103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB4366

 

Introduced 1/16/2024, by Rep. Jay Hoffman

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
220 ILCS 5/9-210.7 new

    Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a large public utility, in its application to acquire a water or sewer utility or any other application requesting approval of an acquisition of a water or sewer utility, may request that the Illinois Commerce Commission expedite its review and issue an order within an expedited timeframe. Provides that, if, in its application, a large public utility requests an expedited review, the administrative law judge shall issue a ruling approving or denying expedited review within 30 days of the filing of the application. Provides that the large public utility, in its application, shall establish evidence that the expedited review is necessary based upon specified factors. Provides that, if, after hearing, the administrative law judge grants expedited review, and subject to the Commission's rules on interlocutory review, the Commission shall issue its final order no later than 5 months after the date of the administrative law judge's ruling. Provides that the Commission may adopt rules to implement the provisions. Effective immediately.


LRB103 36142 SPS 66234 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4366LRB103 36142 SPS 66234 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 Public Utilities Act is amended by adding
5Section 9-210.7 as follows:
 
6    (220 ILCS 5/9-210.7 new)
7    Sec. 9-210.7. Expedited review of a water or sewer utility
8acquisition.
9    (a) As used in this Section, "large public utility" and
10"water or sewer utility" have the meaning set forth in Section
119-210.5.
12    (b) A large public utility, in its application to acquire
13a water or sewer utility as described in Section 9-210.5 or any
14other application requesting approval of an acquisition of a
15water or sewer utility, may request that the Commission
16expedite its review and issue an order within an expedited
17timeframe set forth in subsection (c). If, in its application,
18a large public utility requests an expedited review, the
19administrative law judge shall issue a ruling approving or
20denying expedited review within 30 days of the filing of the
21application. In support of its request for expedited review,
22the large public utility, in its application, shall present
23evidence, which the administrative law judge shall consider,

 

 

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1that the expedited review is necessary based upon factors that
2include, but are not limited to, the following:
3        (1) the subject water or sewer utility infrastructure
4    is in need of immediate improvements for the health and
5    safety of the customers or residents;
6        (2) the subject water or sewer utility has pending
7    violations with the Illinois Environmental Protection
8    Agency or any other environmental regulatory agency;
9        (3) the number of customers or residents served by the
10    subject water or sewer utility;
11        (4) whether the subject water or sewer utility has
12    made an affirmation to the Commission included in the
13    large public utility's application that the subject water
14    or sewer utility can no longer operate efficiently in
15    order to provide safe and reliable water or sewer service
16    to its customers or residents; and
17        (5) any other evidence in support of the applicant's
18    position that the customers or residents of the subject
19    water or sewer utility are not being provided safe and
20    reliable water or sewer service.
21    (c) If, after hearing, the administrative law judge grants
22expedited review as requested under subsection (b), and
23subject to the Commission's rules on interlocutory review, the
24Commission shall issue its final order no later than 5 months
25after the date of the administrative law judge's ruling.
26    (d) The Commission may adopt rules to implement this

 

 

HB4366- 3 -LRB103 36142 SPS 66234 b

1Section.
 
2    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
3becoming law.