State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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[ Engrossed ][ Enrolled ][ Senate Amendment 001 ]
[ Senate Amendment 002 ]

90_SB1853

      20 ILCS 687/6-5
      20 ILCS 687/6-6
      30 ILCS 730/3             from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 8203
      305 ILCS 20/13
      305 ILCS 20/14
          Amends the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and  Coal
      Resources  Development  Law  of  1997.   Provides  that  each
      utility  and alternative retail electric supplier shall remit
      energy  assistance  charge  receipts  to  the  Department  of
      Revenue (now Department of Commerce  and  Community  Affairs)
      for  deposit in the Renewable Energy Resources Trust Fund and
      the Coal Technology  Development  Assistance  Fund  (now  the
      Renewable   Energy  Resources  Trust  Fund).   Provides  that
      contributions to the Energy Efficiency Trust  Fund  shall  be
      remitted  to the Department of Revenue (now the Department of
      Commerce and Community Affairs).  Amends  the  Illinois  Coal
      Technology  Development  Assistance  Act.  Provides that when
      the  monthly  balance  reaches  $10,000,000  for   the   Coal
      Technology   Development  Assistance  Fund,  then  the  State
      Treasurer shall  not  transfer  other  moneys  to  the  fund.
      Amends  the Energy Assistance Act of 1989.  Expedites certain
      dates of the Energy  Assistance  Program  concerning  review,
      reporting,  and  advisement.  Makes other changes.  Effective
      immediately.
                                                     SRS90S0078JJch
                                               SRS90S0078JJch
 1        AN ACT concerning energy.
 2        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:
 4        Section  5.  The Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and
 5    Coal Resources Development Law of 1997 is amended by changing
 6    Sections 6-5 and 6-6 as follows:
 7        (20 ILCS 687/6-5)
 8        (Section scheduled to be repealed on December 16, 2007)
 9        Sec. 6-5. Renewable Energy Resources and Coal  Technology
10    Development Assistance Charge.
11        (a)  Beginning  January  1,  1998,  the following charges
12    shall be imposed:
13             (1)  $0.05 per month on each account for residential
14        electric service as defined in Section 13 of  the  Energy
15        Assistance Act of 1989;
16             (2)  $0.05 per month on each account for residential
17        gas  service  as  defined  in  Section  13  of the Energy
18        Assistance Act of 1989;
19             (3)  $0.50   per   month   on   each   account   for
20        nonresidential electric service, as defined in Section 13
21        of the Energy Assistance Act of 1989, taking less than 10
22        megawatts of peak demand  during  the  previous  calendar
23        year;
24             (4)  $0.50   per   month   on   each   account   for
25        nonresidential  gas  service, as defined in Section 13 of
26        the Energy Assistance  Act  of  1989,  taking  less  than
27        4,000,000  therms  of  gas  during  the previous calendar
28        year;
29             (5)  $37.50  per   month   on   each   account   for
30        nonresidential electric service, as defined in Section 13
31        of the Energy Assistance Act of 1989, taking 10 megawatts
                            -2-                SRS90S0078JJch
 1        or  greater  of  peak demand during the previous calendar
 2        year; and
 3             (6)  $37.50  per   month   on   each   account   for
 4        nonresidential  gas  service, as defined in Section 13 of
 5        the Energy Assistance Act of 1989,  taking  4,000,000  or
 6        more therms of gas during the previous calendar year.
 7        (b)  Except   as  provided  in  subsection  (e)  of  this
 8    Section, this charge is to be collected by electric  and  gas
 9    utilities,  whether  owned  by  investors,  municipalities or
10    cooperatives, and alternative retail electric suppliers on  a
11    monthly basis from their respective customers.
12        (c)  Fifty  percent  of  the moneys collected pursuant to
13    this Section shall  be  deposited  in  the  Renewable  Energy
14    Resources  Trust Fund. The remaining 50 percent of the moneys
15    collected pursuant to this Section shall be deposited in  the
16    Coal Technology Development Assistance Fund for use under the
17    Illinois Coal Technology Development Assistance Act.
18        (d)  On  a  monthly  basis,  each utility and alternative
19    retail electric supplier collecting charges pursuant to  this
20    Section  shall remit to the Department of Revenue for deposit
21    in the Renewable Energy Resources Trust  Fund  and  the  Coal
22    Technology Development Assistance Fund all moneys received as
23    payment of the charge provided for in this Section.
