2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 220 - UTILITIES › 220 ILCS 5/ - Public Utilities Act. › Article XIX - Alternative Gas Supplier Law

(220 ILCS 5/Art. XIX heading)
ARTICLE XIX.  
		ALTERNATIVE GAS SUPPLIER LAW
(220 ILCS 5/19-100)
Sec. 19-100. 
		Short title. 
		This Article
may be cited as the Alternative Gas Supplier Law.
(Source: P.A. 92-529, eff. 2-8-02.)
(220 ILCS 5/19-105)
Sec. 19-105. Definitions. For the purposes of this Article, the following
terms shall be defined as set forth in this Section.
"Alternative gas supplier" means every person, cooperative, corporation,
municipal corporation, company, association, joint stock company or
association, firm,
partnership, individual, or other entity, their lessees, trustees, or receivers
appointed by
any court whatsoever, that offers gas for sale, lease, or in exchange for other
value
received to one or more customers, or that engages in the furnishing of gas to
one or
more customers, and shall include affiliated interests of a gas utility,
resellers,
aggregators and marketers, but shall not include (i) gas utilities (or any
agent of the gas
utility to the extent the gas utility provides tariffed services to customers
through an
agent); (ii) public utilities that are owned and operated by any political
subdivision, public institution of higher education or municipal corporation
of this State, or public utilities that are owned by a political
subdivision, public institution of higher education, or municipal corporation
and operated by any of its lessees or operating agents; (iii)
natural gas cooperatives that are not-for-profit corporations operated for
the purpose of administering, on a cooperative basis, the
furnishing of natural gas for the benefit of their members who
are
consumers of natural gas; and (iv) the ownership or operation
of a facility that sells compressed natural gas at retail to the public for use
only as a motor vehicle fuel and the selling of compressed natural gas at
retail to the public for use only as a motor vehicle fuel.
"Gas utility" means a public utility, as defined in Section 3-105 of this
Act,
that
has a franchise, license, permit, or right to furnish or sell gas
or transportation services to
customers within a service area.
"Residential customer" means a customer who receives gas utility service for
household purposes distributed to a dwelling of 2 or fewer units which is
billed under
a residential rate or gas utility service for household purposes distributed to
a dwelling
unit or units which is billed under a residential rate and is registered by a
separate meter
for each dwelling unit.
"Sales agent" means any employee, agent, independent contractor, consultant, or other person that is engaged by the alternative gas supplier to solicit customers to purchase, enroll in, or contract for alternative gas service on behalf of an alternative gas supplier.
"Service area" means (i) the geographic area within which a gas utility was
lawfully entitled to provide gas to customers as of the effective date
of this
amendatory
Act of the 92nd General Assembly and includes (ii) the location of any
customer to
which the gas utility was lawfully providing gas utility services on such
effective date.
"Single billing" means the combined billing of the services provided by both a natural gas utility and an alternative gas supplier to any customer who has enrolled in a customer choice program.
"Small commercial customer" means a nonresidential retail customer of
a
natural gas utility
who consumed 5,000 or fewer therms of natural gas
during the previous year; provided that any alternative gas
supplier may remove the customer from designation as a "small
commercial customer" if the customer consumes more than 5,000 therms
of natural gas in any calendar year after becoming a customer of the
alternative gas supplier. In determining whether a customer has consumed 5,000 or fewer therms of natural gas during the previous year, usage by the same commercial customer shall be aggregated to include usage at the same premises even if measured by more than one meter, and to include usage at multiple premises.  Nothing in this Section creates an affirmative obligation on a gas utility to monitor or inform customers or alternative gas suppliers as to a customer's status as a small commercial customer as that term is defined herein.  Nothing in this Section relieves a gas utility from any obligation to provide information upon request to a customer, alternative gas supplier, the Commission, or others necessary to determine whether a customer meets the classification of small commercial customers as that term is defined herein.
"Tariffed service" means a service provided to customers by a gas
utility as
defined by its rates on file with the Commission pursuant to the provisions of
Article IX
of this Act.
"Transportation services" means those services provided by the gas utility
that
are necessary in order for the storage, transmission and distribution systems
to
function so that
customers located in the gas utility's service area can receive gas from
suppliers other
than the gas utility and shall include, without limitation, standard metering
and billing
services.
(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09; 96-435, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)
(220 ILCS 5/19-110)
Sec. 19-110. Certification of alternative gas suppliers.
(a) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas
suppliers
serving or seeking to serve residential or small commercial customers and
only to the extent such
alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential or small
commercial customers.
(b) An alternative gas supplier must obtain a certificate of service
authority from the Commission in accordance with this Section before serving
any customer or other user located in this State.  An alternative gas supplier
may request, and the Commission may grant, a certificate of service authority
for the entire State or for a specified geographic area of the State. A certificate granted pursuant to this Section is not property, and the grant of a certificate to an entity does not create a property interest in the certificate. This Section does not diminish the existing rights of a certificate holder to notice and hearing as proscribed by the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and in rules adopted by the Commission.  A
person, corporation, or other entity acting as an alternative gas supplier on
the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly shall
have 180 days from the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd
General Assembly to comply with the requirements of this Section in order to
continue to operate as an alternative gas supplier.
(c) An alternative gas supplier seeking a certificate of service authority
shall
file with the Commission a verified application containing information showing
that the
applicant meets the requirements of this Section.  The alternative gas supplier
shall
publish notice of its application in the official State newspaper within 10
days following
the date of its filing.  No later than 45 days after a complete application is
properly filed with the
Commission, and such notice is published, the Commission shall issue its order
granting or denying the application.
(d) An application for a certificate of service authority shall identify the
area or
areas in which the applicant intends to offer service and the types of services
it intends
to offer.  Applicants that seek to serve residential or small commercial
customers within a
geographic area that is smaller than a gas utility's service area shall submit
evidence demonstrating that the designation of this smaller area does not
violate Section 19-115.  An
applicant may
state in its application for certification any limitations that will be imposed
on the number
of customers or maximum load to be served. The applicant shall submit as part of its application a statement indicating:
(1) Whether the applicant has been denied a natural     gas supplier license in any state in the United States.
(2) Whether the applicant has had a natural gas     supplier license suspended or revoked by any state in the United States.
(3) Where, if any, other natural gas supplier license     applications are pending in the United States.
