Sen. Chapin Rose

Filed: 4/29/2015

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1726

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 1726, AS AMENDED,
3by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the
4following:
 
5    "Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing
6Sections 8-406, 8-406.1, and 8-510 as follows:
 
7    (220 ILCS 5/8-406)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 8-406)
8    Sec. 8-406. Certificate of public convenience and
9necessity.
10    (a) No public utility not owning any city or village
11franchise nor engaged in performing any public service or in
12furnishing any product or commodity within this State as of
13July 1, 1921 and not possessing a certificate of public
14convenience and necessity from the Illinois Commerce
15Commission, the State Public Utilities Commission or the Public
16Utilities Commission, at the time this amendatory Act of 1985

 

 

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1goes into effect, shall transact any business in this State
2until it shall have obtained a certificate from the Commission
3that public convenience and necessity require the transaction
4of such business.
5    (b) No public utility shall begin the construction of any
6new plant, equipment, property or facility which is not in
7substitution of any existing plant, equipment, property or
8facility or any extension or alteration thereof or in addition
9thereto, unless and until it shall have obtained from the
10Commission a certificate that public convenience and necessity
11require such construction. Whenever after a hearing the
12Commission determines that any new construction or the
13transaction of any business by a public utility will promote
14the public convenience and is necessary thereto, it shall have
15the power to issue certificates of public convenience and
16necessity. The Commission shall determine that proposed
17construction will promote the public convenience and necessity
18only if the utility demonstrates: (1) that the proposed
19construction is necessary to provide adequate, reliable, and
20efficient service to its customers and is the least-cost means
21of satisfying the service needs of its customers or that the
22proposed construction will promote the development of an
23effectively competitive electricity market that operates
24efficiently, is equitable to all customers, and is the least
25cost means of satisfying those objectives; (2) that the utility
26is capable of efficiently managing and supervising the

 

 

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1construction process and has taken sufficient action to ensure
2adequate and efficient construction and supervision thereof;
3and (3) that the utility is capable of financing the proposed
4construction without significant adverse financial
5consequences for the utility or its customers.
6    (c) After the effective date of this amendatory Act of
71987, no construction shall commence on any new nuclear power
8plant to be located within this State, and no certificate of
9public convenience and necessity or other authorization shall
10be issued therefor by the Commission, until the Director of the
11Illinois Environmental Protection Agency finds that the United
12States Government, through its authorized agency, has
13identified and approved a demonstrable technology or means for
14the disposal of high level nuclear waste, or until such
15construction has been specifically approved by a statute
16enacted by the General Assembly.
17    As used in this Section, "high level nuclear waste" means
18those aqueous wastes resulting from the operation of the first
19cycle of the solvent extraction system or equivalent and the
20concentrated wastes of the subsequent extraction cycles or
21equivalent in a facility for reprocessing irradiated reactor
22fuel and shall include spent fuel assemblies prior to fuel
23reprocessing.
24    (d) In making its determination, the Commission shall
25attach primary weight to the cost or cost savings to the
26customers of the utility. The Commission may consider any or

 

 

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1all factors which will or may affect such cost or cost savings,
2including the public utility's engineering judgment regarding
3the materials used for construction.
4    (e) The Commission may issue a temporary certificate which
5shall remain in force not to exceed one year in cases of
6emergency, to assure maintenance of adequate service or to
7serve particular customers, without notice or hearing, pending
8the determination of an application for a certificate, and may
9by regulation exempt from the requirements of this Section
10temporary acts or operations for which the issuance of a
11certificate will not be required in the public interest.
12    A public utility shall not be required to obtain but may
13apply for and obtain a certificate of public convenience and
14necessity pursuant to this Section with respect to any matter
15as to which it has received the authorization or order of the
16Commission under the Electric Supplier Act, and any such
17authorization or order granted a public utility by the
18Commission under that Act shall as between public utilities be
19deemed to be, and shall have except as provided in that Act the
20same force and effect as, a certificate of public convenience
21and necessity issued pursuant to this Section.
22    No electric cooperative shall be made or shall become a
23party to or shall be entitled to be heard or to otherwise
24appear or participate in any proceeding initiated under this
25Section for authorization of power plant construction and as to
26matters as to which a remedy is available under The Electric

