SB3577sam001 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Don Harmon

Filed: 5/3/2018

10000SB3577sam001 LRB100 20692 SMS 39388 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 3577

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 3577 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding Sections 2-204 and 20-140 and by changing Sections 16-115, 16-115A, 16-115B, 16-119, 19-115, and 20-110 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/2-204 new)

Sec. 2-204. Alternative Retail Electric Supplier and Alternative Gas Supplier Enforcement and Consumer Education Operations Account.

(a) The Alternative Retail Electric Supplier and Alternative Gas Supplier Enforcement and Consumer Education Operations Account is created as a separate account within the Public Utilities Fund.

(b) The Account is administered by the Commission for the Commission's operations pursuant to Sections 16-115, 16-115A, 16-115B, 16-117, 16-120, 19-115, 19—120, 19-125, 19-130, and 20-110.

(c) All moneys used by the Commission from the Account are subject to appropriation by the General Assembly.

(d) All disbursements from the Account shall be made only upon warrants of the State Comptroller drawn upon the State Treasurer as custodian of the Account upon vouchers signed by the chairman or executive director or by the person or persons designated by the chairman or executive director for that purpose. The State Comptroller is authorized to draw the warrant upon vouchers so signed. The State Treasurer shall accept all warrants so signed and shall be released from liability for all payments made on those warrants.

(e) The Account shall not be subject to sweeps, administrative charges, or chargebacks, including, but not limited to, those authorized under Section 8h of the State Finance Act, that would in any way result in the transfer of any funds from the Account to any other fund of this State or in having any such funds utilized for any purpose other than the express purposes set forth in this Section.

(f) Assessment payments under subsection (i-5) of Section 2-202 of entities possessing certificates of service authority as alternative retail electric suppliers under Section 16-115 and entities possessing certificates of service authority as alternative gas suppliers under Section 19-110 and fines imposed under subsection (i) of Section 16-115A, subsection (b) of Section 16-115B, subsection (d) of Section 19-115, and subsection (c) of Section 19-120 shall be deposited into the Account.

(220 ILCS 5/16-115)

Sec. 16-115. Certification of alternative retail electric suppliers.

(a) Any alternative retail electric supplier must obtain a certificate of service authority from the Commission in accordance with this Section before serving any retail customer or other user located in this State. An alternative retail electric supplier may request, and the Commission may grant, a certificate of service authority for the entire State or for a specified geographic area of the State.

(b) An alternative retail electric supplier seeking a certificate of service authority shall file with the Commission a verified application containing information showing that the applicant meets the requirements of this Section. The alternative retail electric supplier shall publish notice of its application in the official State newspaper within 10 days following the date of its filing. No later than 45 days after the application is properly filed with the Commission, and such notice is published, the Commission shall issue its order granting or denying the application. The Commission may extend the time for considering a certificate of service authority request by up to 90 days and may schedule hearings on the request if:

(1) a party to the application proceeding has formally requested that the Commission hold hearings in a pleading that alleges that one or more of the allegations or certifications in the application is false or misleading; or

(2) any other facts or circumstances exist that will necessitate additional time or evidence in order to determine whether a certificate of service authority should be issued.

(c) An application for a certificate of service authority shall identify the area or areas in which the applicant intends to offer service and the types of services it intends to offer. Applicants that seek to serve residential or small commercial retail customers within a geographic area that is smaller than an electric utility's service area shall submit evidence demonstrating that the designation of this smaller area does not violate Section 16-115A. An applicant that seeks to serve residential or small commercial retail customers may state in its application for certification any limitations that will be imposed on the number of customers or maximum load to be served.

(d) The Commission shall grant the application for a certificate of service authority if it makes the findings set forth in this subsection based on the verified application and such other information as the applicant may submit:

(1) That the applicant possesses sufficient technical, financial and managerial resources and abilities to provide the service for which it seeks a certificate of service authority. In determining the level of technical, financial and managerial resources and abilities which the applicant must demonstrate, the Commission shall consider (i) the characteristics, including the size and financial sophistication, of the customers that the applicant seeks to serve, and (ii) whether the applicant seeks to provide electric power and energy using property, plant and equipment which it owns, controls or operates, and (iii) the applicant's commitment of resources to the management of sales and marketing staff, through affirmative managerial policies, independent audits, technology, hands-on field monitoring and training, and, in the case of applicants who will have sales personnel or sales agents within the State of Illinois, the applicant's managerial presence within the State;

(2) That the applicant will comply with all applicable federal, State, regional and industry rules, policies, practices and procedures for the use, operation, and maintenance of the safety, integrity and reliability, of the interconnected electric transmission system;

(3) That the applicant will only provide service to retail customers in an electric utility's service area that are eligible to take delivery services under this Act;

(4) That the applicant will comply with such informational or reporting requirements as the Commission may by rule establish and provide the information required by Section 16-112. Any data related to contracts for the purchase and sale of electric power and energy shall be made available for review by the Staff of the Commission on a confidential and proprietary basis and only to the extent and for the purposes which the Commission determines are reasonably necessary in order to carry out the purposes of this Act;

(5) That the applicant will procure renewable energy resources in accordance with Section 16-115D of this Act, and will source electricity from clean coal facilities, as defined in Section 1-10 of the Illinois Power Agency Act, in amounts at least equal to the percentages set forth in subsections (c) and (d) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act. For purposes of this Section:

(i) (Blank);

(ii) (Blank);

(iii) the required sourcing of electricity generated by clean coal facilities, other than the initial clean coal facility, shall be limited to the amount of electricity that can be procured or sourced at a price at or below the benchmarks approved by the Commission each year in accordance with item (1) of subsection (c) and items (1) and (5) of subsection (d) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act;

(iv) all alternative retail electric suppliers shall execute a sourcing agreement to source electricity from the initial clean coal facility, on the terms set forth in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (d) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act, except that in lieu of the requirements in subparagraphs (A)(v), (B)(i), (C)(v), and (C)(vi) of paragraph (3) of that subsection (d), the applicant shall execute one or more of the following:

(1) if the sourcing agreement is a power purchase agreement, a contract with the initial clean coal facility to purchase in each hour an amount of electricity equal to all clean coal energy made available from the initial clean coal facility during such hour, which the utilities are not required to procure under the terms of subsection (d) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the alternative retail electric supplier's retail market sales of electricity (expressed in kilowatthours sold) in the State during the prior calendar month and the denominator of which is the total sales of electricity (expressed in kilowatthours sold) in the State by alternative retail electric suppliers during such prior month that are subject to the requirements of this paragraph (5) of subsection (d) of this Section and subsection (d) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act plus the total sales of electricity (expressed in kilowatthours sold) by utilities outside of their service areas during such prior month, pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 16-116 of this Act; or

(2) if the sourcing agreement is a contract for differences, a contract with the initial clean coal facility in each hour with respect to an amount of electricity equal to all clean coal energy made available from the initial clean coal facility during such hour, which the utilities are not required to procure under the terms of subsection (d) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the alternative retail electric supplier's retail market sales of electricity (expressed in kilowatthours sold) in the State during the prior calendar month and the denominator of which is the total sales of electricity (expressed in kilowatthours sold) in the State by alternative retail electric suppliers during such prior month that are subject to the requirements of this paragraph (5) of subsection (d) of this Section and subsection (d) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act plus the total sales of electricity (expressed in kilowatthours sold) by utilities outside of their service areas during such prior month, pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 16-116 of this Act;