(4) Whether the applicant is the subject of any     lawsuits filed in a court of law or formal complaints filed with a regulatory agency alleging fraud, deception, or unfair marketing practices, or other similar allegations, identifying the name, case number, and jurisdiction of each such lawsuit or complaint.
For the purposes of this subsection (d), formal complaints include only those complaints that seek a binding determination from a state or federal regulatory body.
(e) The Commission shall grant the application for a certificate of service
authority if it makes the findings set forth in this subsection based on the
verified
application and such other information as the applicant may submit.
(1) That the applicant possesses sufficient     technical, financial, and managerial resources and abilities to provide the service for which it seeks a certificate of service authority.  In determining the level of technical, financial, and managerial resources and abilities which the applicant must demonstrate, the Commission shall consider:
(A) the characteristics, including the size and         financial sophistication of the customers that the applicant seeks to serve;
(B) whether the applicant seeks to provide gas         using property, plant, and equipment that it owns, controls, or operates; and
(C) the applicant's commitment of resources to         the management of sales and marketing staff, through affirmative managerial policies, independent audits, technology, hands-on field monitoring and training, and, in the case of applicants who will have sales personnel or sales agents within the State of Illinois, the applicant's managerial presence within the State.
(2) That the applicant will comply with all     applicable federal, State, regional, and industry rules, policies, practices, and procedures for the use, operation, and maintenance of the safety, integrity, and reliability of the gas transmission system.
(3) That the applicant will comply with such     informational or reporting requirements as the Commission may by rule establish.
(4) That the area to be served by the applicant and     any limitations it proposes on the number of customers or maximum amount of load to be served meet the provisions of Section 19-115, provided, that if the applicant seeks to serve an area smaller than the service area of a gas utility or proposes other limitations on the number of customers or maximum amount of load to be served, the Commission can extend the time for considering such a certificate request by up to 90 days, and can schedule hearings on such a request.
(5) That the applicant shall continue to comply with     requirements for certification stated in this Section.
(6) That the applicant shall execute and maintain a     license or permit bond issued by a qualifying surety or insurance company authorized to transact business in the State of Illinois in favor of the People of the State of Illinois. The amount of the bond shall equal $150,000 if the applicant seeks to serve only nonresidential retail customers or $500,000 if the applicant seeks to serve all eligible customers. Applicants shall be required to submit an additional $500,000 bond if the applicant intends to market to residential customers using in-person solicitations. The bonds shall be conditioned upon the full and faithful performance of all duties and obligations of the applicant as an alternative retail gas supplier, shall be valid for a period of not less than one year, and may be drawn up to satisfy any penalties imposed and finally adjudicated, by the Commission pursuant to Section 19-120 for a violation of the applicant's duties or obligations, except that the total amount of claims and penalties against the bond shall not exceed the penal sum of the bond and shall not include any consequential or punitive damage. The cost of the bond shall be paid by the applicant. The applicant shall file a copy of this bond, with a notarized verification page from the issuer, as part of its application for certification under 83 Ill. Adm. Code 551.
(7) That the applicant will comply with all other     applicable laws and rules.
(e-5) The Commission may deny with prejudice an application in which the applicant fails to provide the Commission with information sufficient for the Commission to grant the application.
(f) The Commission can extend the time for considering such a certificate request by up to 90 days, and can schedule hearings on such a request if:
(1) a party to the application proceeding has     formally requested that the Commission hold hearings in a pleading that alleges that one or more of the allegations or certifications in the application is false or misleading; or
(2) other facts or circumstances exist that will     necessitate additional time or evidence in order to determine whether a certificate should be issued.
(g) The Commission shall have the authority to promulgate rules
to carry out the provisions of this Section.  Within 30 days after the
effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, the
Commission shall adopt an emergency rule or rules applicable to the
certification of those gas suppliers that seek to serve residential customers.
Within 180 days of
the effective
date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, the Commission shall
adopt
rules that specify criteria which, if met by any such alternative gas
supplier, shall
constitute the demonstration of technical, financial, and managerial resources
and
abilities to provide service required by paragraph (1) of subsection (e) of this
Section,
such as a
requirement to post a bond or letter of credit, from a responsible surety or
financial
institution, of sufficient size for the nature and scope of the services to be
provided,
demonstration of adequate insurance for the scope and nature of the services to
be
provided, and experience in providing similar services in other
jurisdictions.
(h) The Commission may deny with prejudice any application that repeatedly fails to include the attachments, documentation, and affidavits required by the application form or that fails to provide any other information required by this Section.
(i) An alternative gas supplier may seek confidential treatment for the reporting to the Commission of its total annual  dekatherms delivered and sold by it to residential and small commercial customers by utility service territory during the preceding year via the filing of an affidavit with the Commission so long as the affidavit meets the requirements of this subsection (i).
The affidavit must be filed contemporaneously with the information for which confidential treatment is sought and  must clearly state that the affiant seeks confidential treatment pursuant to this subsection (i) and the information for which confidential treatment is sought must be clearly identified on the confidential version of the document filed with the Commission. The affidavit must be accompanied by both a "confidential" and a "public" version of the document or documents containing the information for which confidential treatment is sought.
If the alternative gas supplier has met the affidavit requirements of this subsection (i), then the Commission shall afford confidential treatment to the information identified in the affidavit for a period of 2 years after the date the affidavit is received by the Commission.
Nothing in this subsection (i) prevents an alternative gas supplier from filing a petition with the Commission seeking confidential treatment for information beyond that identified in this subsection (i) or for information contained in other reports or documents filed with the Commission other than annual rate reports.
Nothing in this subsection (i) prevents the Commission, on its own motion, or any party from filing a formal petition with the Commission seeking to reconsider the conferring of confidential status pursuant to this subsection (i).
The Commission, on its own motion, may at any time initiate a docketed proceeding to investigate the continued applicability of this affidavit-based process for seeking confidential treatment.    If, at the end of such investigation, the Commission determines that this affidavit-based process for seeking confidential treatment for the information is no longer necessary, the Commission may enter an order to that effect.   Notwithstanding any such order, in the event the Commission makes such a determination, nothing in this subsection (i)  prevents an alternative gas supplier desiring confidential treatment for such information from filing a formal petition with the Commission seeking confidential treatment for such information.
