97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB6159

 

Introduced , by Rep. Michelle Mussman

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
220 ILCS 10/2  from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 902
220 ILCS 10/3  from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 903
220 ILCS 10/4  from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 904
220 ILCS 10/5  from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 905
220 ILCS 10/6  from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 906
220 ILCS 10/10  from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 910
220 ILCS 10/11  from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 911
220 ILCS 10/12  from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 912
220 ILCS 10/20  from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 920
220 ILCS 10/21  from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 921

    Amends the Citizens Utility Board Act. Provides that the Citizens Utility Board shall represent and protect the interests of the residential utility customers and petroleum customers (now, just residential utility customers) of this State. Makes corresponding changes.


LRB097 18571 CEL 63803 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB6159LRB097 18571 CEL 63803 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 Citizens Utility Board Act is amended by
5changing Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 20, and 21 as
6follows:
 
7    (220 ILCS 10/2)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 902)
8    Sec. 2. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to promote the
9health, welfare and prosperity of all the citizens of this
10State by ensuring effective and democratic representation of
11utility consumers before the Illinois Commerce Commission, the
12Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Federal
13Communications Commission, the courts, and other public bodies
14and by providing for consumer education on utility service
15prices and petroleum prices and on benefits and methods of
16energy conservation. Such purpose shall be deemed a statewide
17interest and not a private or special concern.
18(Source: P.A. 83-945.)
 
19    (220 ILCS 10/3)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 903)
20    Sec. 3. Definitions. As used in this Act:
21    (1) "Board" means the board of directors of the
22corporation.

 

 

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1    (2) "Campaign contribution" means a gift, subscription,
2loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value, made
3for the purpose of electing a candidate to the board; or a
4contract, a promise or agreement, express or implied, whether
5or not legally enforceable, to make any campaign contribution;
6but does not include the value of services provided without
7compensation by individuals who volunteer a portion or all of
8their time on behalf of a candidate or political committee, or
9the use of real or personal property and the cost of
10invitations, food and beverages, voluntarily provided by an
11individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary personal
12services on the individual's residential premises for
13candidate-related activities if the cumulative value of the
14activities to the individual on behalf of any candidate does
15not exceed $100 for any election.
16    (3) "Campaign expenditures" means a purchase, payment
17distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or
18anything of value, made for the purpose of electing a candidate
19to the board; or a contract, promise, or agreement, express or
20implied, whether or not legally enforceable, to make any
21campaign expenditure; but does not include the use of real or
22personal property and the cost of invitations, food and
23beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate
24in rendering voluntary personal services on the individual's
25residential premises for candidate-related activities if the
26cumulative value of the activities by the individual on behalf

 

 

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1of any candidate does not exceed $100 for any election.
2    (4) "Class A utility" means any gas, electric or water
3public utility with annual total gross operating revenues of
4$2.5 million or more or any telephone public utility with
5annual total gross operating revenues of $1,600,000 or more on
6the effective date of this Act.
7    (5) "Corporation" means the citizens utility board.
8    (6) "Director" means any member of the board.
9    (7) "District" means a corporation district, the
10boundaries of which are congruent with the boundaries of the
11Congressional districts in the State.
12    (8) "Immediate family" of a person means the person's
13spouse and legal dependents.
14    (9) "Member" means any person who satisfies the
15requirements for membership under Section 4.
16    (10) "Periodic customer billing" means a demand for payment
17for utility services by a public utility to a residential
18utility consumer on a monthly or other regular basis.
19    (10.5) "Petroleum consumer" means any individual located
20in this State who uses petroleum products, including, but not
21limited to, gasoline, diesel fuel, biodiesel, and E-85.
22    (10.10) "Petroleum provider" means any entity providing
23petroleum products to consumers.
24    (10.15) "Petroleum service" means the movement of
25petroleum products for use by petroleum consumers.
26    (11) "Political committee" means any committee, club,

 

 

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1association or other group of persons which make campaign
2expenditures or receive campaign contributions during the year
3before an election of the board.
4    (12) "Public utility" means any person who owns, operates,
5manages or controls any plant or equipment or any part of a
6plant or equipment, within the State, for the conveyance of
7telephone messages or for the production, transmission,
8delivery or furnishing of heat, light, water or power either
9directly or indirectly to or for the public. "Public utility"
10includes any person engaged in the transmission or delivery of
11natural gas for compensation within this State by means of
12pipes or mains. "Public utility" does not include a cooperative
13association organized for the purpose of furnishing telephone
14service to its members only. "Public utility" does not include
15electric cooperatives as defined in Section 3-119 of the Public
16Utilities Act. However, "public utility" does not include
17either public utilities that are owned and operated by a
18political subdivision, public institution of higher education
19or municipal corporation of this State or public utilities that
20are owned by such political subdivision, public institution of
21higher education, or municipal corporation and operated by any
22of its lessees or operating agents.
23    (13) "Utility consumer" means any individual or entity,
24which is not governmental or a public utility, which is located
25in this State and which is furnished with a utility service by
26a public utility.