 

 

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1Supplier Act.
2    (f) Such certificates may be altered or modified by the
3Commission, upon its own motion or upon application by the
4person or corporation affected. Unless exercised within a
5period of 2 years from the grant thereof authority conferred by
6a certificate of convenience and necessity issued by the
7Commission shall be null and void.
8    No certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be
9construed as granting a monopoly or an exclusive privilege,
10immunity or franchise.
11    (g) A public utility that undertakes any of the actions
12described in items (1) through (3) of this subsection (g) or
13that has obtained approval pursuant to Section 8-406.1 of this
14Act shall not be required to comply with the requirements of
15this Section to the extent such requirements otherwise would
16apply. For purposes of this Section and Section 8-406.1 of this
17Act, "high voltage electric service line" means an electric
18line having a design voltage of 100,000 or more. For purposes
19of this subsection (g), a public utility may do any of the
20following:
21        (1) replace or upgrade any existing high voltage
22    electric service line and related facilities,
23    notwithstanding its length;
24        (2) relocate any existing high voltage electric
25    service line and related facilities, notwithstanding its
26    length, to accommodate construction or expansion of a

 

 

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1    roadway or other transportation infrastructure; or
2        (3) construct a high voltage electric service line and
3    related facilities that is constructed solely to serve a
4    single customer's premises or to provide a generator
5    interconnection to the public utility's transmission
6    system and that will pass under or over the premises owned
7    by the customer or generator to be served or under or over
8    premises for which the customer or generator has secured
9    the necessary right of way.
10    (h) A public utility seeking to construct a high-voltage
11electric service line and related facilities (Project) must
12show that the utility has held a minimum of 2 pre-filing public
13meetings to receive public comment concerning the Project in
14each county where the Project is to be located, no earlier than
156 months prior to filing an application for a certificate of
16public convenience and necessity from the Commission. Notice of
17the public meeting shall be published in a newspaper of general
18circulation within the affected county once a week for 3
19consecutive weeks, beginning no earlier than one month prior to
20the first public meeting. If the Project traverses 2 contiguous
21counties and where in one county the transmission line mileage
22and number of landowners over whose property the proposed route
23traverses is one-fifth or less of the transmission line mileage
24and number of such landowners of the other county, then the
25utility may combine the 2 pre-filing meetings in the county
26with the greater transmission line mileage and affected

 

 

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1landowners. All other requirements regarding pre-filing
2meetings shall apply in both counties. Notice of the public
3meeting, including a description of the Project, must be
4provided in writing to the clerk of each county where the
5Project is to be located. A representative of the Commission
6shall be invited to each pre-filing public meeting.
7    (i) The Commission shall by registered mail notify each
8owner of record of land, as identified in the records of the
9relevant county tax assessor, included in the right-of-way over
10which the utility seeks in its application to construct a
11high-voltage electric line of the time and place scheduled for
12the initial hearing on the public utility's application. The
13utility shall reimburse the Commission for the cost of the
14postage and supplies incurred for mailing the notice.
15(Source: P.A. 95-700, eff. 11-9-07; 96-1348, eff. 7-28-10.)
 
16    (220 ILCS 5/8-406.1)
17    Sec. 8-406.1. Certificate of public convenience and
18necessity; expedited procedure.
19    (a) A public utility may apply for a certificate of public
20convenience and necessity pursuant to this Section for the
21construction of any new high voltage electric service line and
22related facilities (Project). To facilitate the expedited
23review process of an application filed pursuant to this
24Section, an application shall include all of the following:
25        (1) Information in support of the application that

 

 