(v) if, in any year after the first year of commercial operation, the owner of the clean coal facility fails to demonstrate to the Commission that the initial clean coal facility captured and sequestered at least 50% of the total carbon emissions that the facility would otherwise emit or that sequestration of emissions from prior years has failed, resulting in the release of carbon into the atmosphere, the owner of the facility must offset excess emissions. Any such carbon offsets must be permanent, additional, verifiable, real, located within the State of Illinois, and legally and practicably enforceable. The costs of any such offsets that are not recoverable shall not exceed $15 million in any given year. No costs of any such purchases of carbon offsets may be recovered from an alternative retail electric supplier or its customers. All carbon offsets purchased for this purpose and any carbon emission credits associated with sequestration of carbon from the facility must be permanently retired. The initial clean coal facility shall not forfeit its designation as a clean coal facility if the facility fails to fully comply with the applicable carbon sequestration requirements in any given year, provided the requisite offsets are purchased. However, the Attorney General, on behalf of the People of the State of Illinois, may specifically enforce the facility's sequestration requirement and the other terms of this contract provision. Compliance with the sequestration requirements and offset purchase requirements that apply to the initial clean coal facility shall be reviewed annually by an independent expert retained by the owner of the initial clean coal facility, with the advance written approval of the Attorney General;

(vi) The Commission shall, after notice and hearing, revoke the certification of any alternative retail electric supplier that fails to execute a sourcing agreement with the initial clean coal facility as required by item (5) of subsection (d) of this Section. The sourcing agreements with this initial clean coal facility shall be subject to both approval of the initial clean coal facility by the General Assembly and satisfaction of the requirements of item (4) of subsection (d) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act, and shall be executed within 90 days after any such approval by the General Assembly. The Commission shall not accept an application for certification from an alternative retail electric supplier that has lost certification under this subsection (d), or any corporate affiliate thereof, for at least one year from the date of revocation;

(6) With respect to an applicant that seeks to serve residential or small commercial retail customers, that the area to be served by the applicant and any limitations it proposes on the number of customers or maximum amount of load to be served meet the provisions of Section 16-115A, provided, that the Commission can extend the time for considering such a certificate request by up to 90 days, and can schedule hearings on such a request;

(7) That the applicant meets the requirements of subsection (a) of Section 16-128; and

(8) That the applicant is not the subject of any lawsuit filed in a court of law or formal complaints filed with a regulatory agency alleging fraud, deception, or unfair marketing practices or other similar allegations identifying the name, case number, and jurisdiction of each such lawsuit or complaint. For the purposes of this item (8), "formal complaints" include only those complaints that seek a binding determination from a state or federal regulatory body;

(9) That the applicant shall continue to comply with requirements for certification stated in Section 16-115;

(10) That the applicant seeking to service all eligible retail customers shall execute and maintain a license or permit bond issued by a qualifying surety or insurance company authorized to transact business in the State of Illinois in favor of the People of the State of Illinois. The amount of the bond is $600,000, and the bond is conditioned upon the full and faithful performance of all duties and obligations of the applicant as an alternative retail electric supplier and is valid for a period of not less than one year. The cost of the bond shall be paid by the applicant. The applicant shall file a copy of this bond, with a notarized verification page from the issuer, as part of its application for certification under 83 Ill. Adm. Code 451.50 and as a condition for continuing compliance with certification requirements for alternative retail electric suppliers under 83 Ill. Adm. Code 451.Subpart H; and

(11) (8) That the applicant will comply with all other applicable laws and regulations.

The Commission may deny with prejudice an application in which the applicant repeatedly fails to provide the Commission with information sufficient for the Commission to grant the application.

(d-5) (Blank).

(e) A retail customer that owns a cogeneration or self-generation facility and that seeks certification only to provide electric power and energy from such facility to retail customers at separate locations which customers are both (i) owned by, or a subsidiary or other corporate affiliate of, such applicant and (ii) eligible for delivery services, shall be granted a certificate of service authority upon filing an application and notifying the Commission that it has entered into an agreement with the relevant electric utilities pursuant to Section 16-118. Provided, however, that if the retail customer owning such cogeneration or self-generation facility would not be charged a transition charge due to the exemption provided under subsection (f) of Section 16-108 prior to the certification, and the retail customers at separate locations are taking delivery services in conjunction with purchasing power and energy from the facility, the retail customer on whose premises the facility is located shall not thereafter be required to pay transition charges on the power and energy that such retail customer takes from the facility.

(f) The Commission shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Section. On or before May 1, 1999, the Commission shall adopt a rule or rules applicable to the certification of those alternative retail electric suppliers that seek to serve only nonresidential retail customers with maximum electrical demands of one megawatt or more which shall provide for (i) expedited and streamlined procedures for certification of such alternative retail electric suppliers and (ii) specific criteria which, if met by any such alternative retail electric supplier, shall constitute the demonstration of technical, financial and managerial resources and abilities to provide service required by subsection (d) (1) of this Section, such as a requirement to post a bond or letter of credit, from a responsible surety or financial institution, of sufficient size for the nature and scope of the services to be provided; demonstration of adequate insurance for the scope and nature of the services to be provided; and experience in providing similar services in other jurisdictions.

(g) An alternative retail electric supplier may seek confidential treatment for the following information by filing an affidavit with the Commission so long as the affidavit meets the requirements in this subsection (g):

(1) the total annual kilowatt-hours delivered and sold by an alternative retail electric supplier to retail customers within each utility service territory and the total annual kilowatt-hours delivered and sold by an alternative retail electric supplier to retail customers in all utility service territories in the preceding calendar year as required by 83 Ill. Adm. Code 451.770;

(2) the total peak demand supplied by an alternative retail electric supplier during the previous year in each utility service territory as required by 83 Ill. Adm. Code 465.40;

(3) a good faith estimate of the amount an alternative retail electric supplier expects to be obliged to pay the utility under single billing tariffs during the next 12 months and the amount of any bond or letter of credit used to demonstrate an alternative retail electric supplier's credit worthiness to provide single billing services pursuant to 83 Ill. Adm. Code 451.510(a) and (b).

The affidavit must be filed contemporaneously with the information for which confidential treatment is sought and must clearly state that the affiant seeks confidential treatment pursuant to this subsection (g) and the information for which confidential treatment is sought must be clearly identified on the confidential version of the document filed with the Commission. The affidavit must be accompanied by a "confidential" and a "public" version of the document or documents containing the information for which confidential treatment is sought.

If the alternative retail electric supplier has met the affidavit requirements of this subsection (g), then the Commission shall afford confidential treatment to the information identified in the affidavit for a period of 2 years after the date the affidavit is received by the Commission.

Nothing in this subsection (g) prevents an alternative retail electric supplier from filing a petition with the Commission seeking confidential treatment for information beyond that identified in this subsection (g) or for information contained in other reports or documents filed with the Commission.

Nothing in this subsection (g) prevents the Commission, on its own motion, or any party from filing a formal petition with the Commission seeking to reconsider the conferring of confidential status on an item of information afforded confidential treatment pursuant to this subsection (g).

