HB4838 Engrossed LRB095 18999 AMC 45171 b

1     AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing
5 Section 9-225 as follows:
 
6     (220 ILCS 5/9-225)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 9-225)
7     Sec. 9-225. (1) For the purposes of this Section:
8     (a) "Advertising" means the commercial use, by an electric,
9 or gas, water, or sewer utility, of any media, including
10 newspapers, printed matter, radio and television, in order to
11 transmit a message to a substantial number of members of the
12 public or to such utility's consumers;
13     (b) "Political advertising" means any advertising for the
14 purpose of influencing public opinion with respect to
15 legislative, administrative or electoral matters, or with
16 respect to any controversial issue of public importance;
17     (c) "Promotional advertising" means any advertising for
18 the purpose of encouraging any person to select or use the
19 service or additional service of a utility or the selection or
20 installation of any appliance or equipment designed to use such
21 utility's service; and
22     (d) "Goodwill or institutional advertising" means any
23 advertising either on a local or national basis designed

 

 

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1 primarily to bring the utility's name before the general public
2 in such a way as to improve the image of the utility or to
3 promote controversial issues for the utility or the industry.
4     (2) In any general rate increase requested by any gas, or
5 electric, water, or sewer utility company under the provisions
6 of this Act, the Commission shall not consider, for the purpose
7 of determining any rate, charge or classification of costs, any
8 direct or indirect expenditures for promotional, political,
9 institutional or goodwill advertising, unless the Commission
10 finds the advertising to be in the best interest of the
11 Consumer or authorized as provided pursuant to subsection 3 of
12 this Section.
13     (3) The following categories of advertising shall be
14 considered allowable operating expenses for gas, or electric,
15 water, or sewer utilities:
16     (a) Advertising which informs consumers how they can
17 conserve energy or water, or can reduce peak demand for
18 electric or gas energy, or reduce demand for water;
19     (b) Advertising required by law or regulations, including
20 advertising required under Part I of Title II of the National
21 Energy Conservation Policy Act;
22     (c) Advertising regarding service interruptions, safety
23 measures or emergency conditions;
24     (d) Advertising concerning employment opportunities with
25 such utility;
26     (e) Advertising which promotes the use of energy efficient

 

 

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1 appliances, equipment or services;
2     (f) Explanations of existing or proposed rate schedules or
3 notifications of hearings thereon;
4     (g) Advertising that identifies the location and operating
5 hours of company business offices;
6     (h) Advertising which promotes the shifting of demand from
7 peak to off-peak hours or which encourages the off-peak usage
8 of the service; and
9     (i) "Other" categories of advertisements not includable in
10 paragraphs (a) through (h), but which are not political,
11 promotional, institutional or goodwill advertisements.
12 (Source: P.A. 84-617.)
 
13     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
14 becoming law.