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1    shall include the following:
2            (A) A detailed description of the Project,
3        including location maps and plot plans to scale showing
4        all major components.
5            (B) The following engineering data:
6                (i) a detailed Project description including:
7                    (I) name and destination of the Project;
8                    (II) design voltage rating (kV);
9                    (III) operating voltage rating (kV); and
10                    (IV) normal peak operating current rating;
11                (ii) a conductor, structures, and substations
12            description including:
13                    (I) conductor size and type;
14                    (II) type of structures;
15                    (III) height of typical structures;
16                    (IV) an explanation why these structures
17                were selected;
18                    (V) dimensional drawings of the typical
19                structures to be used in the Project; and
20                    (VI) a list of the names of all new (and
21                existing if applicable) substations or
22                switching stations that will be associated
23                with the proposed new high voltage electric
24                service line;
25                (iii) the location of the site and
26            right-of-way including:

 

 

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1                    (I) miles of right-of-way;
2                    (II) miles of circuit;
3                    (III) width of the right-of-way; and
4                    (IV) a brief description of the area
5                traversed by the proposed high voltage
6                electric service line, including a description
7                of the general land uses in the area and the
8                type of terrain crossed by the proposed line;
9                (iv) assumptions, bases, formulae, and methods
10            used in the development and preparation of the
11            diagrams and accompanying data, and a technical
12            description providing the following information:
13                    (I) number of circuits, with
14                identification as to whether the circuit is
15                overhead or underground;
16                    (II) the operating voltage and frequency;
17                and
18                    (III) conductor size and type and number
19                of conductors per phase;
20                (v) if the proposed interconnection is an
21            overhead line, the following additional
22            information also must be provided:
23                    (I) the wind and ice loading design
24                parameters;
25                    (II) a full description and drawing of a
26                typical supporting structure, including

 

 

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1                strength specifications;
2                    (III) structure spacing with typical
3                ruling and maximum spans;
4                    (IV) conductor (phase) spacing; and
5                    (V) the designed line-to-ground and
6                conductor-side clearances;
7                (vi) if an underground or underwater
8            interconnection is proposed, the following
9            additional information also must be provided:
10                    (I) burial depth;
11                    (II) type of cable and a description of any
12                required supporting equipment, such as
13                insulation medium pressurizing or forced
14                cooling;
15                    (III) cathodic protection scheme; and
16                    (IV) type of dielectric fluid and
17                safeguards used to limit potential spills in
18                waterways;
19                (vii) technical diagrams that provide
20            clarification of any item under this item (1)
21            should be included; and
22                (viii) applicant shall provide and identify a
23            primary right-of-way and one or more alternate
24            rights-of-way for the Project as part of the
25            filing. To the extent applicable, for each
26            right-of-way, an applicant shall provide the

 

 

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1            information described in this subsection (a). Upon
2            a showing of good cause in its filing, an applicant
3            may be excused from providing and identifying
4            alternate rights-of-way.
5        (2) An application fee of $100,000, which shall be paid
6    into the Public Utility Fund at the time the Chief Clerk of
7    the Commission deems it complete and accepts the filing.
8        (3) Information showing that the utility has held a
9    minimum of 3 pre-filing public meetings to receive public
10    comment concerning the Project in each county where the
11    Project is to be located, no earlier than 6 months prior to
12    the filing of the application. Notice of the public meeting
13    shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation
14    within the affected county once a week for 3 consecutive
15    weeks, beginning no earlier than one month prior to the
16    first public meeting. If the Project traverses 2 contiguous
17    counties and where in one county the transmission line
18    mileage and number of landowners over whose property the
19    proposed route traverses is 1/5 or less of the transmission
20    line mileage and number of such landowners of the other
21    county, then the utility may combine the 3 pre-filing
22    meetings in the county with the greater transmission line
23    mileage and affected landowners. All other requirements
24    regarding pre-filing meetings shall apply in both
25    counties. Notice of the public meeting, including a
26    description of the Project, must be provided in writing to

 

 