The Commission, on its own motion, may at any time initiate a docketed proceeding to investigate the continued applicability of this subsection (g) to the information contained in items (i), (ii), and (iii) of this subsection (g). If, at the end of such investigation, the Commission determines that a particular item of information should no longer be eligible for the affidavit-based process outlined in this subsection (g), the Commission may enter an order to remove that item from the list of items eligible for the process set forth in this subsection (g). Notwithstanding any such order, in the event the Commission makes such a determination, nothing in this subsection (g) prevents an alternative retail electric supplier desiring confidential treatment for such information from filing a formal petition with the Commission seeking confidential treatment for such information.

(Source: P.A. 99-332, eff. 8-10-15.)

(220 ILCS 5/16-115A)

Sec. 16-115A. Obligations of alternative retail electric suppliers.

(a) An alternative retail electric supplier shall:

(i) comply with the requirements imposed on public utilities by Sections 8-201 through 8-207, 8-301, 8-505 and 8-507 of this Act, to the extent that these Sections have application to the services being offered by the alternative retail electric supplier; and

(ii) continue to comply with the requirements for certification stated in subsection (d) of Section 16-115.

(b) An alternative retail electric supplier shall obtain verifiable authorization from a customer, in a form or manner approved by the Commission consistent with Section 2EE of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, before the customer is switched from another supplier.

(c) No alternative retail electric supplier, or electric utility other than the electric utility in whose service area a customer is located, shall (i) enter into or employ any arrangements which have the effect of preventing a retail customer with a maximum electrical demand of less than one megawatt from having access to the services of the electric utility in whose service area the customer is located or (ii) charge retail customers for such access. This subsection shall not be construed to prevent an arms-length agreement between a supplier and a retail customer that sets a term of service, notice period for terminating service and provisions governing early termination through a tariff or contract as allowed by Section 16-119.

(d) An alternative retail electric supplier that is certified to serve residential or small commercial retail customers shall not:

(1) deny service to a customer or group of customers nor establish any differences as to prices, terms, conditions, services, products, facilities, or in any other respect, whereby such denial or differences are based upon race, gender or income.

(2) deny service to a customer or group of customers based on locality nor establish any unreasonable difference as to prices, terms, conditions, services, products, or facilities as between localities.

(e) An alternative retail electric supplier shall comply with the following requirements with respect to the marketing, offering and provision of products or services to residential and small commercial retail customers:

(i) Any marketing materials which make statements concerning prices, terms and conditions of service shall contain information that adequately discloses the prices, terms and conditions of the products or services that the alternative retail electric supplier is offering or selling to the customer. All marketing materials, including electronic marketing materials, that include a price per kilowatt hour for competitive electricity service shall include the following statement: "(Name of alternative retail electric supplier) is not the same entity as your electric utility delivery company. You are not required to enroll with (name of alternative retail electric supplier). For information on comparison rates for utility electric supply service and understanding your electric supply choices, go to the Illinois Commerce Commission's free website at www.pluginillinois.org.". This requirement does not apply to materials that do not list a price per kilowatt hour for competitive electricity services or to billboards.

(ii) Before any customer is switched from another supplier, the alternative retail electric supplier shall give the customer written information that adequately discloses, in plain language, the prices, terms and conditions of the products and services being offered and sold to the customer.

(iii) An alternative retail electric supplier shall provide documentation to the Commission and to customers that substantiates any claims made by the alternative retail electric supplier regarding the technologies and fuel types used to generate the electricity offered or sold to customers.

(iv) The alternative retail electric supplier shall provide to the customer (1) itemized billing statements that describe the products and services provided to the customer and their prices, and (2) an additional statement, at least annually, that adequately discloses the average monthly prices, and the terms and conditions, of the products and services sold to the customer.

(v) No less than 30 days before a residential customer's variable rate changes, the alternative retail electric supplier shall send a separate written notice to the customer informing the customer of an upcoming rate change if the residential variable rate customer's rate increases by more than 20% from one monthly billing period to the next. This requirement does not apply if the variable rate can be determined based on some combination of: (1) publicly available information, such as an index, and (2) a formula provided by the alternative retail electric supplier in the contract using only publicly available information or for time of use based pricing. A customer shall have the right to choose to receive the notice in electronic or paper form, including an option to receive notice via login through an online account with the alternative retail electric supplier.

(vi) The alternative retail electric supplier shall send a separate written notice if a residential customer's contract includes a provision that results in a change to the residential customer's rate plan of the upcoming change at least 30 days, but no more than 60 days, before the change. The separate written notice shall conform to the requirements in 83 Ill. Adm. Code 412.165(e). A customer shall have the right to choose to receive the notice in electronic or paper form, including an option to receive notice via login through an online account with the alternative retail electric supplier.

For purposes of this subsection (e), "variable" means the per-unit charge for electric power and energy service changes at any time during the term of the contract but do not change more than once per billing period.

(f) An alternative retail electric supplier may limit the overall size or availability of a service offering by specifying one or more of the following: a maximum number of customers, maximum amount of electric load to be served, time period during which the offering will be available, or other comparable limitation, but not including the geographic locations of customers within the area which the alternative retail electric supplier is certificated to serve. The alternative retail electric supplier shall file the terms and conditions of such service offering including the applicable limitations with the Commission prior to making the service offering available to customers.

(g) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as preventing an alternative retail electric supplier, which is an affiliate of, or which contracts with, (i) an industry or trade organization or association, (ii) a membership organization or association that exists for a purpose other than the purchase of electricity, or (iii) another organization that meets criteria established in a rule adopted by the Commission, from offering through the organization or association services at prices, terms and conditions that are available solely to the members of the organization or association.

(h) An alternative retail electric supplier shall maintain sufficient managerial resources and abilities to provide the service for which it has a certificate of service authority. In determining the level of managerial resources and abilities that the alternative retail electric supplier shall demonstrate, the Commission shall consider, in addition to the requirements in subsection (d) of Section 16-115, the following:

(1) complaints to the Commission by consumers regarding the alternative retail electric supplier, including those that reflect on the alternative retail electric supplier's ability to properly manage solicitation and authorization; and

(2) the alternative retail electric supplier's involvement in the Commission's consumer complaint process, including the resources the alternative retail electric supplier dedicates to the process and the alternative retail electric supplier's ability to manage the issues raised by complaints and the resolutions of the complaints.

The provisions of this subsection (h) apply only to alternative retail electric suppliers serving or seeking to serve residential or small commercial customers and only to the extent those alternative retail electric suppliers provide services to residential or small commercial customers, unless otherwise noted.

For purposes of this subsection (h), "complaint" means an objection made to an alternative retail electric supplier by a customer as to its charges, facilities, or service, the disposal of which requires investigation or analysis. "Complaint" includes a customer identifying and asking an alternative retail electric supplier to address or resolve a problem or concern. "Complaint" does not include contact that is limited to inquiry or seeking information.

(i) Complaints may be filed with the Commission under this Section by a customer whose electric supply service has been provided by an alternative electric supplier in a manner not in compliance with subsection (b), (d), (e), or (h). If, after notice and hearing, the Commission finds that an alternative retail electric supplier has violated subsection (b), (d), (e), or (h), then the Commission may, in its discretion, do any one or more of the following:

(1) require the violating alternative retail electric supplier to refund the customer charges collected in excess of those that would have been charged by the customer's authorized electric provider;

(2) require the violating alternative retail electric supplier to pay a fine of $5,000 for each violation;

(3) issue a cease and desist order; or

(4) for a pattern of violations or for intentionally violating a cease and desist order, revoke the violating alternative retail electric supplier's certificate of service authority.