 

 

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1    (14) "Utility service" means electricity, natural gas,
2water and telephone service supplied by a public utility.
3(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)
 
4    (220 ILCS 10/4)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 904)
5    Sec. 4. Citizens utility board: formation and membership.
6    (1) There is created a nonprofit public body corporate and
7politic to be known as the "Citizens Utility Board". Any
8utility or petroleum consumer who has submitted a membership
9form and has contributed membership dues to the corporation in
10the preceding 12 months shall be a member of the corporation. A
11member may resign from membership at any time.
12    (2) The board shall, upon certification of their
13nominations pursuant to subsection (2) of Section 12 and
14request by the candidate, within 5 days provide to each
15candidate for election to the board a current list of members
16residing in the candidate's district. Such list shall include
17the names and current addresses of members within such
18district, and may be used by the candidate only for election
19purposes.
20    (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or any
21other provisions of law, if the corporation does not receive
22contributions from at least 10,000 citizens of this State
23within 3 years of the effective date of this Act, the
24corporation shall be dissolved.
25(Source: P.A. 86-101.)
 

 

 

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1    (220 ILCS 10/5)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 905)
2    Sec. 5. Powers and duties.
3    (1) The corporation shall:
4        (a) Represent and protect the interests of the
5    residential utility consumers and petroleum consumers of
6    this State. All actions by the corporation under this Act
7    shall be directed toward such duty; provided that the
8    corporation may also give due consideration to the
9    interests of business in the State.
10        (b) Inform, in so far as possible, all utility and
11    petroleum consumers about the corporation, including the
12    procedure for obtaining membership in the corporation.
13    (2) The corporation shall have all the powers necessary or
14convenient for the effective representation and protection of
15the interest of utility and petroleum consumers and to
16implement this Act, including the following powers in addition
17to all other powers granted by this Act.
18        (a) To make, amend and repeal bylaws and rules for the
19    regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business;
20    to adopt an official seal and alter it at pleasure; to
21    maintain an office; to sue and be sued in its own name,
22    plead and be impleaded; and to make and execute contracts
23    and other instruments necessary or convenient to the
24    exercise of the powers of the corporation.
25        (b) To employ such agents, employees and special

 

 

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1    advisors as it finds necessary and to fix their
2    compensation.
3        (c) To solicit and accept gifts, loans, including loans
4    made by the Illinois Commerce Commission from funds
5    appropriated for that purpose by law, or other aid in order
6    to support activities concerning the interests of utility
7    and petroleum consumers. Except as provided in Section 5.1,
8    the corporation may not accept gifts, loans or other aid
9    from any public utility or from any director, employee or
10    agent or member of the immediate family of a director,
11    employee or agent of any public utility or petroleum
12    provider and, after the first election the corporation, may
13    not accept from any individual, private corporation,
14    association or partnership in any single year a total of
15    more than $1,000 in gifts. Under this paragraph, "aid" does
16    not mean payment of membership dues.
17        (d) To intervene as a party or otherwise participate on
18    behalf of utility and petroleum consumers in any proceeding
19    which affects the interest of utility or petroleum
20    consumers.
21        (e) To represent the interests of utility and petroleum
22    consumers before the Illinois Commerce Commission, the
23    Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Federal
24    Communications Commission, the courts, and other public
25    bodies, except that no director, employee or agent of the
26    corporation may engage in lobbying without first complying

 

 

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1    with any applicable statute, administrative rule or other
2    regulation relating to lobbying.
3        (f) To establish annual dues which shall be set at a
4    level that provides sufficient funding for the corporation
5    to effectively perform its powers and duties, and is
6    affordable for as many utility and petroleum consumers as
7    is possible.
8        (g) To implement solicitation for corporation funding
9    and membership.
10        (h) To seek tax exempt status under State and federal
11    law, including 501(c)(3) status under the United States
12    Internal Revenue Code.
13        (i) To provide information and advice to utility and
14    petroleum consumers on any matter with respect to utility
15    or petroleum service, including but not limited to
16    information and advice on benefits and methods of energy
17    conservation.
18    (3) The powers, duties, rights and privileges conferred or
19imposed upon the corporation by this Act may not be
20transferred.
21    (4) The corporation shall refrain from interfering with
22collective bargaining rights of any employees of a public
23utility.
24(Source: P.A. 91-50, eff. 6-30-99.)
 
