97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB0686

 

Introduced 01/31/11, by Rep. Michael J. Madigan

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
220 ILCS 5/8-304  from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 8-304

    Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning estimated billing practices.


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A BILL FOR

 

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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 changing
5Section 8-304 as follows:
 
6    (220 ILCS 5/8-304)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 8-304)
7    Sec. 8-304. The The Commission shall conduct a
8comprehensive study of the estimated billing practices and
9policies of each major public utility providing gas or electric
10service. The study shall include, but not be limited to:
11    (a) an analysis of the extent to which estimated billing
12has occurred in each of the past 10 years and the extent to
13which it currently occurs and is expected to occur in the
14foreseeable future. Such analysis shall, to the fullest extent
15possible, include an examination of the circumstances in which
16estimated billing most frequently occurs, by time of year,
17geographical location, and customer class or group. Such
18analysis shall also specifically identify the frequency of
19consecutively estimated bills;
20    (b) an analysis of the reasons for estimated billing in
21general, the reasons for any change over time in the frequency
22of estimated billing, and the reason for any higher than
23average frequency of estimated billing during certain times of

 

 

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1year, in certain geographical areas, or for particular customer
2classes or groups;
3    (c) an analysis of the method used to establish the amount
4of an estimated bill and the extent to which such method
5reflects changes in usage due to weather and customer
6conservation efforts;
7    (d) an analysis of the extent to which the method used to
8establish the amount of an estimated bill accurately
9approximates actual usage and the extent to which estimated
10bills differ from actual usage and bills;
11    (e) an analysis of the extent to which the frequency of
12estimated billing and any inaccuracies resulting from the
13method of establishing the amount of an estimated bill,
14including make-up billing, contribute to customers'
15unwillingness or inability to pay utility bills and the
16utility's inability to collect actual amounts due and owing;
17    (f) identification of any and all means currently used to
18minimize the frequency of estimated bills and any inaccuracies
19in estimation methods, and a critical assessment of the
20adequacy and effectiveness of such means;
21    (g) identification of any incentives which exist and which
22tend to encourage or discourage the use of estimated billing by
23utilities;
24    (h) identification and critical assessment of all
25alternative incentives and means by which the frequency of
26estimated billing and the inaccuracies of estimation

 

 

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1procedures can be minimized, and estimation procedures
2improved, giving consideration to the cost to the utilities,
3including, but not limited to,
4    (i) requiring the use of outside meters;
5    (ii) requiring utilities to read meters monthly;
6    (iii) requiring utilities to pay interest on the difference
7between an estimated bill and the actual amount due, where the
8customer pays the estimated bill, and the estimated bill
9exceeds the actual amount due for such period of time.
10    The completed study shall be subject to hearing and
11comment. Thereafter, the Commission shall initiate rulemaking
12proceedings to promulgate such rules as it believes reasonable
13and necessary to ensure the minimization of the frequency of
14estimated billing and the increased accuracy of estimation
15procedures. The study shall also be provided to the General
16Assembly together with any specific recommendations for
17legislation which the Commission believes necessary or
18beneficial.
19(Source: P.A. 84-617.)