24        (e)  The charges imposed by this Section shall only apply
25    to  customers  of  municipal  electric  and gas utilities and
26    electric  cooperatives  if  the  municipal  electric  or  gas
27    utility or electric cooperative makes an affirmative decision
28    to impose the charge. If a municipal electric or gas  utility
29    or  electric  cooperative  does  not  assess this charge, its
30    customers shall not be  eligible  for  the  Renewable  Energy
31    Resources Program.
32    (Source: P.A. 90-561, eff. 12-16-97.)
33        (20 ILCS 687/6-6)
                            -3-                SRS90S0078JJch
 1        (Section scheduled to be repealed on December 16, 2007)
 2        Sec. 6-6. Energy efficiency program.
 3        (a)  For   the   year  beginning  January  1,  1998,  and
 4    thereafter as provided in this Section, each electric utility
 5    and  each  alternative  retail  electric  supplier  supplying
 6    electric power and energy to retail customers located in  the
 7    State of Illinois shall contribute annually to the Department
 8    a  pro  rata share of a total amount of $3,000,000 based upon
 9    the number of kilowatt-hours sold by each such entity in  the
10    12   months   preceding  the  year  of  contribution.   These
11    contributions shall be remitted to the Department of  Revenue
12    on  or  before  June 30 of each year the contribution is due.
13    The funds received by the Department pursuant to this Section
14    shall be subject to the appropriation of funds by the General
15    Assembly.  The Department of Revenue shall  place  the  funds
16    remitted  under  this Section in a trust fund, that is hereby
17    created in the State Treasury, called the  Energy  Efficiency
18    Trust Fund.
19        (b)  The  Department  of  Commerce  and Community Affairs
20    shall disburse the moneys in the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund
21    to residential electric customers to fund projects which  the
22    Department  has  determined will promote energy efficiency in
23    the State of Illinois.  The Department shall establish a list
24    of projects eligible for grants from  the  Energy  Efficiency
25    Trust  Fund  including, but not limited to, supporting energy
26    efficiency  efforts  for  low-income  households,   replacing
27    energy  inefficient  windows  with  more  efficient  windows,
28    replacing  energy  inefficient appliances with more efficient
29    appliances, replacing energy inefficient lighting  with  more
30    efficient  lighting,  insulating dwellings and buildings, and
31    such other projects which will increase energy efficiency  in
32    homes and rental properties.
33        (c)  The  Department  shall  establish  criteria  and  an
34    application process for this grant program.
                            -4-                SRS90S0078JJch
 1        (d)  The  Department  shall  conduct  a  study  of  other
 2    possible  energy efficiency improvements and evaluate methods
 3    for promoting energy efficiency and conservation,  especially
 4    for the benefit of low-income customers.
 5        (e)  The  Department shall submit an annual report to the
 6    General Assembly evaluating the effectiveness of the projects
 7    and programs  provided  in  this  Section,  and  recommending
 8    further   legislation   which   will   encourage   additional
 9    development  and implementation of energy efficiency projects
10    and programs in Illinois and other actions that help to  meet
11    the goals of this Section.
12    (Source: P.A. 90-561, eff. 12-16-97.)
