prospective alternative retail electric supplier, in
8        order to enroll the consumer as a customer, the
9        prospective alternative retail electric supplier must,
10        with the consent of the customer, make a date-stamped,
11        time-stamped audio recording that elicits, at a
12        minimum, the following information:
13                (1) the identity of the customer;
14                (2) confirmation that the person on the call
15            is authorized to make the supplier change;
16                (3) confirmation that the person on the call
17            wants to make the supplier change;
18                (4) the names of the suppliers affected by the
19            change;
20                (5) the service address of the supply to be
21            switched; and
22                (6) the price of the service to be supplied
23            and the material terms and conditions of the
24            service being offered, including whether any early
25            termination fees apply.
26            Submitting suppliers shall maintain and preserve

 

 

SB1605- 14 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1        the audio records containing the information set forth
2        above for a minimum period of 2 years.
3    (b)(1) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
4utilize the name of a public utility in any manner that is
5deceptive or misleading, including, but not limited to
6implying or otherwise leading a consumer to believe that an
7alternative retail electric supplier is soliciting on behalf
8of or is an agent of a utility. An alternative retail electric
9supplier shall not utilize the name, or any other identifying
10insignia, graphics, or wording that has been used at any time
11to represent a public utility company or its services, to
12identify, label, or define any of its electric power and
13energy service offers. An alternative retail electric supplier
14may state the name of a public electric utility in order to
15accurately describe the electric utility service territories
16in which the supplier is currently offering an electric power
17and energy service. An alternative retail electric supplier
18that is the affiliate of an Illinois public utility and that
19was doing business in Illinois providing alternative retail
20electric service on January 1, 2016 may continue to use that
21public utility's name, logo, identifying insignia, graphics,
22or wording in its business operations occurring outside the
23service territory of the public utility with which it is
24affiliated.
25    (2) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
26state or otherwise imply that the alternative retail electric

 

 

SB1605- 15 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1supplier is employed by, representing, endorsed by, or acting
2on behalf of a utility or utility program, a consumer group or
3consumer group program, or a governmental body, unless the
4alternative retail electric supplier has entered into a
5contractual arrangement with the governmental body and has
6been authorized by the governmental body to make the
7statements.
8    (3) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
9warrant or otherwise represent to an electric utility that the
10alternative retail electric supplier is authorized to access
11the interval data of a current or prospective residential or
12small commercial retail customer unless the alternative retail
13electric supplier has obtained authorization pursuant to
14Section 16-122 of the Public Utilities Act or as otherwise
15authorized by the Commission.
16    (c) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
17submit or execute a change in a consumer's selection of a
18provider of electric service unless the alternative retail
19electric supplier complies with the following requirements of
20this subsection (c). It is a violation of this Section for an
21alternative retail electric supplier to fail to comply with
22this subsection (c). The requirements of this subsection (c)
23shall only apply to residential and small commercial retail
24customers. For purposes of this subsection (c) only, "small
25commercial retail customer" has the meaning given to that term
26in Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act.

 

 

SB1605- 16 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1        (1) During a solicitation an alternative retail
2    electric supplier shall state that he or represents an
3    independent seller of electric power and energy service
4    certified by the Illinois Commerce Commission and that he
5    or she is not employed by, representing, endorsed by, or
6    acting on behalf of, a utility, or a utility program, a
7    consumer group or consumer group program, or a
8    governmental body, unless the alternative retail electric
9    supplier has entered into a contractual arrangement with
10    the governmental body and has been authorized with the
11    governmental body to make the statements.
12        (2) Alternative retail electric suppliers who engage
13    in in-person solicitation for the purpose of selling
14    electric power and energy service offered by the
15    alternative retail electric supplier shall display
16    identification on an outer garment. This identification
17    shall be visible at all times and prominently display the
18    following: (i) the alternative retail electric supplier
19    agent's full name in reasonable size font; (ii) an agent
20    identification number; (iii) a photograph of the
21    alternative retail electric supplier agent; and (iv) the
22    trade name and logo of the alternative retail electric
23    supplier the agent is representing. If the agent is
24    selling electric power and energy services from multiple
25    alternative retail electric suppliers to the consumer, the
26    identification shall display the trade name and logo of

 

 

SB1605- 17 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1    the agent, broker, or consultant entity as that entity is
2    defined in Section 16-115C of the Public Utilities Act. An
3    alternative retail electric supplier shall leave the
4    premises at the consumer's, owner's, or occupant's
5    request. A copy of the Uniform Disclosure Statement
6    described in 83 Ill. Adm. Code 412.115 and 412.Appendix A
7    is to be left with the consumer, at the conclusion of the
8    visit unless the consumer refuses to accept a copy. An
9    alternative retail electric supplier may provide the
10    Uniform Disclosure Statement electronically instead of in
11    paper form to a consumer upon that customer's request. The
12    alternative retail electric supplier shall also offer to
13    the consumer, at the time of the initiation of the
14    solicitation, a business card or other material that lists
15    the agent's name, identification number and title, and the
16    alternative retail electric supplier's name and contact
17    information, including phone number. The alternative
18    retail electric supplier shall not conduct any in-person
19    solicitations of consumers at any building or premises
20    where any sign, notice, or declaration of any description
21    whatsoever is posted that prohibits sales, marketing, or
22    solicitations. The alternative retail electric supplier
23    shall obtain consent to enter multi-unit residential
24    dwellings. Consent obtained to enter a multi-unit dwelling
25    from one prospective customer or occupant of the dwelling
26    shall not constitute consent to market to any other