(Source: P.A. 101-590, eff. 1-1-20; 102-958, eff. 1-1-23.)
(220 ILCS 5/19-111)
Sec. 19-111. Material changes in business.
(a) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve residential or small commercial customers and only to the extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential or small commercial customers.
(b) Alternative gas suppliers shall file with the Commission a notification of any material change to the information supplied in a certification application within 30 days of such material change.
(1) An alternative gas supplier shall file such     notice under the docket number assigned to the alternative gas supplier's certification application, whichever is the most recent. The supplier shall also serve such notice upon the gas utility company serving customers in the service area where the alternative gas supplier is certified to provide service.
(2) After notice and an opportunity for a hearing,     the Commission may (i) suspend, rescind, or conditionally rescind an alternative gas supplier's certificate if it determines that the material change will adversely affect the alternative gas supplier's fitness or ability to provide the services for which it is certified or (ii) require the alternative gas supplier to provide reasonable financial assurances sufficient to protect their customers and gas utilities from default.
(c) Material changes to the information contained in or supplied with a certification application include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Any significant change in ownership (an ownership     interest of 5% or more) of the applicant or alternative gas supplier.
(2) An affiliation with any gas utility or change of     an affiliation with a gas utility in this State.
(3) Retirement or other long-term changes to the     operational status of supply resources relied upon by the alternative gas supplier to provide alternative gas service.  Changes in the volume of supply from any given supply resource replaced by a comparable supply resource do not need to be reported.
(4) Revocation, restriction, or termination of any     interconnection or service agreement with a pipeline company or natural gas company relied upon by an alternative gas supplier to provide alternative retail natural gas service, but only if such revocation, restriction, or termination creates a situation in which the alternative gas supplier does not meet the tariffed capacity requirements of the relevant Illinois natural gas utility or utilities.
(5) If the alternative gas supplier has a long-term     bond rating from Standard & Poor's or its successor, or Fitch Ratings or its successor, or Moody's Investor Service or its successor, and the alternative gas supplier's long-term bond rating falls below BBB as reported by Standard & Poor's or its successor or Fitch Ratings or its successor or below Baa3 as reported by Moody's Investors Service or its successor.
(6) The applicant or alternative gas supplier has or     intends to file for reorganization, protection from creditors, or any other form of bankruptcy with any court.
(7) Any judgment, finding, or ruling by a court or     regulatory agency that could affect an alternative gas supplier's fitness or ability to provide service in this State.
(8) Any change in the alternative gas supplier's name     or logo, including without limitation any change in the alternative gas supplier's legal name, fictitious names, or assumed business names, except for logos and names the alternative gas supplier provided as part of its original certification process or that the alternative gas supplier previously provided to the Commission under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09.)
(220 ILCS 5/19-112)
Sec. 19-112. Managerial resources.
(a) An alternative gas supplier must maintain sufficient managerial resources and abilities to provide the service for which it has a certificate of service authority. In determining the level of managerial resources and abilities that the alternative gas supplier must demonstrate, the Commission shall consider, in addition to the requirements in Section 19-110(e)(1), the following:
(1) complaints to the Commission by consumers     regarding the alternative gas supplier, including those that reflect on the alternative gas supplier's ability to properly manage solicitation and authorization; and
(2) the alternative gas supplier's involvement in the     Commission's consumer complaint process, including the resources the alternative gas supplier dedicates to the process and the alternative gas supplier's ability to manage the issues raised by complaints, and the resolutions of the complaints.
(b) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve residential or small commercial customers and only to the extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential or small commercial customers, unless otherwise noted.
(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)
(220 ILCS 5/19-115)
Sec. 19-115. Obligations of alternative gas suppliers.
(a) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas
suppliers
serving or seeking to serve residential or small commercial customers and
only to the extent such
alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential or small
commercial customers.
(b) An alternative gas supplier:
(1) shall comply with the requirements imposed on     public utilities by Sections 8-201 through 8-207, 8-301, 8-505 and 8-507 of this Act, to the extent that these Sections have application to the services being offered by the alternative gas supplier;
(2) shall continue to comply with the requirements     for certification stated in Section 19-110;
(3) shall comply with complaint procedures     established by the Commission;
(4) except as provided in subsection (h) of this     Section, shall file with the Chief Clerk of the Commission, within 20 business days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, a copy of bill formats, standard customer contract and customer complaint and resolution procedures, and the name and telephone number of the company representative whom Commission employees may contact to resolve customer complaints and other matters.  In the case of a gas supplier that engages in door-to-door solicitation, the company shall file with the Commission the consumer information disclosure required by  item (3) of subsection (c) of Section 2DDD of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and shall file updated information within 10 business days after changes in any of the documents or information required to be filed by this item (4);
(5) shall maintain a customer call center where     customers can reach a representative and receive current information.  At least once every 6 months, each alternative gas supplier shall provide written information to customers explaining how to contact the call center. The average answer time for calls placed to the call center shall not exceed 60 seconds where a representative or automated system is ready to render assistance and/or accept information to process calls.  The abandon rate for calls placed to the call center shall not exceed 10%.  Each alternative gas supplier shall maintain records of the call center's telephone answer time performance and abandon call rate.  These records shall be kept for a minimum of 2 years and shall be made available to Commission personnel upon request.  In the event that answer times and/or abandon rates exceed the limits established above, the reporting alternative gas supplier may provide the Commission or its personnel with explanatory details.  At a minimum, these records shall contain the following information in monthly increments:
(A) total number of calls received;
(B) number of calls answered;
(C) average answer time;
(D) number of abandoned calls; and
(E) abandon call rate.
Alternative gas suppliers that do not have electronic     answering capability that meets these requirements shall notify the Manager of the Commission's Consumer Services Division or its successor within 30 days following the effective date of this amendatory  Act of the 95th General Assembly  and work with Staff to develop individualized reporting requirements as to the call volume and responsiveness of the call center.
On or before March 1 of every year, each entity shall     file a report with the Chief Clerk of the Commission for the preceding calendar year on its answer time and abandon call rate for its call center. A copy of the report shall be sent to the Manager of the Consumer Services Division or its successor;
(6) by January 1, 2020 and every September 30     thereafter, shall submit to the Commission and the Office of the Attorney General the rates the alternative gas supplier charged to residential customers in the prior year, including each distinct rate charged and whether the rate was a fixed or variable rate, the basis for the variable rate, and any fees charged in addition to the supply rate, including monthly fees, flat fees, or other service charges; and
(7) shall make publicly available on its website,     without the need for a customer login, rate information for all of its variable, time-of-use, and fixed rate contracts currently available to residential customers, including but not limited to, fixed monthly charges, early termination fees, and per therm charges.