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1    the clerk of each county where the Project is to be
2    located. A representative of the Commission shall be
3    invited to each pre-filing public meeting.
4    The Commission shall by registered mail notify each owner
5of record of the land, as identified in the records of the
6relevant county tax assessor, included in the primary or
7alternate rights-of-way identified in the utility's
8application of the time and place scheduled for the initial
9hearing upon the public utility's application. The utility
10shall reimburse the Commission for the cost of the postage and
11supplies incurred for mailing the notice.
12    (b) At the first status hearing the administrative law
13judge shall set a schedule for discovery that shall take into
14consideration the expedited nature of the proceeding.
15    (c) Nothing in this Section prohibits a utility from
16requesting, or the Commission from approving, protection of
17confidential or proprietary information under applicable law.
18The public utility may seek confidential protection of any of
19the information provided pursuant to this Section, subject to
20Commission approval.
21    (d) The public utility shall publish notice of its
22application in the official State newspaper within 10 days
23following the date of the application's filing.
24    (e) The public utility shall establish a dedicated website
25for the Project 3 weeks prior to the first public meeting and
26maintain the website until construction of the Project is

 

 

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1complete. The website address shall be included in all public
2notices.
3    (f) The Commission shall, after notice and hearing, grant a
4certificate of public convenience and necessity filed in
5accordance with the requirements of this Section if, based upon
6the application filed with the Commission and the evidentiary
7record, it finds the Project will promote the public
8convenience and necessity and that all of the following
9criteria are satisfied:
10        (1) That the Project is necessary to provide adequate,
11    reliable, and efficient service to the public utility's
12    customers and is the least-cost means of satisfying the
13    service needs of the public utility's customers or that the
14    Project will promote the development of an effectively
15    competitive electricity market that operates efficiently,
16    is equitable to all customers, and is the least cost means
17    of satisfying those objectives.
18        (2) That the public utility is capable of efficiently
19    managing and supervising the construction process and has
20    taken sufficient action to ensure adequate and efficient
21    construction and supervision of the construction.
22        (3) That the public utility is capable of financing the
23    proposed construction without significant adverse
24    financial consequences for the utility or its customers.
25    (g) The Commission shall issue its decision with findings
26of fact and conclusions of law granting or denying the

 

 

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1application no later than 150 days after the application is
2filed. The Commission may extend the 150-day deadline upon
3notice by an additional 75 days if, on or before the 30th day
4after the filing of the application, the Commission finds that
5good cause exists to extend the 150-day period.
6    (h) In the event the Commission grants a public utility's
7application for a certificate pursuant to this Section, the
8public utility shall pay a one-time construction fee to each
9county in which the Project is constructed within 30 days after
10the completion of construction. The construction fee shall be
11$20,000 per mile of high voltage electric service line
12constructed in that county, or a proportionate fraction of that
13fee. The fee shall be in lieu of any permitting fees that
14otherwise would be imposed by a county. Counties receiving a
15payment under this subsection (h) may distribute all or
16portions of the fee to local taxing districts in that county.
17    (i) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, a
18decision granting a certificate under this Section shall
19include an order pursuant to Section 8-503 of this Act
20authorizing or directing the construction of the high voltage
21electric service line and related facilities as approved by the
22Commission, in the manner and within the time specified in said
23order.
24(Source: P.A. 96-1348, eff. 7-28-10.)
 
25    (220 ILCS 5/8-510)  (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 8-510)

 

 

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1    Sec. 8-510. Land surveys and land use studies. For the
2purpose of making land surveys and land use studies, any public
3utility that has been granted a certificate of public
4convenience and necessity by, or received an order under
5Section 8-503 or 8-406.1 of this Act from, the Commission may,
630 days after providing written notice to the owner thereof by
7registered mail and after providing a second notice to the
8owner of record, as identified in the records of the relevant
9county tax assessor, by telephone or electronic mail or by
10registered mail in the event the property owner has not been
11notified by other means, at least 3 days, but not more than 15
12days, prior to the stated date in the notice, identifying the
13date when land surveys and land use studies will first begin on
14their property and informing the landowner that they or their
15agent may be present when the land surveys or land use studies
16occur, enter upon the property of any owner who has refused
17permission for entrance upon that property, but subject to
18responsibility for all damages which may be inflicted thereby.
19(Source: P.A. 96-1348, eff. 7-28-10.)
 
20    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
21becoming law.".