13        Section  10.   The  Illinois  Coal Technology Development
14    Assistance Act is amended by changing Section 3 as follows:
15        (30 ILCS 730/3) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 8203)
16        Sec.  3.   Transfers  to  Coal   Technology   Development
17    Assistance  Funds.  As  soon  as may be practicable after the
18    first day of each month,  the  Department  of  Revenue  shall
19    certify  to  the  Treasurer  an  amount  equal to 1/64 of the
20    revenue realized from the  tax  imposed  by  the  Electricity
21    Excise  Tax  Law,  Section  2 of the Public Utilities Revenue
22    Act, Section 2 of the Messages Tax Act, and Section 2 of  the
23    Gas  Revenue  Tax  Act,  during  the  preceding  month.  Upon
24    receipt of the certification, the  Treasurer  shall  transfer
25    the  amount  shown  on  such  certification  from the General
26    Revenue Fund to the Coal  Technology  Development  Assistance
27    Fund,  which is hereby created as a special fund in the State
28    treasury,  except that no transfer shall be made in any month
29    in which the Fund from moneys received under this Section has
30    reached the following balance:
31             (1)  $7,000,000 during fiscal year 1994.
32             (2)  $8,500,000 during fiscal year 1995.
                            -5-                SRS90S0078JJch
 1             (3)  $10,000,000 during fiscal years year  1996  and
 2        1997.
 3             (4)  During   fiscal   year   1998   and  each  year
 4        thereafter, an amount equal to  the  sum  of  $10,000,000
 5        plus additional moneys deposited into the Coal Technology
 6        Development  Assistance  Fund  from  the Renewable Energy
 7        Resources  and  Coal  Technology  Development  Assistance
 8        Charge under Section 6.5 of the Renewable Energy,  Energy
 9        Efficiency, and Coal Resources Development Law of 1997.
10    (Source: P.A. 90-561, eff. 12-16-97.)
11        Section 15.  The Energy Assistance Act of 1989 is amended
12    by changing Sections 13 and 14 as follows:
13        (305 ILCS 20/13)
14        Sec. 13.  Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund.
15        (a)  The  Supplemental  Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund
16    is hereby created as a special fund in  the  State  Treasury.
17    The   Supplemental   Low-Income  Energy  Assistance  Fund  is
18    authorized to  receive,  by  statutory  deposit,  the  moneys
19    collected    pursuant    to   this   Section.    Subject   to
20    appropriation, the  Department  shall  use  moneys  from  the
21    Supplemental  Low-Income  Energy Assistance Fund for payments
22    to electric or gas public utilities,  municipal  electric  or
23    gas  utilities,  and electric cooperatives on behalf of their
24    customers who are participants in the program  authorized  by
25    Section  4  of  this Act, for the provision of weatherization
26    services  and  for   administration   of   the   Supplemental
27    Low-Income  Energy  Assistance Fund.  The yearly expenditures
28    for weatherization may not exceed 10% of the amount collected
29    during the year pursuant to  this  Section.   In  determining
30    which   customers  will  participate  in  the  weatherization
31    component, the Department  shall  target  weatherization  for
32    those  customers with the greatest energy burden, that is the
                            -6-                SRS90S0078JJch
 1    lowest  income  and  greatest  utility  bills.   The   yearly
 2    administrative expenses of the Supplemental Low-Income Energy
 3    Assistance  Fund  may  not exceed 10% of the amount collected
 4    during that year pursuant to this Section.
 5        (b)  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 16-111  of
 6    the  Public  Utilities  Act,  each  public  utility, electric
 7    cooperative, as  defined  in  Section  3.4  of  the  Electric
 8    Supplier Act, and municipal utility, as referenced in Section
 9    3-105  of  the  Public  Utilities Act, that is engaged in the
10    delivery of electricity or the distribution  of  natural  gas
11    within  the  State  of  Illinois  shall, effective January 1,
12    1998, assess each of its customer accounts a  monthly  Energy
13    Assistance  Charge  for  the  Supplemental  Low-Income Energy
14    Assistance Fund.  The monthly charge shall be as follows:
15             (1)  $0.40 per month on each account for residential
16        electric service;
17             (2)  $0.40 per month on each account for residential
18        gas service;
19             (3)  $4   per   month   on    each    account    for
20        non-residential  electric  service which had less than 10
21        megawatts of peak demand  during  the  previous  calendar
22        year;
23             (4)  $4    per    month    on   each   account   for
24        non-residential gas service which had distributed  to  it
25        less  than  4,000,000  therms  of gas during the previous
26        calendar year;
27             (5)  $300   per   month   on   each   account    for
28        non-residential  electric  service which had 10 megawatts
29        or greater of peak demand during  the  previous  calendar
30        year; and
31             (6)  $300    per   month   on   each   account   for
32        non-residential gas service which had 4,000,000  or  more
33        therms  of  gas  distributed  to  it  during the previous
34        calendar year.