(j) All fines shall be deposited into the Alternative Retail Electric Supplier and Alternative Gas Supplier Enforcement and Consumer Education Operations Account.

(Source: P.A. 90-561, eff. 12-16-97.)

(220 ILCS 5/16-115B)

Sec. 16-115B. Commission oversight of services provided by alternative retail electric suppliers.

(a) The Commission shall have jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions of Article X of this Act to entertain and dispose of any complaint against any alternative retail electric supplier alleging (i) that the alternative retail electric supplier has violated or is in nonconformance with any applicable provisions of Section 16-115 through Section 16-115A; (ii) that an alternative retail electric supplier serving retail customers having maximum demands of less than one megawatt has failed to provide service in accordance with the terms of its contract or contracts with such customer or customers; (iii) that the alternative retail electric supplier has violated or is in non-conformance with the delivery services tariff of, or any of its agreements relating to delivery services with, the electric utility, municipal system, or electric cooperative providing delivery services; or (iv) that the alternative retail electric supplier has violated or failed to comply with the requirements of Sections 8-201 through 8-207, 8-301, 8-505, or 8-507 of this Act as made applicable to alternative retail electric suppliers.

(b) By January 1 of 2019 and by January 1 of each year thereafter, the Commission shall have the authority on its own motion to order an alternative retail electric supplier to enter into a Commission compliance plan as described below:

(1) The Commission shall annually review the previous 12 months of complaint statistics for trends and patterns, including whether particular alternative retail electric suppliers have consistently higher than average complaint rates related to a specific marketing channel. The Commission shall do so without initiating a docketed proceeding.

(2) If the Commission determines that an alternative retail electric supplier has a consistently higher than average complaint rate related to a specific marketing channel, the Commission staff shall informally investigate the reasons for the consistently higher than average complaint rate. The informal investigation shall include at least one invitation to the affected alternative retail electric supplier for a meeting. Subject to the limitations in paragraph (3), the results of the information investigation shall be confidential.

(3) If, pursuant to its informal investigation, the Commission staff recommends that the Commission pursue a compliance plan for a particular alternative retail electric supplier, then the Commission staff shall provide the Commission with a report. Upon receipt of the report, the Commission may open a proceeding to consider whether to impose a compliance plan and what that plan shall include. The Commission shall issue a final order in this proceeding no later than one year after the proceeding is initiated.

(4) A compliance plan shall be developed to address the substance of complaints identified in the report prepared pursuant to paragraph (3) or other substantiated complaints and shall be proportional to the substantiated violations of this Act, the Commission's rules, or other legal requirements imposed on the alternative retail electric supplier.

(5) Upon its own motion or on complaint of a party, if the Commission finds that an alternative retail electric supplier did not follow its compliance plan and failed to cure any defects or deficiencies in compliance within a reasonable time frame, the Commission may impose a penalty consistent with subsections (c) and (d).

For purposes of this subsection (b), "complaint" means an objection made to an alternative retail electric supplier, by a customer or another entity, as to its charges, facilities, or service, the disposal of which requires investigation or analysis. "Complaint" includes a customer or other entity identifying and asking an alternative retail electric supplier to address or resolve a problem or concern. "Complaint" does not include contact that is limited to inquiry or seeking information.

(c) (b) The Commission shall have authority, after notice and hearing held on complaint or on the Commission's own motion, to do any one or more of the following:

(1) If the Commission finds, upon receipt of a report pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (b), sufficient evidence of a repeated pattern of conduct or circumstances that is contrary to Section 16-115A and 83 Adm. Ill. Code Part 412 and that the public interest, safety, and welfare imperatively requires immediate action, issue an informal notice, without initiating a docketed proceeding, to the alternative retail electric supplier to show cause why an order to cease and desist should not be entered against the alternative retail electric supplier. The Commission's informal notice shall clearly set forth the evidence relied upon by the Commission, including, but not limited to, the provisions in subsection (d) of Section 16-115 and subsection (h) of Section 16-115A. The Commission shall allow the alternative retail electric supplier at least 10 business days from the date of the informal notice to file an answer to the satisfaction of the Commission. Failure of the alternative retail electric supplier to answer to the satisfaction of the Commission shall cause an order to cease and desist to be issued immediately by the Commission.

(2) Order (1) To order an alternative retail electric supplier to cease and desist, or correct, any violation of or non-conformance with the provisions of Section 16-115 or 16-115A. ;

(3) Impose (2) To impose financial penalties for violations of or non-conformances with the provisions of Section 16-115 or 16-115A, not to exceed (i) $10,000 per occurrence or (ii) $30,000 per day for those violations or non-conformances which continue after the Commission issues a cease and desist order. ; and

(4) Alter (3) To alter, modify, revoke, or suspend the certificate of service authority of an alternative retail electric supplier for substantial or repeated violations of or non-conformances with the provisions of Section 16-115 or 16-115A.

(d) If the Commission assesses a penalty against an alternative retail electric supplier under any provision of this Article XVI, the Commission shall determine on a case-by-case basis the value of that penalty based on the following factors:

(1) the nature of the violations found and the alternative retail electric supplier's history of substantiated complaints or adjudicated violations;

(2) the alternative retail electric supplier's culpability;

(3) whether the factual and legal circumstances surrounding the violations were clear at the time of the violation;

(4) whether the alternative retail electric supplier had actual notice of the violations with a reasonable time to mitigate;

(5) existence or strength of compliance and internal monitoring programs;

(6) whether the alternative retail electric supplier made a good faith effort to compensate consumers harmed; and

(7) any context-appropriate factors that the Commission deems appropriate.

The Commission may by majority vote adopt and change from time to time a public guidance document setting out its interpretation of this subsection.

(e) All fines shall be deposited into the Alternative Retail Electric Supplier and Alternative Gas Supplier Enforcement and Consumer Education Operations Account.

(f) The Commission shall conduct at least one mandatory compliance education workshop annually for alternative retail electric suppliers that service retail and small commercial retail customers in an electric utility's service area regarding statutory and rule requirements, consumer complaint statistics, and any other information determined necessary by the Commission. Completion of the Commission's compliance workshop by an alternative retail electric supplier must be in person and is a condition for continuing compliance with certification requirements for an alternative retail electric supplier under 83 Ill. Adm. Code 451.Subpart H.

(Source: P.A. 90-561, eff. 12-16-97.)

(220 ILCS 5/16-119)

Sec. 16-119. Switching suppliers.

(a) An electric utility or an alternative retail electric supplier may establish a term of service, notice period for terminating service and provisions governing early termination through a tariff or contract. A customer may change its supplier subject to tariff or contract terms and conditions. Any notice provisions; or provision for a fee, charge or penalty with early termination of a contract; shall be conspicuously disclosed in any tariff or contract. Any tariff filed or contract renewed or entered into on and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly that contains an early termination clause shall disclose the amount of the early termination fee or penalty, provided that any early termination fee or penalty shall not exceed $50 total for residential customers and $150 for small commercial retail customers as defined in Section 16-102 of this Act, regardless of whether or not the tariff or contract is a multiyear tariff or contract. A customer shall remain responsible for any unpaid charges owed to an electric utility or alternative retail electric supplier at the time it switches to another provider.

