101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB2123

 

Introduced 2/15/2019, by Sen. Robert Peters

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 3855/1-59 new

    Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall implement a project to be called the Renewable Energy Pay As You Save Program. Provides for the purpose and requirements of the Program. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall convene a workshop process during which interested participants may discuss issues related to the Program. Provides that each applicable electric utility shall submit an informational filing to the Commission that describes its plan for implementing provisions regarding the Program. Provides that electric utilities shall work with lenders selected pursuant to a request for proposals process and with vendors to establish the terms and processes under which a participant can purchase eligible renewable energy generation and energy storage systems using the financing obtained from a lender through a financing program designed to fit the Pay As You Save model. Provides further requirements concerning the establishment of financing programs based upon the Pay As You Save model. Provides that the Commission shall adopt all rules necessary for administration. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2123LRB101 09746 JRG 54847 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Power Agency Act is amended by
5adding Section 1-59 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 3855/1-59 new)
7    Sec. 1-59. Renewable Energy Pay As You Save Program.
8    (a) The General Assembly finds that Illinois homes and
9businesses can contribute to the creation of a clean energy
10economy, conservation of natural resources, and reliability of
11the electricity grid through the installation of
12cost-effective renewable energy generation and energy storage
13systems. Moreover, a large portion of Illinois residents and
14businesses that would benefit from installation of such systems
15are unable to purchase systems due to capital or credit
16barriers.
17    Programs created pursuant to this Section will allow
18utility customers to purchase cost-effective renewable energy
19generation and energy storage systems, with no required initial
20upfront payment, and to pay the cost of those products and
21services over time on their utility bill using a program
22designed to fit the "Pay As You Save" (PAYS) model.
23    (b) The Illinois Commerce Commission shall implement a

 

 

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1project to be called the Renewable Energy Pay As You Save
2Program that shall:
3        (1) allow a residential electric utility customer that
4    owns the property for which the customer subscribes to
5    purchase a renewable energy product or energy storage
6    system:
7            (A) with no up-front payments; and
8            (B) by paying the cost of the system over time of
9        the customer's electricity bill if the estimated life
10        cycle electricity savings from the renewable energy
11        products system exceeds the cost of the system;
12        (2) provide for billing and payment of the renewable
13    energy products system on the utility bill;
14        (3) assist lower income residents and environmental
15    justice community residents in purchasing renewable energy
16    generation and energy storage systems through financing
17    programs; and
18        (4) be administered in coordination with the energy
19    efficiency on-bill financing program established under
20    Section 16-111.7 of the Public Utilities Act to maximize
21    resident savings.
22    (c) Within 60 days after the effective date of this
23amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the Commission
24shall convene a workshop process during which interested
25participants may discuss issues related to the Program.
26    (d) Within 120 days after the effective date of this

 

 

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1amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, each electric
2utility subject to the requirements of this Section shall
3submit an informational filing to the Commission that describes
4its plan for implementing the provisions of this Section.
5    (e) Electric utilities shall work with lenders selected
6pursuant to a request for proposals process and with vendors to
7establish the terms and processes under which a participant can
8purchase eligible renewable energy generation and energy
9storage systems using the financing obtained from a lender
10through a program designed to fit the Pay As You Save model.
11The vendor shall explain and offer the approved financing
12packaging to customers and shall assist customers in applying
13for financing. As part of the process, vendors shall also
14provide participants with information about any other relevant
15incentives that may be available.
16    (f) An electric utility shall recover all of the prudently
17incurred costs of offering a program approved by the Commission
18under this Section.
19    (g) An independent evaluation of a program shall be
20conducted after 3 years of the program's operation.
21    (h) The Illinois Commerce Commission shall adopt all rules
22necessary for administration of this Section.
 
23    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
24becoming law.