(c)  An alternative gas supplier shall not submit or execute a change in a customer's selection of a natural gas provider unless and until (i) the alternative gas supplier first discloses all material terms and conditions of the offer, including price, to the customer; (ii) the alternative gas supplier has obtained the customer's express agreement to accept the offer after the disclosure of all material terms and conditions of the offer; and (iii) the alternative gas supplier has confirmed the request for a change in accordance with one of the following procedures:
(1) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the     customer's written or electronically signed authorization in a form that meets the following requirements:
(A) An alternative gas supplier shall obtain any         necessary written or electronically signed authorization from a customer for a change in natural gas service by using a letter of agency as specified in this Section. Any letter of agency that does not conform with this Section is invalid.
(B) The letter of agency shall be a separate         document (or an easily separable document containing only the authorization language described in item (E) of this paragraph (1)) whose sole purpose is to authorize a natural gas provider change. The letter of agency must be signed and dated by the customer requesting the natural gas provider change.
(C) The letter of agency shall not be combined         with inducements of any kind on the same document.
(D) Notwithstanding items (A) and (B) of this         paragraph (1), the letter of agency may be combined with checks that contain only the required letter of agency language prescribed in item (E) of this paragraph (1) and the necessary information to make the check a negotiable instrument. The letter of agency check shall not contain any promotional language or material. The letter of agency check shall contain in easily readable, bold face type on the face of the check a notice that the consumer is authorizing a natural gas provider change by signing the check. The letter of agency language also shall be placed near the signature line on the back of the check.
(E) At a minimum, the letter of agency must be         printed with a print of sufficient size to be clearly legible and must contain clear and unambiguous language that confirms:
(i) the customer's billing name and address;
(ii) the decision to change the natural gas             provider from the current provider to the prospective alternative gas supplier;
(iii) the terms, conditions, and nature of             the service to be provided to the customer, including, but not limited to, the rates for the service contracted for by the customer; and
(iv) that the customer understands that any             natural gas provider selection the customer chooses may involve a charge to the customer for changing the customer's natural gas provider.
(F) Letters of agency shall not suggest or         require that a customer take some action in order to retain the customer's current natural gas provider.
(G) If any portion of a letter of agency is         translated into another language, then all portions of the letter of agency must be translated into that language.
(2) An appropriately qualified independent third     party has obtained, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph (2), the customer's oral authorization to change natural gas providers that confirms and includes appropriate verification data. The independent third party must (i) not be owned, managed, controlled, or directed by the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's marketing agent; (ii) not have any financial incentive to confirm provider change requests for the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's marketing agent; and (iii) operate in a location physically separate from the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's marketing agent. Automated third-party verification systems and 3-way conference calls may be used for verification purposes so long as the other requirements of this paragraph (2) are satisfied. An alternative gas supplier or alternative gas supplier's sales representative initiating a 3-way conference call or a call through an automated verification system must drop off the call once the 3-way connection has been established. All third-party verification methods shall elicit, at a minimum, the following information:
(A) the identity of the customer;
(B) confirmation that the person on the call is         authorized to make the provider change;
(C) confirmation that the person on the call         wants to make the provider change;
(D) the names of the providers affected by the         change;
(E) the service address of the service to be         switched; and
(F) the price of the service to be provided and         the material terms and conditions of the service being offered, including whether any early termination fees apply.
Third-party verifiers may not market the alternative     gas supplier's services by providing additional information. All third-party verifications shall be conducted in the same language that was used in the underlying sales transaction and shall be recorded in their entirety. Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall maintain and preserve audio records of verification of customer authorization for a minimum period of 2 years after obtaining the verification. Automated systems must provide customers with an option to speak with a live person at any time during the call.
(3) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the     customer's authorization via an automated verification system to change natural gas service via telephone. An automated verification system is an electronic system that, through pre-recorded prompts, elicits voice responses, touchtone responses, or both, from the customer  and records both the prompts and the customer's responses. Such authorization must elicit the information in paragraph (2)(A) through (F) of this subsection (c). Alternative gas suppliers electing to confirm sales electronically through an automated verification system shall establish one or more toll-free telephone numbers exclusively for that purpose. Calls to the number  or numbers shall  connect a customer to a voice response unit, or similar mechanism, that makes a date-stamped, time-stamped recording of the required information regarding the alternative gas supplier change.
The alternative gas supplier shall not use such     electronic authorization systems to market its services.
(4) When a consumer initiates the call to the     prospective alternative gas supplier, in order to enroll the consumer as a customer, the prospective alternative gas supplier must, with the consent of the customer, make a date-stamped, time-stamped audio recording that elicits, at a minimum, the following information:
(A) the identity of the customer;
(B) confirmation that the person on the call is         authorized to make the provider change;
(C) confirmation that the person on the call         wants to make the provider change;
(D) the names of the providers affected by the         change;
(E) the service address of the service to be         switched; and
(F) the price of the service to be supplied and         the material terms and conditions of the service being offered, including whether any early termination fees apply.
Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall maintain     and preserve the audio records containing the information set forth above for a minimum period of 2 years.
(5) In the event that a customer enrolls for service     from an alternative gas supplier via an Internet website, the alternative gas supplier shall obtain an electronically signed letter of agency in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection (c)  and any customer information shall be protected in accordance with all applicable statutes and regulations.  In addition, an alternative gas supplier shall provide the following when marketing via an Internet website:
(A) The Internet enrollment website shall, at a         minimum, include:
(i) a copy of the alternative gas supplier's             customer contract that clearly and conspicuously discloses all terms and conditions; and
(ii) a conspicuous prompt for the customer to             print or save a copy of the contract.
(B) Any electronic version of the contract shall         be identified by version number, in order to ensure the ability to verify the particular contract to which the customer assents.
(C) Throughout the duration of the alternative         gas supplier's contract with a customer, the alternative gas supplier shall retain and, within 3 business days of the customer's request, provide to the customer an e-mail, paper, or facsimile of the terms and conditions of the numbered contract version to which the customer assents.
