HB1541 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 25125 AMQ 51462 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB1541

Introduced 1/31/2023, by Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

220 ILCS 5/8-205

from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 8-205

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that if gas or electricity is used as the only source of space cooling or to control or operate the only space cooling equipment at a residence, then a utility may not terminate gas or electric utility service to a residential user for nonpayment of bills: (1) on any day when the National Weather Service forecast for the following 24 hours covering the area of the utility in which the residence is located includes a forecast that the temperature will be 85 degrees (rather than 95 degrees) Fahrenheit or above; (2) on any day preceding a holiday or weekend when the National Weather Service for the following 24 hours covering the area of the utility in which the residence is located includes a forecast that the temperature will be 85 degrees (rather than 95 degrees) Fahrenheit or above during the holiday or weekend; or (3) when the National Weather Service issues an excessive heat watch, heat advisory, or excessive heat warning covering the area of the utility in which the residence is located.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning utilities.

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 changing Section 8-205 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/8-205) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 8-205)

Sec. 8-205. (a) Termination of gas and electric utility service to all residential users, including all tenants of mastermetered apartment buildings, for nonpayment of bills, where gas or electricity is used as the only source of space heating or to control or operate the only space heating equipment at the residence is prohibited,

(1) on any day when the National Weather Service forecast for the following 24 hours covering the area of the utility in which the residence is located includes a forecast that the temperature will be 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below; or

(2) on any day preceding a holiday or a weekend when such a forecast indicated that the temperature will be 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below during the holiday or weekend.

(b) If gas or electricity is used as the only source of space cooling or to control or operate the only space cooling equipment at a residence, then a utility with over 100,000 residential customers may not terminate gas or electric utility service to a the residential user, including all tenants of mastermetered apartment buildings, for nonpayment of bills:

(1) on any day when the National Weather Service forecast for the following 24 hours covering the area of the utility in which the residence is located includes a forecast that the temperature will be 85 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above; or

(2) on any day preceding a holiday or weekend when the National Weather Service for the following 24 hours covering the area of the utility in which the residence is located includes a forecast indicates that the temperature will be 85 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above during the holiday or weekend; or

(3) when the National Weather Service issues an excessive heat watch, heat advisory, or excessive heat warning covering the area of the utility in which the residence is located.

(Source: P.A. 95-772, eff. 8-1-08.)