25    (220 ILCS 10/6)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 906)

 

 

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1    Sec. 6. Board. The corporation shall be managed by, and its
2powers, functions and duties shall be exercised through a board
3to be composed as follows:
4    (1) Election and Terms of Directors. The Citizens Utility
5Board Districts shall be divided into two groups for the
6purpose of establishing terms for which the Directors shall be
7elected in each group. One group shall be comprised of the even
8numbered Congressional Districts. The odd numbered
9Congressional Districts shall comprise the other group.
10        (a) The Interim Board, within 60 days after their
11    appointment, shall meet and publicly by lot determine which
12    group shall be the first group and which group shall be the
13    second. The board members or their successors from the
14    first group shall be elected for successive terms of two
15    years, two years and four years; and members or their
16    successors from the second group shall be elected for
17    successive terms of four years, two years and two years.
18        (b) The first election of directors of the board is to
19    be held no later than April 30, 1985. Subsequent elections
20    of directors of the board shall be held on March 31 of each
21    election year. If March 31 falls on a weekend or holiday,
22    the election shall occur on the next business day following
23    March 31.
24        (c) Interim and elected board members shall serve until
25    their successors are elected and have qualified.
26        (d) In the year following each decennial census and

 

 

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1    within 45 days after the redistricted Congressional
2    Districts are enacted, the board shall allocate terms
3    between the 2 groups of districts publicly by lot as
4    provided in paragraph (a). Board members or their
5    successors from the first group shall be elected for
6    successive terms of two years, four years and four years;
7    and members or their successors from the second group shall
8    be elected for successive terms of four years, four years,
9    and two years.
10    (2) Qualifications. A director shall be a resident of the
11district he or she represents and member of the corporation. No
12person who is an employee in any managerial or supervisory
13capacity, director, officer or agent or who is a member of the
14immediate family of any such employee, director, officer or
15agent of any public utility or any petroleum provider is
16eligible to be a director. No director may hold any elective
17position, be a candidate for any elective position, be a State
18public official, be employed by the Illinois Commerce
19Commission, or be employed in a governmental position exempt
20from the Personnel Code.
21    (3) Director, Family Member Employment. No director, nor
22member of his or her immediate family shall, either directly or
23indirectly, be employed for compensation as a staff member or
24consultant of the corporation.
25    (4) Meetings. The board shall hold regular meetings at
26least once every 3 months on such dates and at such places as

 

 

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1it may determine. Special meetings may be called by the
2president or by a majority of the directors upon at least 7
3days' advance written notice. Unless otherwise provided in the
4bylaws, a majority of the board of directors shall constitute a
5quorum; provided, that in no event shall a quorum consist of
6less than one-third of the board of directors. The act of the
7majority of the directors, present at a meeting at which a
8quorum is present, shall be the act of the board of directors
9unless the act of a greater number is required by this Act or
10bylaws. A summary of the minutes of every board meeting shall
11be made available to each public library in the State upon
12request and to individuals upon request.
13    (5) Expenses. A director may not receive any compensation
14for his or her services but shall be reimbursed for necessary
15expenses, including travel expenses incurred in the discharge
16of duties. The board shall establish standard allowances for
17mileage, room and meals and the purposes for which such
18allowances may be made and shall determine the reasonableness
19and necessity for such reimbursements. The board shall include
20the schedule of such standard allowances in the annual report
21under subsection (4) (d) of Section 7.
22    (6) Bonding. Directors and employees eligible to disburse
23funds shall be bonded. The costs of such bonds shall be paid by
24the corporation.
25(Source: P.A. 84-1093.)
 

 

 

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1    (220 ILCS 10/10)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 910)
2    Sec. 10. Prohibited Acts.
3    (1) No person may interfere or threaten to interfere with
4or cause any interference with utility service or petroleum
5service or with the utility service or petroleum service of or
6penalize any person who contributes to the corporation or
7participates in any of its activities, in retribution for such
8contribution or participation.
9    (2) No person may act with intent to prevent, interfere
10with or hinder the activities permitted under this Act.
11    (3) A person who violates this Section may be fined not
12more than $1,000. Each such violation shall constitute a
13separate and continuing violation of this Act. A person who
14knowingly and wilfully violates this Section may be imprisoned
15not more than 6 months.
16(Source: P.A. 83-945.)
 