The caps on early termination fees and penalties under this Section shall apply only to early termination fees and penalties for early termination of electric service. The caps shall not apply to charges or fees for devices, equipment, or other services provided by the utility or alternative retail electric supplier.

(b) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (a), each electric utility shall, within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, modify its tariff carrying out this Section to reflect the following:

(1) No customer who is receiving Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds may be switched to an alternative retail electric supplier except subject to a government aggregation program or to an order entered by the Commission that approves a Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program savings guarantee plan for alternative retail electric supplier offerings.

(2) If an alternative retail electric supplier attempts to enroll a Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program customer other than through a government aggregation program or an order entered by the Commission that approves a Low-Income Energy Assistance Program savings guarantee plan for alternative retail electric supplier offerings, the electric utility shall deny the supplier switch and inform the alternative retail electric supplier of the reason.

(Source: P.A. 99-103, eff. 7-22-15; 99-107, eff. 7-22-15.)

(220 ILCS 5/19-115)

Sec. 19-115. Obligations of alternative gas suppliers.

(a) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve residential or small commercial customers and only to the extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential or small commercial customers.

(b) An alternative gas supplier shall:

(1) comply with the requirements imposed on public utilities by Sections 8-201 through 8-207, 8-301, 8-505 and 8-507 of this Act, to the extent that these Sections have application to the services being offered by the alternative gas supplier;

(2) continue to comply with the requirements for certification stated in Section 19-110;

(3) comply with complaint procedures established by the Commission;

(4) except as provided in subsection (h) of this Section, file with the Chief Clerk of the Commission, within 20 business days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, a copy of bill formats, standard customer contract and customer complaint and resolution procedures, and the name and telephone number of the company representative whom Commission employees may contact to resolve customer complaints and other matters. In the case of a gas supplier that engages in door-to-door solicitation, the company shall file with the Commission the consumer information disclosure required by item (3) of subsection (c) of Section 2DDD of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and shall file updated information within 10 business days after changes in any of the documents or information required to be filed by this item (4); and

(5) maintain a customer call center where customers can reach a representative and receive current information. At least once every 6 months, each alternative gas supplier shall provide written information to customers explaining how to contact the call center. The average answer time for calls placed to the call center shall not exceed 60 seconds where a representative or automated system is ready to render assistance and/or accept information to process calls. The abandon rate for calls placed to the call center shall not exceed 10%. Each alternative gas supplier shall maintain records of the call center's telephone answer time performance and abandon call rate. These records shall be kept for a minimum of 2 years and shall be made available to Commission personnel upon request. In the event that answer times and/or abandon rates exceed the limits established above, the reporting alternative gas supplier may provide the Commission or its personnel with explanatory details. At a minimum, these records shall contain the following information in monthly increments:

(A) total number of calls received;

(B) number of calls answered;

(C) average answer time;

(D) number of abandoned calls; and

(E) abandon call rate.

Alternative gas suppliers that do not have electronic answering capability that meets these requirements shall notify the Manager of the Commission's Consumer Services Division or its successor within 30 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly and work with Staff to develop individualized reporting requirements as to the call volume and responsiveness of the call center.

On or before March 1 of every year, each entity shall file a report with the Chief Clerk of the Commission for the preceding calendar year on its answer time and abandon call rate for its call center. A copy of the report shall be sent to the Manager of the Consumer Services Division or its successor.

(c) An alternative gas supplier shall not submit or execute a change in a customer's selection of a natural gas provider unless and until (i) the alternative gas supplier first discloses all material terms and conditions of the offer to the customer; (ii) the alternative gas supplier has obtained the customer's express agreement to accept the offer after the disclosure of all material terms and conditions of the offer; and (iii) the alternative gas supplier has confirmed the request for a change in accordance with one of the following procedures:

(1) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the customer's written or electronically signed authorization in a form that meets the following requirements:

(A) An alternative gas supplier shall obtain any necessary written or electronically signed authorization from a customer for a change in natural gas service by using a letter of agency as specified in this Section. Any letter of agency that does not conform with this Section is invalid.

(B) The letter of agency shall be a separate document (or an easily separable document containing only the authorization language described in item (E) of this paragraph (1)) whose sole purpose is to authorize a natural gas provider change. The letter of agency must be signed and dated by the customer requesting the natural gas provider change.

(C) The letter of agency shall not be combined with inducements of any kind on the same document.

(D) Notwithstanding items (A) and (B) of this paragraph (1), the letter of agency may be combined with checks that contain only the required letter of agency language prescribed in item (E) of this paragraph (1) and the necessary information to make the check a negotiable instrument. The letter of agency check shall not contain any promotional language or material. The letter of agency check shall contain in easily readable, bold face type on the face of the check a notice that the consumer is authorizing a natural gas provider change by signing the check. The letter of agency language also shall be placed near the signature line on the back of the check.

(E) At a minimum, the letter of agency must be printed with a print of sufficient size to be clearly legible and must contain clear and unambiguous language that confirms:

(i) the customer's billing name and address;

(ii) the decision to change the natural gas provider from the current provider to the prospective alternative gas supplier;

(iii) the terms, conditions, and nature of the service to be provided to the customer, including, but not limited to, the rates for the service contracted for by the customer; and

(iv) that the customer understands that any natural gas provider selection the customer chooses may involve a charge to the customer for changing the customer's natural gas provider.

(F) Letters of agency shall not suggest or require that a customer take some action in order to retain the customer's current natural gas provider.

(G) If any portion of a letter of agency is translated into another language, then all portions of the letter of agency must be translated into that language.

(2) An appropriately qualified independent third party has obtained, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph (2), the customer's oral authorization to change natural gas providers that confirms and includes appropriate verification data. The independent third party must (i) not be owned, managed, controlled, or directed by the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's marketing agent; (ii) not have any financial incentive to confirm provider change requests for the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's marketing agent; and (iii) operate in a location physically separate from the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's marketing agent. Automated third-party verification systems and 3-way conference calls may be used for verification purposes so long as the other requirements of this paragraph (2) are satisfied. An alternative gas supplier or alternative gas supplier's sales representative initiating a 3-way conference call or a call through an automated verification system must drop off the call once the 3-way connection has been established. All third-party verification methods shall elicit, at a minimum, the following information:

(A) the identity of the customer;

(B) confirmation that the person on the call is authorized to make the provider change;

(C) confirmation that the person on the call wants to make the provider change;

(D) the names of the providers affected by the change;

(E) the service address of the service to be switched; and

(F) the price of the service to be provided and the material terms and conditions of the service being offered, including whether any early termination fees apply.

Third-party verifiers may not market the alternative gas supplier's services by providing additional information. All third-party verifications shall be conducted in the same language that was used in the underlying sales transaction and shall be recorded in their entirety. Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall maintain and preserve audio records of verification of customer authorization for a minimum period of 2 years after obtaining the verification. Automated systems must provide customers with an option to speak with a live person at any time during the call.