                            -7-                SRS90S0078JJch
 1        (c)  For purposes of this Section:
 2             (1)  "residential electric service"  means  electric
 3        utility  service  for  household  purposes delivered to a
 4        dwelling of 2 or fewer units  which  is  billed  under  a
 5        residential   rate,   or  electric  utility  service  for
 6        household purposes delivered to a dwelling unit or  units
 7        which   is   billed  under  a  residential  rate  and  is
 8        registered by a separate meter for each dwelling unit;
 9             (2)  "residential gas  service"  means  gas  utility
10        service  for household purposes distributed to a dwelling
11        of 2 or fewer units which is billed under  a  residential
12        rate,  or  gas  utility  service  for  household purposes
13        distributed to a dwelling unit or units which  is  billed
14        under  a residential rate and is registered by a separate
15        meter for each dwelling unit;
16             (3)  "non-residential   electric   service"    means
17        electric   utility   service  which  is  not  residential
18        electric service; and
19             (4)  "non-residential gas service" means gas utility
20        service which is not residential gas service.
21        (d)  At least 45 days prior to the date on which it  must
22    begin   assessing  Energy  Assistance  Charges,  each  public
23    utility  engaged  in  the  delivery  of  electricity  or  the
24    distribution of natural gas  shall  file  with  the  Illinois
25    Commerce   Commission   tariffs   incorporating   the  Energy
26    Assistance Charge in other charges stated in such tariffs.
27        (e)  The Energy Assistance Charge  assessed  by  electric
28    and  gas  public  utilities  shall be considered a charge for
29    public utility service.
30        (f)  On a monthly basis, each public  utility,  municipal
31    utility,   and   electric  cooperative  shall  remit  to  the
32    Department of Revenue all moneys received as payment  of  the
33    Energy  Assistance  Charge.   If  a  customer makes a partial
34    payment, a public utility,  municipal  utility,  or  electric
                            -8-                SRS90S0078JJch
 1    cooperative  may  elect  either:  (i)  to  apply such partial
 2    payments first to amounts owed to the utility or  cooperative
 3    for   its  services  and  then  to  payment  for  the  Energy
 4    Assistance Charge or (ii) to apply such partial payments on a
 5    pro-rata  basis  between  amounts  owed  to  the  utility  or
 6    cooperative for its services and to payment  for  the  Energy
 7    Assistance Charge.
 8        (g)  The  Department  of  Revenue  shall deposit into the
 9    Supplemental Low-Income Energy  Assistance  Fund  all  moneys
10    remitted  to  it  in  accordance  with subsection (f) of this
11    Section.
12        (h)  If as of June  30  December  31,  2002  the  program
13    authorized  by Section 4 of this Act has not been replaced by
14    a new energy assistance program which is in  operation,  then
15    the  General  Assembly  shall  review  the  program; provided
16    however, that after that date, any public utility,  municipal
17    utility,  or electric cooperative shall continue to assess an
18    Energy Assistance Charge which was originally assessed on  or
19    before December 31, 2002 and which remains unpaid.
20        On or before December 31, 2002 2003, the Department shall
21    prepare  a report for the General Assembly on the expenditure
22    of funds appropriated from the Low-Income  Energy  Assistance
23    Block  Grant  Fund for the program authorized under Section 4
24    of this Act.
25        (i)  The Department of Revenue may establish  such  rules
26    as it deems necessary to implement this Section.
27        (j)  The Department of Commerce and Community Affairs may
28    establish  such rules as it deems necessary to implement this
29    Section.
30        (k)  The charges imposed by this Section shall only apply
31    to customers of municipal  electric  utilities  and  electric
32    cooperatives  if  the  municipal electric utility or electric
33    cooperative makes  an  affirmative  decision  to  impose  the
34    charge.    If   a  municipal  electric  utility  or  electric
                            -9-                SRS90S0078JJch
 1    cooperative does not assess this charge, the  Department  may
 2    not   use  funds  from  the  Supplemental  Low-Income  Energy
 3    Assistance Fund to provide benefits to  its  customers  under
 4    the program authorized by Section 4 of this Act.