(D) The alternative gas supplier shall provide a         mechanism by which both the submission and receipt of the electronic letter of agency are recorded by time and date.
(E) After the customer completes the electronic         letter of agency, the alternative gas supplier shall disclose conspicuously through its website that the customer has been enrolled, and the alternative gas supplier shall provide the customer an enrollment confirmation number.
(6) When a customer is solicited in person by the     alternative gas supplier's sales agent, the alternative gas supplier may only obtain the customer's authorization to change natural gas service through the method provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection (c).
Alternative gas suppliers must be in compliance with this subsection (c) within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly.
(d) Complaints may be filed with the Commission under this Section by a customer whose natural gas service has been provided by an alternative gas supplier in a manner not in compliance with subsection (c) of this Section.  If, after notice and hearing, the Commission finds that an alternative gas supplier has violated subsection (c), then the Commission may in its discretion do any one or more of the following:
(1) Require the violating alternative gas supplier to     refund the customer charges collected in excess of those that would have been charged by the customer's authorized natural gas provider.
(2) Require the violating alternative gas supplier to     pay to the customer's authorized natural gas provider the amount the authorized natural gas provider would have collected for natural gas service.  The Commission is authorized to reduce this payment by any amount already paid by the violating alternative gas supplier to the customer's authorized natural gas provider.
(3) Require the violating alternative gas supplier to     pay a fine of up to $1,000 into the Public Utility Fund for each repeated and intentional violation of this Section.
(4) Issue a cease and desist order.
(5) For a pattern of violation of this Section or for     intentionally violating a cease and desist order, revoke the violating alternative gas supplier's certificate of service authority.
(e) No alternative gas supplier shall:
(1) enter into or employ any arrangements which have     the effect of preventing any customer from having access to the services of the gas utility in whose service area the customer is located;
(2) charge customers for such access;
(3) bill for goods or services not authorized by the     customer; or
(4) bill for a disputed amount where the alternative     gas supplier has been provided notice of such dispute. The supplier shall attempt to resolve a dispute with the customer. When the dispute is not resolved to the customer's satisfaction, the supplier shall inform the customer of the right to file an informal complaint with the Commission and provide contact information.  While the pending dispute is active at the Commission, an alternative gas supplier may bill only for the undisputed amount until the Commission has taken final action on the complaint.
(f) An alternative gas supplier that is certified to serve residential
or small commercial customers shall not:
(1) deny service to a customer or group of customers     nor establish any differences as to prices, terms, conditions, services, products, facilities, or in any other respect, whereby such denial or differences are based upon race, gender, or income, except as provided in Section 19-116;
(2) deny service based on locality, nor establish any     unreasonable difference as to prices, terms, conditions, services, products, or facilities as between localities;
(3) include in any agreement a provision that     obligates a customer to the terms of the agreement if the customer (i) moves outside the State of Illinois; (ii) moves to a location without a transportation service program; or (iii) moves to a location where the customer will not require natural gas service, provided that nothing in this subsection precludes an alternative gas supplier from taking any action otherwise available to it to collect a debt that arises out of service provided to the customer before the customer moved; or
(4) assign the agreement to any alternative natural     gas supplier, unless:
(A) the supplier is an alternative gas supplier         certified by the Commission;
(B) the rates, terms, and conditions of the         agreement being assigned do not change during the remainder of the time covered by the agreement;
(C) the customer is given no less than 30 days         prior written notice of the assignment and contact information for the new supplier; and
(D) the supplier assigning the contract provides         contact information that a customer can use to resolve a dispute.
(g) An alternative gas supplier shall comply with the following requirements
with respect to the marketing, offering, and provision of products or services:
(1) All marketing materials, including, but not     limited to, electronic marketing materials, in-person solicitations, and telephone solicitations, concerning prices, terms, and conditions of service shall contain information that adequately discloses the prices, terms, and conditions of the products or services and shall disclose the utility gas supply cost rates per therm price available from the Illinois Commerce Commission website applicable at the time the alternative gas supplier is offering or selling the products or services to the customer and shall disclose the date on which the utility gas supply cost rates per therm became effective and the date on which they will expire. All marketing materials, including, but not limited to, electronic marketing materials, in-person solicitations, and telephone solicitations, shall include the following statement:
"(Name of the alternative gas supplier) is not         the same entity as your gas delivery company. You are not required to enroll with (name of alternative gas supplier). Beginning on (effective date), the utility gas supply cost rate per therm is (cost). The utility gas supply cost will expire on (expiration date). For more information go to the Illinois Commerce Commission's free website at www.icc.illinois.gov/ags/consumereducation.aspx.".
This paragraph (1) does not apply to goodwill or     institutional advertising.
(2) Before any customer is switched from another     supplier, the alternative gas supplier shall give the customer written information that clearly and conspicuously discloses, in plain language, the prices, terms, and conditions of the products and services being offered and sold to the customer.  This written information shall be provided in a language in which the customer subject to the marketing or solicitation is able to understand and communicate, and the alternative gas supplier shall not switch a customer who is unable to understand and communicate in a language in which the marketing or solicitation was conducted. The alternative gas supplier shall comply with Section 2N of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Nothing in this paragraph (2) may be read to relieve an alternative gas supplier from the duties imposed on it by item (3) of subsection (c) of Section 2DDD of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
(3) The alternative gas supplier shall provide to the     customer:
(A) accurate, timely, and itemized billing         statements that describe the products and services provided to the customer and their prices and that specify the gas consumption amount and any service charges and taxes; provided that this item (g)(3)(A) does not apply to small commercial customers;
(B) billing statements that clearly and         conspicuously discloses the name and contact information for the alternative gas supplier;
(C) an additional statement, at least annually,         that adequately discloses the average monthly prices, and the terms and conditions, of the products and services sold to the customer; provided that this item (g)(3)(C) does not apply to small commercial customers;
(D) refunds of any deposits with interest within         30 days after the date that the customer changes gas suppliers or discontinues service if the customer has satisfied all of his or her outstanding financial obligations to the alternative gas supplier at an interest rate set by the Commission which shall be the same as that required of gas utilities; and
(E) refunds, in a timely fashion, of all         undisputed overpayments upon the oral or written request of the customer.