(3) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the customer's authorization via an automated verification system to change natural gas service via telephone. An automated verification system is an electronic system that, through pre-recorded prompts, elicits voice responses, touchtone responses, or both, from the customer and records both the prompts and the customer's responses. Such authorization must elicit the information in paragraph (2)(A) through (F) of this subsection (c). Alternative gas suppliers electing to confirm sales electronically through an automated verification system shall establish one or more toll-free telephone numbers exclusively for that purpose. Calls to the number or numbers shall connect a customer to a voice response unit, or similar mechanism, that makes a date-stamped, time-stamped recording of the required information regarding the alternative gas supplier change.

The alternative gas supplier shall not use such electronic authorization systems to market its services.

(4) When a consumer initiates the call to the prospective alternative gas supplier, in order to enroll the consumer as a customer, the prospective alternative gas supplier must, with the consent of the customer, make a date-stamped, time-stamped audio recording that elicits, at a minimum, the following information:

(A) the identity of the customer;

(B) confirmation that the person on the call is authorized to make the provider change;

(C) confirmation that the person on the call wants to make the provider change;

(D) the names of the providers affected by the change;

(E) the service address of the service to be switched; and

(F) the price of the service to be supplied and the material terms and conditions of the service being offered, including whether any early termination fees apply.

Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall maintain and preserve the audio records containing the information set forth above for a minimum period of 2 years.

(5) In the event that a customer enrolls for service from an alternative gas supplier via an Internet website, the alternative gas supplier shall obtain an electronically signed letter of agency in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection (c) and any customer information shall be protected in accordance with all applicable statutes and regulations. In addition, an alternative gas supplier shall provide the following when marketing via an Internet website:

(A) The Internet enrollment website shall, at a minimum, include:

(i) a copy of the alternative gas supplier's customer contract that clearly and conspicuously discloses all terms and conditions; and

(ii) a conspicuous prompt for the customer to print or save a copy of the contract.

(B) Any electronic version of the contract shall be identified by version number, in order to ensure the ability to verify the particular contract to which the customer assents.

(C) Throughout the duration of the alternative gas supplier's contract with a customer, the alternative gas supplier shall retain and, within 3 business days of the customer's request, provide to the customer an e-mail, paper, or facsimile of the terms and conditions of the numbered contract version to which the customer assents.

(D) The alternative gas supplier shall provide a mechanism by which both the submission and receipt of the electronic letter of agency are recorded by time and date.

(E) After the customer completes the electronic letter of agency, the alternative gas supplier shall disclose conspicuously through its website that the customer has been enrolled, and the alternative gas supplier shall provide the customer an enrollment confirmation number.

(6) When a customer is solicited in person by the alternative gas supplier's sales agent, the alternative gas supplier may only obtain the customer's authorization to change natural gas service through the method provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection (c).

Alternative gas suppliers must be in compliance with this subsection (c) within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly.

Notwithstanding the requirements under this subsection (c), each natural gas utility shall, within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, modify its tariff carrying out this Section to reflect the following:

(i) No customer who is receiving Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds may be switched to an alternative gas supplier except subject to government aggregation programs or to an order entered by the Commission that approves a Low-Income Home Energy Assistance savings guarantee plan for alternative gas supplier offerings.

(ii) If an alternative gas supplier attempts to enroll a Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program customer other than through a government aggregation program or an order entered by the Commission that approves a Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program savings guarantee plan for alternative gas supplier offerings, the natural gas utility shall deny the supplier switch and inform the alternative gas supplier of the reason.

(d) Complaints may be filed with the Commission under this Section by a customer whose natural gas service has been provided by an alternative gas supplier in a manner not in compliance with subsection (c) of this Section. If, after notice and hearing, the Commission finds that an alternative gas supplier has violated subsection (c), then the Commission may in its discretion do any one or more of the following:

(1) Require the violating alternative gas supplier to refund the customer charges collected in excess of those that would have been charged by the customer's authorized natural gas provider.

(2) Require the violating alternative gas supplier to pay to the customer's authorized natural gas provider the amount the authorized natural gas provider would have collected for natural gas service. The Commission is authorized to reduce this payment by any amount already paid by the violating alternative gas supplier to the customer's authorized natural gas provider.

(3) Require the violating alternative gas supplier to pay a fine of up to $1,000 into the Public Utility Fund for each repeated and intentional violation of this Section.

(4) Issue a cease and desist order.

(5) For a pattern of violation of this Section or for intentionally violating a cease and desist order, revoke the violating alternative gas supplier's certificate of service authority.

(e) No alternative gas supplier shall:

(1) enter into or employ any arrangements which have the effect of preventing any customer from having access to the services of the gas utility in whose service area the customer is located;

(2) charge customers for such access;

(3) bill for goods or services not authorized by the customer; or

(4) bill for a disputed amount where the alternative gas supplier has been provided notice of such dispute. The supplier shall attempt to resolve a dispute with the customer. When the dispute is not resolved to the customer's satisfaction, the supplier shall inform the customer of the right to file an informal complaint with the Commission and provide contact information. While the pending dispute is active at the Commission, an alternative gas supplier may bill only for the undisputed amount until the Commission has taken final action on the complaint.

(f) An alternative gas supplier that is certified to serve residential or small commercial customers shall not:

(1) deny service to a customer or group of customers nor establish any differences as to prices, terms, conditions, services, products, facilities, or in any other respect, whereby such denial or differences are based upon race, gender, or income;

(2) deny service based on locality, nor establish any unreasonable difference as to prices, terms, conditions, services, products, or facilities as between localities;

(3) include in any agreement a provision that obligates a customer to the terms of the agreement if the customer (i) moves outside the State of Illinois; (ii) moves to a location without a transportation service program; or (iii) moves to a location where the customer will not require natural gas service, provided that nothing in this subsection precludes an alternative gas supplier from taking any action otherwise available to it to collect a debt that arises out of service provided to the customer before the customer moved; or

(4) assign the agreement to any alternative natural gas supplier, unless:

(A) the supplier is an alternative gas supplier certified by the Commission;

(B) the rates, terms, and conditions of the agreement being assigned do not change during the remainder of the time covered by the agreement;

(C) the customer is given no less than 30 days prior written notice of the assignment and contact information for the new supplier; and

(D) the supplier assigning the contract provides contact information that a customer can use to resolve a dispute.

(g) An alternative gas supplier shall comply with the following requirements with respect to the marketing, offering, and provision of products or services:

(1) Any marketing materials which make statements concerning prices, terms, and conditions of service shall contain information that adequately discloses the prices, terms and conditions of the products or services.

(2) Before any customer is switched from another supplier, the alternative gas supplier shall give the customer written information that clearly and conspicuously discloses, in plain language, the prices, terms, and conditions of the products and services being offered and sold to the customer. Nothing in this paragraph (2) may be read to relieve an alternative gas supplier from the duties imposed on it by item (3) of subsection (c) of Section 2DDD of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

(3) The alternative gas supplier shall provide to the customer:

(A) accurate, timely, and itemized billing statements that describe the products and services provided to the customer and their prices and that specify the gas consumption amount and any service charges and taxes; provided that this item (g)(3)(A) does not apply to small commercial customers;

(B) billing statements that clearly and conspicuously discloses the name and contact information for the alternative gas supplier;

(C) an additional statement, at least annually, that adequately discloses the average monthly prices, and the terms and conditions, of the products and services sold to the customer; provided that this item (g)(3)(C) does not apply to small commercial customers;

(D) refunds of any deposits with interest within 30 days after the date that the customer changes gas suppliers or discontinues service if the customer has satisfied all of his or her outstanding financial obligations to the alternative gas supplier at an interest rate set by the Commission which shall be the same as that required of gas utilities; and

(E) refunds, in a timely fashion, of all undisputed overpayments upon the oral or written request of the customer.