 

 

SB1605- 18 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1    prospective consumers without separate consent.
2        (3) An alternative retail electric supplier who
3    contacts consumers by telephone for the purpose of selling
4    electric power and energy service shall provide the
5    agent's name and identification number. Any telemarketing
6    solicitations that lead to a telephone enrollment of a
7    consumer must be recorded and retained for a minimum of 2
8    years. All telemarketing calls of consumers that do not
9    lead to a telephone enrollment, but last at least 2
10    minutes, shall be recorded and retained for a minimum of 6
11    months.
12        (4) During an inbound enrollment call, an alternative
13    retail electric supplier shall state that he or she
14    represents an independent seller of electric power and
15    energy service certified by the Illinois Commerce
16    Commission. All inbound enrollment calls that lead to an
17    enrollment shall be recorded, and the recordings shall be
18    retained for a minimum of 2 years. An inbound enrollment
19    call that does not lead to an enrollment, but lasts at
20    least 2 minutes, shall be retained for a minimum of 6
21    months. The alternative retail electric supplier shall
22    send the Uniform Disclosure Statement and contract to the
23    customer within 3 business days after the electric
24    utility's confirmation to the alternative retail electric
25    supplier of an accepted enrollment.
26        (5) If a direct mail solicitation to a consumer

 

 

SB1605- 19 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1    includes a written letter of agency, it shall include the
2    Uniform Disclosure Statement described in 83 Ill. Adm.
3    Code 412.115 and 412.Appendix A. The Uniform Disclosure
4    Statement shall be provided on a separate page from the
5    other marketing materials included in the direct mail
6    solicitation. If a written letter of agency is being used
7    to authorize a consumer's enrollment, the written letter
8    of agency shall comply with this Section. A copy of the
9    contract must be sent to consumer within 3 business days
10    after the electric utility's confirmation to the
11    alternative retail electric supplier of an accepted
12    enrollment.
13        (6) Online Solicitation.
14            (A) Each alternative retail electric supplier
15        offering electric power and energy service to
16        consumers online shall clearly and conspicuously make
17        all disclosures for any services offered through
18        online enrollment before requiring the consumer to
19        enter any personal information other than zip code,
20        electric utility service territory, or type of service
21        sought.
22            (B) Notwithstanding any requirements in this
23        Section to the contrary, an alternative retail
24        electric supplier may secure consent from the consumer
25        to obtain customer-specific billing and usage
26        information for the sole purpose of determining and

 

 

SB1605- 20 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1        pricing a product through a letter of agency or method
2        approved through an Illinois Commerce Commission
3        docket before making all disclosure for services
4        offered through online enrollment. It is a violation
5        of this Act for an alternative retail electric
6        supplier to use a consumer's utility account number to
7        execute or change a consumer's enrollment unless the
8        consumer expressly consents to that enrollment as
9        required by law.
10            (C) The enrollment website of the alternative
11        retail electric supplier shall, at a minimum, include:
12        (i) disclosure of all material terms and conditions of
13        the offer; (ii) a statement that electronic acceptance
14        of the terms and conditions is an agreement to
15        initiate service and begin enrollment; (iii) a
16        statement that the consumer shall review the contract
17        or contact the current supplier to learn if any early
18        termination fees are applicable; and (iv) an email
19        address and toll-free phone number of the alternative
20        retail electric supplier where the customer can
21        express a decision to rescind the contract.
22        (7)(A) Beginning January 1, 2020, an alternative
23    retail electric supplier shall not sell or offer to sell
24    any products or services to a consumer pursuant to a
25    contract in which the contract automatically renews,
26    unless an alternative retail electric supplier provides to

 

 

SB1605- 21 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1    the consumer at the outset of the offer, in addition to
2    other disclosures required by law, a separate written
3    statement titled "Automatic Contract Renewal" that clearly
4    and conspicuously discloses in bold lettering in at least
5    12-point font the terms and conditions of the automatic
6    contract renewal provision, including: (i) the estimated
7    bill cycle on which the initial contract term expires and
8    a statement that it could be later based on when the
9    utility accepts the initial enrollment; (ii) the estimated
10    bill cycle on which the new contract term begins and a
11    statement that it will immediately follow the last billing
12    cycle of the current term; (iii) the procedure to
13    terminate the contract before the new contract term
14    applies; and (iv) the cancellation procedure. If the
15    alternative retail electric supplier sells or offers to
16    sell the products or services to a consumer during an
17    in-person solicitation or telemarketing solicitation, the
18    disclosures described in this subparagraph (A) shall also
19    be made to the consumer verbally during the solicitation.
20    Nothing in this subparagraph (A) shall be construed to
21    apply to contracts entered into before January 1, 2020.
22            (B) At least 30 days before, but not more than 60
23        days prior, to the end of the initial contract term, in
24        any and all contracts that automatically renew after
25        the initial term, the alternative retail electric
26        supplier shall send, in addition to other disclosures

