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91_SB1541
LRB9110220JSgc
1 AN ACT to amend the Public Utilities Act by adding
2 Section 8-505.1.
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 adding
6 Section 8-505.1 as follows:
7 (220 ILCS 5/8-505.1 new)
8 Sec. 8-505.1. Non-emergency vegetation management
9 activities.
10 (a) In conducting its non-emergency vegetation
11 management activities in incorporated municipalities an
12 electric public utility shall:
13 (1) Follow guidelines set forth by the
14 International Society of Arboriculture in effect January
15 1, 1999 and any applicable Occupational Safety and Health
16 Administration or American National Standards Institute
17 standards in effect January 1, 1999.
18 (2) Provide no fewer than 21 days notice to the
19 municipality prior to vegetation management activity
20 beginning in the municipality. Maps or a description of
21 the affected area shall be provided to the municipality.
22 Notification shall continue until the municipality
23 requests termination. Requests by the municipality to
24 terminate notifications shall be in writing.
25 (3) Notify affected customers within the
26 municipality no fewer than 7 days before the activity is
27 scheduled to begin.
28 (4) Provide notified customers with a toll-free
29 telephone number to call regarding the vegetation
30 management activities.
31 (b) A public utility shall not be required to comply
-2- LRB9110220JSgc
1 with the requirements of subsections (a)(2), (a)(3), or
2 (a)(4) when (i) it is taking actions to restore reliable
3 service after interruptions of service; (ii) there is a
4 franchise, contract, or written agreement in effect prior to
5 January 1, 1999 between a public utility and a municipality
6 mandating specific vegetation management practices; or (iii)
7 there is a mutual agreement between a municipality and a
8 public utility to waive the requirements of all or part of
9 subsection (a). The Commission shall have sole authority to
10 investigate and issue complaints against the utility under
11 this Section.
12 (c) By July 1, 2001, the Commerce Commission shall
13 establish by rule statewide standards for tree trimming
14 activities performed by electric public utilities. The
15 standards shall be based upon the guidelines set forth by the
16 International Society of Arboriculture and any applicable
17 standards established by the Occupational Safety and Health
18 Administration and the American National Standards Institute.
19 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
20 becoming law.