(4) An alternative gas supplier and its sales agents     shall refrain from any direct marketing or soliciting to consumers on the gas utility's "Do Not Contact List", which the alternative gas supplier shall obtain on the 15th calendar day of the month from the gas utility in whose service area the consumer is provided with gas service.  If the 15th calendar day is a non-business day, then the alternative gas supplier shall obtain the list on the next business day following the 15th calendar day of that month.
(5) Early Termination.
(A) Any agreement that contains an early         termination clause shall disclose the amount of the early termination fee, provided that any early termination fee or penalty shall not exceed $50 total, regardless of whether or not the agreement is a multiyear agreement.
(B) In any agreement that contains an early         termination clause, an alternative gas supplier shall provide the customer the opportunity to terminate the agreement without any termination fee or penalty within 10 business days after the date of the first bill issued to the customer for products or services provided by the alternative gas supplier.  The agreement shall disclose the opportunity and provide a toll-free phone number that the customer may call in order to terminate the agreement. Beginning January 1, 2020, residential and small commercial customers shall have a right to terminate their agreements with alternative gas suppliers at any time without any termination fees or penalties.
(6) Within 2 business days after electronic receipt     of a customer switch from the alternative gas supplier and confirmation of eligibility, the gas utility shall provide the customer written notice confirming the switch. The gas utility shall not switch the service until 10 business days after the date on the notice to the customer.
(7) The alternative gas supplier shall provide each     customer the opportunity to rescind its agreement without penalty within 10 business days after the date on the gas utility notice to the customer. The alternative gas supplier shall disclose all of the following:
(A) that the gas utility shall send a notice         confirming the switch;
(B) that from the date the utility issues the         notice confirming the switch, the customer shall have 10 business days to rescind the switch without penalty;
(C) that the customer shall contact the gas         utility or the alternative gas supplier to rescind the switch; and
(D) the contact information for the gas utility.
The alternative gas supplier disclosure shall be     included in its sales solicitations, contracts, and all applicable sales verification scripts.
(8) All in-person and telephone solicitations shall     be conducted in, translated into, and provided in a language in which the consumer subject to the marketing or solicitation is able to understand and communicate. An alternative gas supplier shall terminate a solicitation if the consumer subject to the marketing or communication is unable to understand and communicate in the language in which the marketing or solicitation is being conducted. An alternative gas supplier shall comply with Section 2N of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
(h) An alternative gas supplier may limit the overall size or availability
of
a
service offering by specifying one or more of the following:
(1) a maximum number of customers and maximum amount     of gas load to be served;
(2) time period during which the offering will be     available; or
(3) other comparable limitation, but not including     the geographic locations of customers within the area which the alternative gas supplier is certificated to serve.
The alternative gas supplier shall file the terms and
conditions of
such service offering including the applicable limitations with the Commission
prior to
making the service offering available to customers.
(i) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as preventing an alternative
gas
supplier that is an affiliate of, or which contracts with,
(i) an industry or
trade
organization or association,
(ii) a membership organization or association that
exists for
a purpose other than the purchase of gas, or
(iii) another organization that
meets criteria
established in a rule adopted by the Commission from offering through the
organization
or association services at prices, terms and conditions that are available
solely to the
members of the organization or association.
(Source: P.A. 101-590, eff. 1-1-20; 102-459, eff. 8-20-21.)
(220 ILCS 5/19-116)
Sec. 19-116. Alternative gas supplier utility assistance recipient.
(a) Beginning January 1, 2020, an alternative gas supplier shall not knowingly submit an enrollment to change a customer's natural gas supplier if the gas utility's records indicate that the customer received financial assistance in the previous 12 months from either the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or, at the time of enrollment is participating in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan, unless the customer's change in gas supplier is pursuant to a Commission-approved savings guarantee plan as described in subsection (b).
(b) Beginning January 1, 2020, an alternative gas supplier may apply to the Commission to offer a savings guarantee plan to recipients of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding or Percentage of Income Payment Plan funding. The Commission shall initiate a public, docketed proceeding to consider whether or not to approve an alternative gas supplier's application to offer a savings guarantee plan. At a minimum, the savings guarantee plan shall charge customers for natural gas supply at an amount that is less than the amount charged by the gas utility.
(c) An agreement entered into between an alternative gas supplier and a customer in violation of this Section is void and unenforceable. Before the gas utility executes a change in a customer's natural gas supplier, other than a change pursuant to a Commission-approved savings guarantee plan as described in subsection (b), the gas utility shall confirm at the time of the request whether its records indicate that the customer has either received financial assistance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program within the previous 12 months, or, at the time of enrollment is participating in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan; and if so, shall reject such change request. Absent willful or wanton misconduct, no gas utility shall be held liable for any error in acting or failing to act pursuant to this Section.
(Source: P.A. 101-590, eff. 1-1-20.)
(220 ILCS 5/19-120)
Sec. 19-120. Commission oversight of services provided by gas
suppliers.
(a) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas
suppliers
serving or seeking to serve residential or small commercial customers and
only to the extent such
alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential or small
commercial customers.
(b) The Commission shall have jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions
of Article X of this Act either to investigate on its own motion in order to determine whether  or to entertain and dispose of any complaint by any person or corporation, chamber of commerce, board of trade, or any industrial, commercial, mercantile, agricultural or manufacturing society, or any body politic or municipal corporation against any
alternative
gas supplier alleging that:
(1) the alternative gas supplier has violated or is     in nonconformance with any applicable provisions of Section 19-110, 19-111, 19-112, or Section 19-115;
(1.5)   that the alternative retail gas supplier     violated any rule adopted by the Commission to govern the sales, marketing, or operations of retail gas suppliers;
(2) an alternative gas supplier has failed to provide     service in accordance with the terms of its contract or contracts with a customer or customers;
(3) the alternative gas supplier has violated or is     in nonconformance with the transportation services tariff of, or any of its agreements relating to transportation services with, the gas utility or municipal system providing transportation services; or
(4) the alternative gas supplier has violated or     failed to comply with the requirements of Sections 8-201 through 8-207, 8-301, 8-505, or 8-507 of this Act as made applicable to alternative gas suppliers.