 

 

SB1605- 22 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1        required by law, a separate written notice of the
2        contract renewal to the consumer that clearly and
3        conspicuously discloses the following:
4                (i) a statement printed or visible from the
5            outside of the envelope or in the subject line of
6            the email, if the customer has agreed to receive
7            official documents by email, that states "Contract
8            Renewal Notice";
9                (ii) a statement in bold lettering, in at
10            least 12-point font, that the contract will
11            automatically renew unless the customer cancels
12            it;
13                (iii) the billing cycle in which service under
14            the current term will expire;
15                (iv) the billing cycle in which service under
16            the new term will begin;
17                (v) the process and options available to the
18            consumer to reject the new contract terms;
19                (vi) the cancellation process if the
20            consumer's contract automatically renews before
21            the consumer rejects the new contract terms;
22                (vii) the terms and conditions of the new
23            contract term;
24                (viii) for a fixed rate contract, a
25            side-by-side comparison of the current price and
26            the new price; for a variable rate contract or

 

 

SB1605- 23 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1            time-of-use product in which the first month's
2            renewal price can be determined, a side-by-side
3            comparison of the current price and the price for
4            the first month of the new variable or time-of-use
5            price; or for a variable or time-of-use contract
6            based on a publicly available index, a
7            side-by-side comparison of the current formula and
8            the new formula; and
9                (ix) the phone number and email address to
10            submit a consumer inquiry or complaint to the
11            Illinois Commerce Commission and the Office of the
12            Attorney General.
13            (C) An alternative retail electric supplier shall
14        not automatically renew a consumer's enrollment after
15        the current term of the contract expires when the
16        current term of the contract provides that the
17        consumer will be charged a fixed rate and the renewed
18        contract provides that the consumer will be charged a
19        variable rate, unless: (i) the alternative retail
20        electric supplier complies with subparagraphs (A) and
21        (B); and (ii) the customer expressly consents to the
22        contract renewal in writing or by electronic signature
23        at least 30 days, but no more than 60 days, before the
24        contract expires.
25            (D) This paragraph (7) does not apply to customers
26        enrolled in a municipal aggregation program pursuant

 

 

SB1605- 24 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1        to Section 1-92 of the Illinois Power Agency Act.
2        (8) All in-person and telephone solicitations shall be
3    conducted in, translated into, and provided in a language
4    in which the consumer subject to the marketing or
5    solicitation is able to understand and communicate. An
6    alternative retail electric supplier shall terminate a
7    solicitation if the consumer subject to the marketing or
8    communication is unable to understand and communicate in
9    the language in which the marketing or solicitation is
10    being conducted. An alternative retail electric supplier
11    shall comply with Section 2N of this Act.
12        (9) Beginning January 1, 2020, consumers shall have
13    the right to terminate their contract with the alternative
14    retail electric supplier at any time without any
15    termination fees or penalties.
16        (10) An alternative retail electric supplier shall not
17    submit a change to a customer's electric service provider
18    in violation of Section 16-115E of the Public Utilities
19    Act.
20    (c) Complaints may be filed with the Illinois Commerce
21Commission under this Section by a consumer whose electric
22service has been provided by an alternative retail electric
23supplier in a manner not in compliance with this Section or by
24the Illinois Commerce Commission on its own motion when it
25appears to the Commission that an alternative retail electric
26supplier has provided service in a manner not in compliance

 

 

SB1605- 25 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1with this Section. If, after notice and hearing, the
2Commission finds that an alternative retail electric supplier
3has violated this Section, the Commission may in its
4discretion do any one or more of the following:
5        (1) Require the violating alternative retail electric
6    supplier to refund to the consumer charges collected in
7    excess of those that would have been charged by the
8    consumer's authorized electric service provider.
9        (2) Require the violating alternative retail electric
10    supplier to pay to the consumer's authorized electric
11    service provider the amount the authorized electric
12    service provider would have collected for the electric
13    service. The Commission is authorized to reduce this
14    payment by any amount already paid by the violating
15    alternative retail electric supplier to the consumer's
16    authorized provider for electric service.
17        (3) Require the violating alternative retail electric
18    supplier to pay a fine of up to $1,000 into the Public
19    Utility Fund for each repeated and intentional violation
20    of this Section.
21        (4) Issue a cease and desist order.
22        (5) For a pattern of violation of this Section or for
23    intentionally violating a cease and desist order, revoke
24    the violating alternative retail electric supplier's
25    certificate of service authority.
26    (d) For purposes of this Section:

 

 

SB1605- 26 -LRB102 14743 SPS 20096 b

1    "Electric service provider" shall have the meaning given
2that phrase in Section 6.5 of the Attorney General Act.
3    "Alternative retail electric supplier" has the meaning
4given to that term in Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities
5Act.
6(Source: P.A. 101-590, eff. 1-1-20.)
 
7    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
8becoming law.