HB5837 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 16919 MJR 32232 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB5837

Introduced 2/10/2010___________, by

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

220 ILCS 5/9-223

from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-223

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that no public utility shall impose a sprinkler standby charge on the owners of structures that contain automatic fire protection systems. Provides that "sprinkler standby charge" means additional charges imposed by a public utility on owners of structures because the structures are equipped with automatic fire protection sprinkler systems. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning utilities.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing Section 9-223 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/9-223) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-223)

Sec. 9-223. Fire protection charge.

(a) The Commission may authorize any public utility engaged in the production, storage, transmission, sale, delivery or furnishing of water to impose a fire protection charge, in addition to any rate authorized by this Act, sufficient to cover a reasonable portion of the cost of providing the capacity, facilities and the water necessary to meet the fire protection needs of any municipality or public fire protection district. Such fire protection charge shall be in the form of a fixed amount per bill and shall be shown separately on the utility bill of each customer of the municipality or fire protection district. Any filing by a public utility to impose such a fire protection charge or to modify a charge shall be made pursuant to Section 9-201 of this Act. Any fire protection charge imposed shall reflect the costs associated with providing fire protection service for each municipality or fire protection district. No such charge shall be imposed directly on any municipality or fire protection district for a reasonable level of fire protection services unless provided for in a separate agreement between the municipality or the fire protection district and the utility.

No public utility shall impose a sprinkler standby charge on the owners of structures that contain automatic fire protection systems. As used in this Section, "sprinkler standby charge" means additional charges imposed by a public utility on owners of structures because the structures are equipped with automatic fire protection sprinkler systems.

(b) By December 31, 2007, the Commission shall conduct at least 3 public forums to evaluate the purpose and use of each fire protection charge imposed under this Section. At least one forum must be held in northern Illinois, at least one forum must be held in central Illinois, and at least one forum must be held in southern Illinois. The Commission must invite a representative from each municipality and fire protection district affected by a fire protection charge under this Section to attend a public forum. The Commission shall report its findings concerning recommendations concerning the purpose and use of each fire protection charge to the General Assembly no later than the last day of the veto session in 2008.

(Source: P.A. 94-950, eff. 6-27-06.)

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