(4) An alternative gas supplier and its sales agents shall refrain from any direct marketing or soliciting to consumers on the gas utility's "Do Not Contact List", which the alternative gas supplier shall obtain on the 15th calendar day of the month from the gas utility in whose service area the consumer is provided with gas service. If the 15th calendar day is a non-business day, then the alternative gas supplier shall obtain the list on the next business day following the 15th calendar day of that month.

(5) Early Termination.

(A) Any agreement that contains an early termination clause shall disclose the amount of the early termination fee, provided that any early termination fee or penalty shall not exceed $50 total, regardless of whether or not the agreement is a multiyear agreement.

(B) In any agreement that contains an early termination clause, an alternative gas supplier shall provide the customer the opportunity to terminate the agreement without any termination fee or penalty within 10 business days after the date of the first bill issued to the customer for products or services provided by the alternative gas supplier. The agreement shall disclose the opportunity and provide a toll-free phone number that the customer may call in order to terminate the agreement.

(6) Within 2 business days after electronic receipt of a customer switch from the alternative gas supplier and confirmation of eligibility, the gas utility shall provide the customer written notice confirming the switch. The gas utility shall not switch the service until 10 business days after the date on the notice to the customer.

(7) The alternative gas supplier shall provide each customer the opportunity to rescind its agreement without penalty within 10 business days after the date on the gas utility notice to the customer. The alternative gas supplier shall disclose all of the following:

(A) that the gas utility shall send a notice confirming the switch;

(B) that from the date the utility issues the notice confirming the switch, the customer shall have 10 business days to rescind the switch without penalty;

(C) that the customer shall contact the gas utility or the alternative gas supplier to rescind the switch; and

(D) the contact information for the gas utility.

The alternative gas supplier disclosure shall be included in its sales solicitations, contracts, and all applicable sales verification scripts.

(h) An alternative gas supplier may limit the overall size or availability of a service offering by specifying one or more of the following:

(1) a maximum number of customers and maximum amount of gas load to be served;

(2) time period during which the offering will be available; or

(3) other comparable limitation, but not including the geographic locations of customers within the area which the alternative gas supplier is certificated to serve.

The alternative gas supplier shall file the terms and conditions of such service offering including the applicable limitations with the Commission prior to making the service offering available to customers.

(i) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as preventing an alternative gas supplier that is an affiliate of, or which contracts with, (i) an industry or trade organization or association, (ii) a membership organization or association that exists for a purpose other than the purchase of gas, or (iii) another organization that meets criteria established in a rule adopted by the Commission from offering through the organization or association services at prices, terms and conditions that are available solely to the members of the organization or association.

(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09.)

(220 ILCS 5/20-110)

Sec. 20-110. Office of Retail Market Development. Within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, subject to appropriation, the Commission shall establish an Office of Retail Market Development and employ on its staff a Director of Retail Market Development to oversee the Office. The Director shall have authority to employ or otherwise retain at least 2 professionals dedicated to the task of actively seeking out ways to promote retail competition in Illinois to benefit all Illinois consumers.

The Office shall actively seek input from all interested parties and shall develop a thorough understanding and critical analyses of the tools and techniques used to promote retail competition in other states.

The Office shall monitor existing competitive conditions in Illinois, identify barriers to retail competition for all customer classes, and actively explore and propose to the Commission and to the General Assembly solutions to overcome identified barriers. The Director may include municipal aggregation of customers and creating and designing customer choice programs as tools for retail market development. Solutions proposed by the Office to promote retail competition must also promote safe, reliable, and affordable electric service.

On or before June 30 of each year, the Director shall submit a report to the Commission, the General Assembly, and the Governor, that details specific accomplishments achieved by the Office in the prior 12 months in promoting retail electric competition and that suggests administrative and legislative action necessary to promote further improvements in retail electric competition. The report to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of State in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct. Any information in this report involving price comparisons between electric utilities, electric utilities providing service outside their service territories, or alternative retail electric suppliers shall also include the combined value of additional products and services offered by the competitive retail electric market, including, but not limited to, the cash value of energy control technologies provided, the megawatt hours of energy savings realized by customers utilizing energy control technologies, the megawatt hours of renewable energy exclusive of State mandated purchases, and the total amounts of cash or cash equivalent offers. The Commission may include other energy savings and marketing savings programs as they develop in the market.

(Source: P.A. 94-1095, eff. 2-2-07.)

(220 ILCS 5/20-140 new)

Sec. 20-140. Expanded use of energy savings programs.

(a) The Commission may establish a program for promoting expanded use of energy savings programs for residential and small commercial customers. The program shall include the use of thermostats, lights, plugs, and other devices that allow a customer to control and reduce his or her energy usage. The program shall not discriminate based on brand names and shall include ways to promote those devices and incentives for residential customers, including both homeowners and renters.

(b) On or before September 1, 2018 and every 2 years thereafter, the Commission shall initiate a collaborative workshop for stakeholders, retail electric suppliers, advocates for energy savings, and industry representatives developing energy savings devices and applicants.

(c) Any recommendations arising from the workshop process under this Section shall be included in the annual report of the Office of Retail Market Development.

Section 10. The Citizens Utility Board Act is amended by changing Section 5 as follows:

(220 ILCS 10/5) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 905)

Sec. 5. Powers and duties.

(1) The corporation shall:

(a) Represent and protect the interests of the residential utility consumers of this State. All actions by the corporation under this Act shall be directed toward such duty; provided that the corporation may also give due consideration to the interests of business in the State.

(b) Inform, in so far as possible, all utility consumers about the corporation, including the procedure for obtaining membership in the corporation.

(2) The corporation shall have all the powers necessary or convenient for the effective representation and protection of the interest of utility consumers and to implement this Act, including the following powers in addition to all other powers granted by this Act.

(a) To make, amend and repeal bylaws and rules for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business; to adopt an official seal and alter it at pleasure; to maintain an office; to sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded; and to make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers of the corporation.

(b) To employ such agents, employees and special advisors as it finds necessary and to fix their compensation.

(c) To solicit and accept gifts, loans, including loans made by the Illinois Commerce Commission from funds appropriated for that purpose by law, or other aid in order to support activities concerning the interests of utility consumers. Except as provided in Section 5.1, the corporation may not accept gifts, loans or other aid from any public utility or from any director, employee or agent or member of the immediate family of a director, employee or agent of any public utility and, after the first election the corporation, may not accept from any individual, private corporation, association or partnership in any single year a total of more than $1,000 in gifts. Under this paragraph, "aid" does not mean payment of membership dues.

(d) To intervene as a party or otherwise participate on behalf of utility consumers in any proceeding which affects the interest of utility consumers.

(e) To represent the interests of utility consumers before the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the courts, and other public bodies, except that no director, employee or agent of the corporation may engage in lobbying without first complying with any applicable statute, administrative rule or other regulation relating to lobbying.

