State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
Legislation

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91_SB1541eng

 
SB1541 Engrossed                               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
 
SB1541 Engrossed            -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.  The provisions of this Section  shall  not  in
12    any  way  diminish  or  replace other civil or administrative
13    remedies available to a customer or class of customers  under
14    the Public Utilities Act.
15        (c)  By  July  1,  2001,  the  Commerce  Commission shall
16    establish  by  rule  statewide   standards   for   vegetation
17    management  practices performed by electric public utilities.
18    The standards shall be based upon the guidelines set forth by
19    the International Society of Arboriculture and any applicable
20    standards established by the Occupational Safety  and  Health
21    Administration and the American National Standards Institute.

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

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