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91_HB2623
LRB9104342JSpc
1 AN ACT to amend the Public Utilities Act by changing
2 Section 8-303.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by
6 changing Section 8-303 as follows:
7 (220 ILCS 5/8-303) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 8-303)
8 Sec. 8-303. Tapped lines; remedy. Where, within 30 days
9 of receipt of a utility bill, a customer alleges that the
10 level of consumption reflected in his utility bill is
11 unreasonably high, it shall be the responsibility of the
12 public utility furnishing natural or artificial gas,
13 electricity or water to that customer to investigate the
14 allegation. If as a result of such an investigation, the
15 public utility determines that the customer's line has been
16 tapped, the utility shall attempt to ascertain the identity
17 of the third party benefiting from the usage of the utility
18 service or for payment for all or part of the disputed
19 charges. If the utility determines that the landlord of the
20 building or his agent is the party who benefited from the
21 usage of the utility service, either the utility or the
22 customer may petition the court for the appointment of
23 receiver to collect the rents due and to remit a portion to
24 the utility company for payment of bills for the tapped
25 service, for current bills and for any expenses incurred by
26 the utility as a result of the tap. The receiver shall make
27 all reasonable efforts, including the obtaining of court
28 orders, to provide to the utility access to the building.
29 Any changes in the building's piping which are necessitated
30 by the tap shall be at the expense of the person benefiting
31 from the tap.
-2- LRB9104342JSpc
1 If the utility determines that the landlord of the
2 building is not the party who benefited from the usage of the
3 utility service, the customer shall be so notified and shall
4 also be informed by the utility of a right to register a
5 dispute pursuant to procedures developed by the Commission
6 for resolution of disputed bills, including his right to
7 bring a complaint before the Commission if an agreement with
8 the utility cannot be reached.
9 In order to enable the customer to ascertain whether the
10 level of consumption is greater than the amounts billed in
11 other billing periods and to eliminate to the fullest extent
12 practicable consecutive estimated bills, the public utility
13 shall make an actual meter reading at least every second
14 billing period. If a meter reader is unable to gain access to
15 the meter for the purpose of making an actual reading, the
16 public utility shall take other appropriate and reasonable
17 measures to read the meter.
18 Nothing in this Section shall preclude either the
19 customer or the public utility from filing a complaint with
20 the State's Attorney located in the county where the utility
21 service is being rendered to allege an unlawful theft of the
22 customer's utility service.
23 (Source: P.A. 84-617.)