93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB4190

 

Introduced 1/23/2004, by Marlow H. Colvin

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Good Samaritan Initiative Act. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to adopt a rule that allows for the reconnection of low-income Illinois residents to their gas and electric utility services. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning public utilities.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Good
5 Samaritan Initiative Act.
 
6     Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds and
7 declares the following:
8         (1) During the winter heating season some low-income
9     Illinois citizens, because of limited financial resources,
10     have had their gas or electric service disconnected because
11     they are unable to pay their bills and who, because of
12     arrearages, have been unable to have these services
13     restored.
14         (2) The Illinois Commerce Commission has a
15     responsibility to protect the public's health and welfare.
16         (3) Too many low-income Illinois citizens enter each
17     winter without utility service.
18         (4) This constitutes a continuing emergency.
 
19     Section 10. Good Samaritan Initiative. The Illinois
20 Commerce Commission shall, after notice and opportunity for
21 hearing, adopt a rule that allows for the reconnection of
22 low-income Illinois residents to their gas and electric utility
23 services. The rule shall, at a minimum, contain all of the
24 following:
25         (1) Reconnection pursuant to rule shall be limited to
26     residential natural gas or electric utility customers who
27     have arrearages and who are LIHEAP eligible.
28         (2) Except as otherwise stated, all natural gas and
29     electric utilities regulated by the Commission shall
30     reconnect any residential natural gas or electric utility
31     customers who have arrearage and who are LIHEAP eligible if

 

 

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1     they pay the relevant utility a reconnection charge of no
2     more than $250. The $250 includes any security deposit a
3     utility may require.
4         (3) Residential natural gas or electric utility
5     customers who have had their gas or electric service
6     disconnected for a fraudulent practice shall have that
7     service reconnected upon the payment for the amount of
8     service obtained fraudulently plus any tariffed
9     investigation fee and a reconnection charge of no more than
10     $250. The $250 includes any security deposit a utility may
11     require.
12         (4) All natural gas and electric utilities regulated by
13     the Commission shall be subject to the reconnection rule
14     from December 1 to March 31.
15         (5) Any reconnection pursuant to this rule must take
16     place within 2 calendar days of payment of the reconnection
17     charge.
18         (6) Funds for payment of the reconnection charge
19     authorized by items (2) and (3) may come in whole or in
20     part from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program or
21     other energy assistance program.
 
22     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
23 becoming law.