 5    (Source: P.A. 90-561, eff. 12-16-97.)
 6        (305 ILCS 20/14)
 7        Sec. 14.  Energy Assistance Program Design Group.
 8        (a)  This   Section   establishes  an  Energy  Assistance
 9    Program Design Group to  advise  the  General  Assembly  with
10    respect  to  designing a low-income energy assistance program
11    for the period beginning on July 1, 2002 January 1, 2003.
12        (b)  As promptly as practicable following  the  enactment
13    of  this  amendatory  Act of 1997, the General Assembly, or a
14    Joint Committee thereof, shall establish an Energy Assistance
15    Program Design Group.  The Energy Assistance  Program  Design
16    Group  shall  be chaired by the Director of the Department of
17    Commerce  and  Community  Affairs  and  shall   include   one
18    representative  of  each  of  the following: (i) the Illinois
19    Commerce  Commission;  (ii)   the   Department   of   Natural
20    Resources;  (iii)  electric public utilities; (iv) gas public
21    utilities; (v) combination gas and electric public utilities;
22    (vi) municipal utilities  and  electric  cooperatives;  (vii)
23    electricity  and  natural  gas  marketers;  (viii) low-income
24    energy  customers;  (ix)  local  agencies  engaged   by   the
25    Department of Commerce and Community Affairs to assist in the
26    administration  of  the  Energy  Assistance  Act of 1989; (x)
27    residential  energy   customers;   (xi)   commercial   energy
28    customers; and (xii) industrial energy customers.
29        (c)  Within  3  months  of  its establishment, the Energy
30    Assistance  Program  Design  Group  shall   meet   to   begin
31    consideration  of  the design and implementation of an energy
32    assistance program in Illinois for the  period  beginning  on
33    July  1,  2002  January  1,  2003.   Within  12 months of its
                            -10-               SRS90S0078JJch
 1    establishment, the Program Design  Group  shall  hold  public
 2    hearings to assist its deliberations.
 3        (d)  The  Program  Design  Group  shall  provide a report
 4    containing its recommendations to the General Assembly on  or
 5    before  January  1,  2001 2002.  This report must include the
 6    following:
 7             (1)  recommendations  on  the   definition   of   an
 8        eligible low-income residential customer;
 9             (2)  recommendations  regarding  the continuation of
10        the program authorized by Section 4 of this Act  and  the
11        Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund;
12             (3)  recommendations    on    ensuring    low-income
13        residential  customers  have  access  to essential energy
14        services;
15             (4)  recommendations on addressing past due  amounts
16        owed to utilities by low-income persons in Illinois;
17             (5)  demographic  and  other  information (including
18        household consumption information) necessary to determine
19        the total number of customers  eligible  for  assistance,
20        the  total  number  of  customers  likely  to  apply  for
21        assistance,  and  funding  estimates  for any recommended
22        program;
23             (6)  recommendations  on  appropriate  measures   to
24        encourage    energy    conservation,    efficiency,   and
25        responsibility among low-income residential customers;
26             (7)  any    recommended    changes    to    existing
27        legislation; and
28             (8)  an estimate of the  cost  of  implementing  the
29        Program Design Group's recommendations.
30        (e)  The  recommendations  adopted  by the Program Design
31    Group shall be  competitively  neutral  in  their  impact  on
32    providers in the energy market and shall spread program costs
33    across the broadest possible base.
34        (f)  The  Department  of  Commerce  and Community Affairs
                            -11-               SRS90S0078JJch
 1    shall hold public hearings  on  the  recommendations  of  the
 2    Energy  Assistance  Program Design Group during calendar year
 3    2001 2002.
 4    (Source: P.A. 90-561, eff. 12-16-97.)
 5        Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect  upon
 6    becoming law.

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