220 ILCS 5/8-207
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 220 - UTILITIES|220 ILCS 5/ - Public Utilities Act.|Article VIII - Service Obligations And Conditions

 (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 8-207)Sec. 8-207.         Any former residential customer whose gas or electric  service was used to provide or control the primary source of space heating  in the dwelling and whose service is disconnected for nonpayment of a bill or  a deposit from December 1 of the prior winter's heating season through April  1 of the current heating season shall be eligible for reconnection and a  deferred payment arrangement under the provisions of this Section, subject  to the following limitations:A utility shall not be required to reconnect service to, and enter  into a deferred payment arrangement with, a former customer under the  provisions of this Section (1) except between November 1 and April 1 of the  current heating season for former customers who do not have applications  pending for the program described in Section 6 of the Energy Assistance Act, and except between October 1 and April 1 of the current heating  season for all former customers who do have applications pending for the  program described in Section 6 of the Energy Assistance Act and who  provide proof of application to the utility, (2) in 2 consecutive years,  (3) unless that former customer has paid at least 33 1/3% of the amount  billed for utility service rendered by that utility subsequent to December  1 of the prior year, or (4) in any instance where the utility can show  there has been tampering with the utility's wires, pipes, meters (including  locking devices), or other service equipment and further shows that the  former customer enjoyed the benefit of utility service obtained in the  aforesaid manner.The terms and conditions of any deferred payment arrangements established  by the utility and a former customer shall take into consideration the  following factors, based upon information available from current utility  records or provided by the former customer:(1) the amount past due;(2) the former customer's ability to pay;(3) the former customer's payment history;(4) the reasons for the accumulation of the past due     amounts; and(5) any other relevant factors relating to the former     customer's circumstances.After the former customer's eligibility has been established in accordance  with the first paragraph of this Section and, upon the establishment of  a deferred payment agreement, the former customer shall pay 1/3 of the amount  past due (including reconnecting charge, if any) and 1/3 of any deposit  required by the utility.Upon the payment of 1/3 of the amount past due and 1/3 of any deposit  required by the utility, the former customer's service shall be reconnected  as soon as possible.  The company and the former customer shall agree to a  payment schedule for the remaining balances which will reasonably allow the  former customer to make the payments on the remainder of the deposit and  the past due balance while paying current bills during the winter heating  season. However, the utility is not obliged to make payment arrangements  extending beyond the following November.  The utility shall allow the  former customer a minimum of 4 months in which to retire the past due  balance and 3 months in which to pay the remainder of the deposit.  The  former customer shall also be informed that payment on the amounts past due  and the deposit, if any, plus the current bills must be paid by the due  date or the customer may face termination of service pursuant to this  Section and Section 8-206.The Commission shall develop rules to govern the reconnection of a former  customer who demonstrates a financial inability to meet the requirement of  1/3 of the amount past due and 1/3 of any deposit requested by the utility.   The Commission's rules shall establish a means by which the former  customer's utility service may be reconnected through the payment of a  reasonable amount and upon entering  into a deferred payment agreement.Any payment agreement made shall be in writing, with a copy provided to  the former customer.  The renegotiation and reinstatement of a customer  and the establishment of a budget payment plan shall be pursuant to rules  established by the Commission.Not later than September 15 of each year, every gas and electric utility  shall conduct a survey of all former residential customers whose gas or  electric service was used to provide or control the primary source of space  heating in the dwelling and whose gas or electric service was terminated for  nonpayment of a bill or deposit from December 1 of the previous year to  September 15 of that year and where service at that premises has not been  restored. Not later than October 1 of each year the utility shall notify  each of these former customers that the gas or electric service will be  restored by the company for the coming heating season if the former  customer contacts the utility and makes arrangements with the utility  for reconnection of service under the conditions set forth in  this Section. A utility shall notify the former customer or an adult  member of the household by personal visit, telephone contact or mailing of  a letter by first class mail to the last known address of that former  customer.  The utility shall keep records which would indicate the date,  form and the results of such contact.Each gas and electric utility which has former customers affected by this  Section shall file reports with the Commission providing such information  as the Commission may deem appropriate. The Commission shall notify each  gas and electric utility prior to August 1 of each year concerning the  information which is to be included in the report for that year.In no event shall any actions taken by a utility in compliance with this  Section be deemed to abrogate or in any way interfere with the utility's  rights to pursue the normal collection processes otherwise available to it.The Commission shall promulgate rules to implement this Section.    (Source: P.A. 92-690, eff. 7-18-02.)