17    (220 ILCS 10/11)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 911)
18    Sec. 11. Appointment of Interim Board of Directors.
19    (1) Within 90 days after the effective date of this Act, an
20interim board of directors shall be appointed. The Board shall
21consist of 11 members. The Governor shall appoint 3 members.
22The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the
23Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the
24House shall each appoint 2 members. The appointees shall
25reflect the geographical diversity of this State and shall

 

 

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1include representation from minority groups, low-income
2persons, labor organizations, business, women and senior
3citizens. No interim director appointed under this Section may
4hold an elective position, be a candidate for any elective
5position, or be a State public official.
6    (2) The interim board appointed under this Section shall:
7        (a) As soon as possible after appointment, organize for
8    the transaction of business.
9        (b) Inform the utility and petroleum consumers of this
10    State of the existence, nature and purposes of the
11    corporation, and encourage utility and petroleum consumers
12    to join the corporation, to participate in the
13    corporation's activities and to contribute to the
14    corporation.
15        (c) Establish annual dues to be in effect until such
16    time as an elected board assumes the duty as provided in
17    paragraph (2) (f) of Section 5.
18        (d) Elect officers as provided under Section 12.
19        (e) Employ such staff as the interim directors deem
20    necessary to carry out the purposes of this Section. The
21    interim board appointed under this Section shall follow the
22    procedures required under Section 7.2 if it hires an
23    executive director of the corporation.
24        (f) Make all necessary preparations for the first
25    election of directors, oversee the election campaign and
26    tally the votes under Section 12.

 

 

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1        (g) Solicit funds for the corporation.
2        (h) Carry out all other duties and exercise all other
3    powers accorded to the board under this Act including the
4    powers given to the corporation under Section 9.
5(Source: P.A. 83-945.)
 
6    (220 ILCS 10/12)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 912)
7    Sec. 12. (1) Eligibility. To be eligible for election to
8the board, a candidate must:
9        (a) Meet the qualifications for directors under
10    subsection (2) of Section 6.
11        (b) Have his or her nomination certified by the board
12    under subsection (2) of this Section.
13        (c) Submit to the board a statement of financial
14    interests under subsection (3) and a statement of personal
15    background and positions under subsection (4).
16        (d) Make the affirmation under subsection (3) (e).
17    (2) Nomination. A candidate for election to the board shall
18circulate or have a member of the corporation circulate a
19petition for nomination on the candidate's behalf not sooner
20than 120 days preceding the election and shall file the
21petition with the corporation not later than 60 days prior to
22the election. The petition for nomination shall be signed by at
23least 5% or 30, whichever is less, of the members residing in
24his or her district. The board shall verify the validity of the
25signatures by comparing them to the signatures on the

 

 

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1membership applications and the current list of members
2maintained by the Board. Within 14 days after the petition is
3due, the board shall determine whether a sufficient number of
4signatures are valid. If the board determines a sufficient
5number are valid, it shall certify the nomination of the
6candidate.
7    (3) Statement of financial interests. A candidate for
8election to the board whose nomination is certified under
9subsection (2) shall submit to the board, not later than 60
10days prior to the election, a statement of financial interests
11upon a form provided by the board. The statement of financial
12interests shall include the following information:
13        (a) The occupation, employer and position at place of
14    employment of the candidate and of his or her immediate
15    family members.
16        (b) A list of all corporate directorships or other
17    offices, and of all fiduciary relationships, held in the
18    past 3 years by the candidate and by his or her immediate
19    family members.
20        (c) The name of any creditor to whom the candidate or a
21    member of the candidate's immediate family owes $10,000 or
22    more.
23        (d) The name of any corporation in which the candidate
24    holds a security, the current market value of which is
25    $5,000 or more.
26        (e) An affirmation, subject to penalty of perjury, that

 

 

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1    the information contained in the statement of financial
2    interests is true and complete.
3    (4) Statement of personal background and positions. A
4candidate for election to the board whose nomination is
5certified under subsection (2) shall submit to the board, not
6later than 60 days prior to the election, on a form to be
7provided by the board, a statement concerning his or her
8personal background and positions on issues relating to public
9utilities, petroleum, or the operations of the corporation. The
10statement shall contain an affirmation, subject to penalty of
11perjury, that the candidate meets the qualifications
12prescribed for directors in subsection (2) of Section 6.
13    (5) Restrictions on a reporting of campaign contributions
14and expenditures.
15        (a) No candidate may accept more than $200 in campaign
16    contributions from any person or political committee from
17    one year before the date of an election through the date of
18    the election.
19        (b) Each candidate for election to the board shall keep
20    complete records of all contributions to his or her
21    campaign of $25 of more from one year before the date of an
22    election through the date of the election, and, at the
23    board's request, shall make such records available for
24    inspection by the board.
25        (c) As a condition for receiving the benefits of the
26    board's mailing under subsection (6), a candidate for