(f) To establish annual dues which shall be set at a level that provides sufficient funding for the corporation to effectively perform its powers and duties, and is affordable for as many utility consumers as is possible.

(g) To implement solicitation for corporation funding and membership.

(h) To seek tax exempt status under State and federal law, including 501(c)(3) status under the United States Internal Revenue Code.

(i) To provide information and advice to utility consumers on any matter with respect to utility service, including but not limited to information and advice on benefits and methods of energy conservation.

(3) The powers, duties, rights and privileges conferred or imposed upon the corporation by this Act may not be transferred.

(4) The corporation shall refrain from interfering with collective bargaining rights of any employees of a public utility.

(5) The corporation shall provide all consumer complaints regarding service by entities possessing a certificate of service authority as an alternative retail electric supplier under Section 16-115 of the Public Utilities Act and entities possessing certificates of service authority as an alternative gas supplier under Section 19-110 of the Public Utilities Act to the Consumer Services Division of the Illinois Commerce Commission.

For purposes of this subsection (5), "complaint" means an objection made to an alternative retail electric supplier or to an alternative gas supplier by a customer or another entity as to its charges, facilities, or service, the disposal of which requires investigation or analysis. "Complaint" includes a customer or other entity identifying and asking an alternative retail electric supplier or alternative gas supplier to address or resolve a problem or concern. "Complaint" does not include contact that is limited to inquiry or seeking information.

(Source: P.A. 91-50, eff. 6-30-99.)

Section 15. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act is amended by changing Section 2EE as follows:

(815 ILCS 505/2EE)

Sec. 2EE. Electric service provider selection. An electric service provider shall not submit or execute a change in a subscriber's selection of a provider of electric service unless and until (i) the provider first discloses all material terms and conditions of the offer to the subscriber; (ii) the provider has obtained the subscriber's express agreement to accept the offer after the disclosure of all material terms and conditions of the offer; and (iii) the provider has confirmed the request for a change in accordance with one of the following procedures:

(a) The new electric service provider has obtained the subscriber's written or electronically signed authorization in a form that meets the following requirements:

(1) An electric service provider shall obtain any necessary written or electronically signed authorization from a subscriber for a change in electric service by using a letter of agency as specified in this Section. Any letter of agency that does not conform with this Section is invalid.

(2) The letter of agency shall be a separate document (an easily separable document containing only the authorization language described in subparagraph (a)(5) of this Section) whose sole purpose is to authorize an electric service provider change. The letter of agency must be signed and dated by the subscriber requesting the electric service provider change.

(3) The letter of agency shall not be combined with inducements of any kind on the same document.

(4) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this Section, the letter of agency may be combined with checks that contain only the required letter of agency language prescribed in subparagraph (a)(5) of this Section and the necessary information to make the check a negotiable instrument. The letter of agency check shall not contain any promotional language or material. The letter of agency check shall contain in easily readable, bold-face type on the face of the check, a notice that the consumer is authorizing an electric service provider change by signing the check. The letter of agency language also shall be placed near the signature line on the back of the check.

(5) At a minimum, the letter of agency must be printed with a print of sufficient size to be clearly legible, and must contain clear and unambiguous language that confirms:

(i) The subscriber's billing name and address;

(ii) The decision to change the electric service provider from the current provider to the prospective provider;

(iii) The terms, conditions, and nature of the service to be provided to the subscriber must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed, in writing, and an electric service provider must directly establish the rates for the service contracted for by the subscriber; and

(iv) That the subscriber understand that any electric service provider selection the subscriber chooses may involve a charge to the subscriber for changing the subscriber's electric service provider.

(6) Letters of agency shall not suggest or require that a subscriber take some action in order to retain the subscriber's current electric service provider.

(7) If any portion of a letter of agency is translated into another language, then all portions of the letter of agency must be translated into that language.

(b) An appropriately qualified independent third party has obtained, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this subsection (b), the subscriber's oral authorization to change electric suppliers that confirms and includes appropriate verification data. The independent third party (i) must not be owned, managed, controlled, or directed by the supplier or the supplier's marketing agent; (ii) must not have any financial incentive to confirm supplier change requests for the supplier or the supplier's marketing agent; and (iii) must operate in a location physically separate from the supplier or the supplier's marketing agent.

Automated third-party verification systems and 3-way conference calls may be used for verification purposes so long as the other requirements of this subsection (b) are satisfied.

A supplier or supplier's sales representative initiating a 3-way conference call or a call through an automated verification system must drop off the call once the 3-way connection has been established.

All third-party verification methods shall elicit, at a minimum, the following information: (i) the identity of the subscriber; (ii) confirmation that the person on the call is authorized to make the supplier change; (iii) confirmation that the person on the call wants to make the supplier change; (iv) the names of the suppliers affected by the change; (v) the service address of the supply to be switched; and (vi) the price of the service to be supplied and the material terms and conditions of the service being offered, including whether any early termination fees apply. Third-party verifiers may not market the supplier's services by providing additional information, including information regarding procedures to block or otherwise freeze an account against further changes.

All third-party verifications shall be conducted in the same language that was used in the underlying sales transaction and shall be recorded in their entirety. Submitting suppliers shall maintain and preserve audio records or electronic versions, if automated, of verification of subscriber authorization for a minimum period of 2 years after obtaining the verification. Automated systems must provide consumers with an option to speak with a live person at any time during the call.

(c) When a subscriber initiates the call to the prospective electric supplier, in order to enroll the subscriber as a customer, the prospective electric supplier must, with the consent of the customer, make a date-stamped, time-stamped audio recording that elicits, at a minimum, the following information:

(1) the identity of the subscriber;

(2) confirmation that the person on the call is authorized to make the supplier change;

(3) confirmation that the person on the call wants to make the supplier change;

(4) the names of the suppliers affected by the change;

(5) the service address of the supply to be switched; and

(6) the price of the service to be supplied and the material terms and conditions of the service being offered, including whether any early termination fees apply.

Submitting suppliers shall maintain and preserve the audio records containing the information set forth above for a minimum period of 2 years.

(d) Complaints may be filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission under this Section by a subscriber whose electric service has been provided by an electric service supplier in a manner not in compliance with this Section. If, after notice and hearing, the Commission finds that an electric service provider has violated this Section, the Commission may in its discretion do any one or more of the following:

(1) Require the violating electric service provider to refund to the subscriber charges collected in excess of those that would have been charged by the subscriber's authorized electric service provider.

(2) Require the violating electric service provider to pay to the subscriber's authorized electric supplier the amount the authorized electric supplier would have collected for the electric service. The Commission is authorized to reduce this payment by any amount already paid by the violating electric supplier to the subscriber's authorized provider for electric service.

(3) Require the violating electric subscriber to pay a fine of up to $1,000 into the Public Utility Fund for each repeated and intentional violation of this Section.

(4) Issue a cease and desist order.

(5) For a pattern of violation of this Section or for intentionally violating a cease and desist order, revoke the violating provider's certificate of service authority.

(e) For purposes of this Section, "electric service provider" shall have the meaning given that phrase in Section 6.5 of the Attorney General Act.

(Source: P.A. 95-700, eff. 11-9-07.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".