(c) The Commission shall have authority after such administrative notice as is required by the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and after an administrative hearing held on
complaint or on the Commission's own motion to order any or all of the following remedies, penalties, or forms of relief:
(1) order an alternative gas supplier to cease and     desist, or correct, any violation of or nonconformance with the provisions of Section 19-110, 19-111, 19-112, or 19-115, or any violation or nonconformance over which the Commission has jurisdiction under subsection (a) of Section 19-120;
(2) impose financial penalties for violations of or     nonconformances with the provisions of Section 19-110, 19-111, 19-112, or 19-115, not to exceed  $10,000 per occurrence, and for any violations or nonconformances that continue after the Commission issues a cease and desist order, up to an additional $30,000 for each day the violations or nonconformances continue; and
(3) alter, modify, revoke, or suspend the certificate     of service authority of an alternative gas supplier for substantial or repeated violations of or nonconformances with the provisions of Section 19-110, 19-111, 19-112, or 19-115.
(d) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit, restrict, or
mitigate
in
any way the power and authority of the State's Attorneys or the Attorney
General under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
(e) In addition to other powers and authority granted to it under this Act, the Commission may require an alternative gas supplier to enter into a compliance
plan. If the Commission comes into possession of information causing it to conclude that an alternative gas supplier is violating this Act or the Commission's rules, the Commission may, after notice and hearing, enter an order directing the alternative gas supplier to implement practices, procedures, oversight, or other measures or refrain from practices, conduct, or activities as the Commission finds is necessary or reasonable to ensure the alternative gas supplier's compliance with this Act and the Commission's rules. Failure by an alternative gas supplier to implement or comply with a Commission-ordered compliance plan is a violation of this Section. The Commission, in its discretion, may order a compliance plan under such circumstances as it considers warranted and is not required to order a compliance plan prior to taking other enforcement action against an alternative retail gas supplier.  Nothing in this subsection (e) shall be interpreted to limit the authority or right of the Attorney General.
(Source: P.A. 101-590, eff. 1-1-20; 102-958, eff. 1-1-23.)
(220 ILCS 5/19-125)
Sec. 19-125. Consumer education.
(a) The Commission shall make available upon request and at no charge, and
shall make available to the public
on the Internet through the State of Illinois World Wide Web site:
(1) a list of all certified alternative gas suppliers     serving residential and small commercial customers within the service area of each gas utility including, in the case of the Internet, computer links to available web sites of the certified alternative gas suppliers;
(2) a list of all certified alternative gas suppliers     serving residential or small commercial customers that have been found in the last 3 years by the Commission pursuant to Section 10-108 to have failed to provide service in accordance with this Act;
(3) guidelines to assist customers in determining     which gas supplier is most appropriate for each customer; and
(4) Internet links to providers of information that     enables customers to compare prices and services of gas utilities and alternative gas suppliers, if and when that information is available.
(a-5) The Commission shall develop no later than 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly  and maintain consumer education information to help residential and small commercial consumers understand their gas supply options and their rights and responsibilities.  The Commission shall publish the consumer education information on its World Wide Web site.
(a-10) To assist the Commission in developing consumer education information, the Commission shall form a working group that shall consist of representatives of gas utilities with residential and small commercial gas transportation service programs, alternative gas suppliers, the Attorney General, the Citizens Utility Board, and the Commission.
(a-15) At a minimum, the consumer education information developed by the Commission shall include explanations or descriptions of the following:
(1) The choices available to consumers to take gas     service from an alternative retail gas supplier or remain as a retail customer of the gas utility.
(2) A consumer's rights and responsibilities in     receiving service from an alternative retail gas supplier or remaining as a retail customer of the gas utility.
(3) The gas utility's role in delivering gas,     including, but not limited to, utility response to calls for service and gas leaks.
(4) The legal obligations of alternative retail gas     suppliers.
(5) The components of a bill that could be received     by a customer taking delivery services.
(6) The procedures available to customers to address     complaints against a gas utility or an alternative retail gas supplier and a list of phone numbers and other contact information for the Commission, the Attorney General, or the Citizens Utility Board.
(7) Guidance to assist consumers in making educated     decisions when choosing their natural gas provider, including:
(A) how to compare prices;
(B) questions to ask when considering natural gas         providers; and
(C) current and historical utility gas rates.
(8) The availability of the "Do Not Contact List" for     those who do not wish to be solicited by natural gas providers.
(b) In any service area where customers are able to choose their natural gas
supplier, the Commission shall require gas utilities and alternative gas
suppliers to inform customers of how they may contact the Commission in order
to
obtain information about the customer choice program.
(c) The Commission shall adopt a uniform disclosure that alternative gas suppliers shall  be required to complete for each product offering.  The uniform disclosure shall contain, at a minimum:
(1) for products with a fixed price per therm, the     price per therm;
(2) the length of the initial term of the product,     or, if applicable, the expiration date of the initial term of the product;
(3) the amount of the termination fees, if any;
(4) the amount of the administrative fees, other     fees, or recurring charges, if any, to be listed separately for each and every fee or charge;
(5) for products with a variable price per therm, the     terms of such variability, including, but not limited to, any index that is used to calculate the price and any additional charges, costs and fees; and
(6) for products where a customer's charges are a     fixed amount per billing period regardless of the market price for natural gas or the customer's natural gas consumption during the billing period, the billing period covered.
If the alternative gas supplier will not offer a     different product for new customers as of the first of the month, then the alternative gas supplier does not have to provide new information until the first day of the month in which a different product or products are being offered.
The Commission shall post this information on its     World Wide Web site in a manner that shall enable customers to compare prices, terms, and conditions offered by the alternative gas suppliers.  The website shall be updated at least monthly and the Commission shall maintain this information on its website for at least 12 months to allow customers to compare the historical plans and prices for all alternative gas suppliers.
(d) The Commission shall make available in print, upon request and at no charge and on its World Wide Web site, information on which customers of alternative gas suppliers serving residential and small commercial customers may address any complaint with regard to an alternative gas supplier's obligations under Section 19-115 of this Article, including the provision of service in accordance with the terms of its contract, sales tactics, and rates. The Commission shall maintain a summary by category and provider of all formal and informal complaints it receives pursuant to this Section, and it shall publish the summary on a quarterly basis on its World Wide Web site. Individual customer information shall not be included in the summary.
(e) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve residential and small commercial customers and only to the extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential and small commercial customers.
(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09.)