 

 

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1    election to the board shall agree in writing to incur no
2    more than $2,500 in campaign expenditures from the time he
3    or she commences circulation of petitions for nomination or
4    from 4 months prior to the election, whichever is earlier,
5    through the date of the election.
6        (d) Each candidate for election to the board shall keep
7    complete records of his or her campaign expenditures, and,
8    at the board's request, shall make such records available
9    for inspection by the board.
10        (e) No earlier than 14 days and no later than 8 days
11    preceding the election and no earlier than 21 days and no
12    later than 30 days after the election, each candidate for
13    election to the board shall submit to the board, on a form
14    provided by the board, an accurate statement of his or her
15    campaign contributions, swearing that he or she has fully
16    complied with the requirements of this subsection.
17        (f) No candidate for election to the board may use any
18    campaign contribution for any purpose except for campaign
19    expenditures. Any campaign contribution not expended shall
20    be donated no later than 90 days after the election to the
21    corporation or to any charitable organization at the option
22    of the candidate.
23    (6) Election procedures.
24        (a) The board shall mail or distribute to each member's
25    address on file with the corporation, not sooner than 30
26    and not later than 10 days before the date fixed for the

 

 

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1    election:
2            (i) An official ballot listing all candidates for
3        director from the member's district whose nominations
4        the board has certified and who satisfy the
5        requirements of subsection (1). The board shall
6        include with the ballot each candidate's statement of
7        financial interests submitted under subsection (3).
8            (ii) The statement by each candidate for election
9        to the board of personal background and positions as
10        required under subsection (4), if the candidate has
11        agreed in writing to limit his or her campaign
12        expenditures under subsection (5) (c).
13        (b) Each member may vote in the election by returning
14    his or her official ballot in person or by first class
15    mail, properly marked, to the ballot return location
16    designated by the corporation. Ballots returned to the
17    location designated by the corporation must be postmarked
18    on or before the date fixed for the election or must be
19    received at the ballot return location designated by the
20    corporation on or before the date fixed for the election.
21        (c) Voting shall be by secret ballot.
22        (d) The board shall tally votes with all reasonable
23    speed and shall inform the membership promptly of the names
24    of the candidates elected.
25        (e) For each district the board within 30 days of the
26    election shall certify the candidate elected to the board

 

 

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1    if the candidate has the most votes in the district and if
2    he or she has complied with this Section.
3        (f) If a vacancy in nomination occurs because no
4    candidate has filed for nomination, the board by a majority
5    of those voting shall appoint a member of the corporation
6    who resides in the district where the vacancy exists to be
7    the candidate.
8        (g) If the candidate with the most votes dies, declines
9    or resigns from candidacy prior to being certified under
10    paragraph (e), or for any other reason is not certified
11    under paragraph (e), the office for which the candidate ran
12    shall be vacant and shall be filled by the board as
13    provided herein.
14        (h) If a vacancy on the Board occurs, with more than 12
15    months remaining in the term, the Board shall set a date
16    for a special election for the district for the purpose of
17    electing a director to serve out the term of the vacant
18    office and shall so notify every member in the district.
19    The election may not be less than 2 months nor more than 4
20    months after such notification. An election under this
21    Section shall be conducted in the same manner as other
22    elections of directors are conducted. The seat shall remain
23    vacant if there is 8 months or less remaining in the term.
24    (7) Election rules. The board may prescribe rules for the
25conduct of elections and election campaigns not inconsistent
26with this Act.

 

 

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1(Source: P.A. 84-1093.)
 
2    (220 ILCS 10/20)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 920)
3    Sec. 20. Liability of public utility. No public utility or
4petroleum provider shall be liable on any claim based on any
5action it is required to take to be in compliance with this
6Act.
7(Source: P.A. 83-945.)
 
8    (220 ILCS 10/21)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 921)
9    Sec. 21. Home rule preemption. The provisions of this Act
10are declared to be an exclusive exercise of power by the State
11of Illinois pursuant to paragraphs (h) or (i) of Section 6 of
12Article VII of the Illinois Constitution. No home rule unit may
13impose any requirement or regulation on any public utility or
14petroleum provider inconsistent with or in addition to the
15requirements or regulations set forth in this Act.
16(Source: P.A. 83-945.)