HB4190 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 15950 AMC 41573 b

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.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning public utilities.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Good Samaritan Initiative Act.

Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds and declares the following:

(1) During the winter heating season some low-income Illinois citizens, because of limited financial resources, have had their gas or electric service disconnected because they are unable to pay their bills and who, because of arrearages, have been unable to have these services restored.

(2) The Illinois Commerce Commission has a responsibility to protect the public's health and welfare.

(3) Too many low-income Illinois citizens enter each winter without utility service.

(4) This constitutes a continuing emergency.

Section 10. Good Samaritan Initiative. The Illinois Commerce Commission shall, after notice and opportunity for hearing, adopt a rule that allows for the reconnection of low-income Illinois residents to their gas and electric utility services. The rule shall, at a minimum, contain all of the following:

(1) Reconnection pursuant to rule shall be limited to residential natural gas or electric utility customers who have arrearages and who are LIHEAP eligible.

(2) Except as otherwise stated, all natural gas and electric utilities regulated by the Commission shall reconnect any residential natural gas or electric utility customers who have arrearage and who are LIHEAP eligible if they pay the relevant utility a reconnection charge of no more than $250. The $250 includes any security deposit a utility may require.

(3) Residential natural gas or electric utility customers who have had their gas or electric service disconnected for a fraudulent practice shall have that service reconnected upon the payment for the amount of service obtained fraudulently plus any tariffed investigation fee and a reconnection charge of no more than $250. The $250 includes any security deposit a utility may require.

(4) All natural gas and electric utilities regulated by the Commission shall be subject to the reconnection rule from December 1 to March 31.

(5) Any reconnection pursuant to this rule must take place within 2 calendar days of payment of the reconnection charge.

(6) Funds for payment of the reconnection charge authorized by items (2) and (3) may come in whole or in part from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program or other energy assistance program.

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