(220 ILCS 5/19-130)
Sec. 19-130. Commission study and report. The Commission's Office of Retail Market Development shall prepare an annual
report regarding the
development of competitive retail natural gas markets in Illinois. The Office shall monitor existing competitive conditions in Illinois, identify barriers to retail competition for all customer classes, and actively explore and propose to the Commission and to the General Assembly solutions to overcome identified barriers. Solutions proposed by the Office to promote retail competition must also promote safe, reliable, and affordable natural gas service.
On or before October 31 of each year, the Director shall submit a report to the Commission, the General Assembly, and the Governor, that includes, at a minimum, the following
information:
(1) an analysis of the status and development of the     retail natural gas market in the State of Illinois; and
(2) a discussion of any identified barriers to the     development of competitive retail natural gas markets in Illinois and proposed solutions to overcome identified barriers; and
(3) any other information the Office considers     significant in assessing the development of natural gas markets in the State of Illinois.
Beginning in 2021, the report shall also include the information submitted to the Commission pursuant to paragraph (6) of subsection (b) of Section 19-115.
(Source: P.A. 101-590, eff. 1-1-20; 102-459, eff. 8-20-21.)
(220 ILCS 5/19-135)
Sec. 19-135. Single billing.
(a) It is the intent of the General Assembly
that in any service
area where customers are able to choose their natural gas supplier, a single
billing option shall be offered to customers for both the services provided by
the alternative gas supplier and the delivery services provided by the gas
utility.  A gas utility shall file a tariff pursuant to Article IX of this Act
that allows alternative gas suppliers to issue single bills to residential and
small commercial customers for both the services provided by the alternative
gas supplier and the delivery services provided by the gas utility to
customers; provided that if a form of single billing is being offered in a gas
utility's service area on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
92nd General Assembly, that form of single billing shall remain in effect
unless and until otherwise ordered by the Commission.
(b) Every alternative gas supplier that issues a single bill for delivery and supply shall include on the single bill issued to a residential customer the current utility gas supply cost rate per therm that would apply to the customer for the billing period if the customer obtained supply from the utility, including all fixed or monthly supply charges and other charges, credits, or rates that are part of the gas supply price.
(c) Every gas utility that offers supply choice and provides delivery and alternative gas supply service on a single bill to its residential customers shall include on the bill of each residential customer who purchases supply services from an alternative gas supplier the current utility gas supply cost rate per therm that would apply to the customer for the billing period if the customer obtained supply from the utility, including all fixed or monthly supply charges and other charges, credits, or rates that are part of the gas supply price.
(Source: P.A. 101-590, eff. 1-1-20.)
(220 ILCS 5/19-140)
Sec. 19-140. On-bill financing program; gas utilities.
(a) The Illinois General Assembly finds that Illinois homes and businesses have the potential to save energy through conservation and cost-effective energy efficiency measures. Programs created pursuant to this Section will allow utility customers to purchase cost-effective energy efficiency measures, including measures set forth in a Commission-approved energy efficiency plan under Section 8-104 of this Act, with no required initial upfront payment, and to pay the cost of those products and services over time on their utility bill.
(b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a gas utility serving more than 100,000 customers on January 1, 2009 shall offer a Commission-approved on-bill financing program ("program") that allows its retail customers who own a residential single family home, duplex, or other residential building with 4 or less units, or condominium at which the gas service is being provided (i) to borrow funds from a third party lender in order to purchase gas energy efficiency measures approved under the program for installation in such home or condominium without any required upfront payment and (ii) to pay back such funds over time through the gas utility's bill.  Based upon the process described in subsection (b-5) of this Section, small commercial customers who own the premises at which gas service is being provided may be included in such program.  After receiving a request from a gas utility for approval of a proposed program and tariffs pursuant to this Section, the Commission shall render its decision within 120 days.  If no decision is rendered within 120 days, then the request shall be deemed to be approved. Beginning no later than December 31, 2013, a gas utility subject to this subsection (b) shall also offer its program to eligible retail customers that own a multifamily residential or mixed-use building with no more than 50 residential units, provided, however, that such customer must either be a residential customer or small commercial customer and may not use the program in such a way that repayment of the cost of energy efficiency measures is made through tenants' utility bills.  A gas utility may impose a per site loan limit not to exceed $150,000.  The program, and loans issued thereunder, shall only be offered to customers of the utility that meet the requirements of this Section and that also have a gas service account at the premises where the energy efficiency measures being financed shall be installed.
For purposes of this Section, a small commercial customer for a gas utility shall be defined in that gas utility's informational filing that is made under subsection (c-5) of this Section.
(b-5)  Within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, the Commission shall convene a workshop process during which interested participants may discuss issues related to the program, including program design, eligible gas energy efficiency measures, vendor qualifications, and a methodology for ensuring ongoing compliance with such qualifications, financing, sample documents such as request for proposals, contracts and agreements, dispute resolution, pre-installment and post-installment verification, and evaluation.  The workshop process shall be completed within 150 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly.
(c)  Not later than 60 days following completion of the workshop process described in subsection (b-5) of this Section, each gas utility subject to subsection (b) of this Section shall submit a proposed program to the Commission that contains the following components:
(1) A list of recommended gas energy efficiency     measures that will be eligible for on-bill financing.  An eligible gas energy efficiency measure ("measure") shall be a product or service for which one or more of the following is true:
(A) (blank);
(B) the projected gas savings (determined by         rates in effect at the time of purchase) are sufficient to cover the costs of implementing the measures, including finance charges and any program fees not recovered pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section; or
(C) the product or service is included in a         Commission-approved energy efficiency plan under Section 8-104 of this Act.
(2)  The gas utility shall issue a request for     proposals ("RFP") to lenders for purposes of providing financing to participants to pay for approved measures.  The RFP criteria shall include, but not be limited to, the interest rate, origination fees, and credit terms.  The utility shall select the winning bidders based on its evaluation of these criteria, with a preference for those bids containing the rates, fees, and terms most favorable to participants.
(3)  The utility shall work with the lenders selected     pursuant to the RFP process, and with vendors, to establish the terms and processes pursuant to which a participant can purchase eligible gas energy efficiency measures using the financing obtained from the lender.  The vendor shall explain and offer the approved financing packaging to those customers identified in subsection (b) of this Section and shall assist customers in applying for financing. As part of such process, vendors shall also provide to participants information about any other incentives that may be available for the measures.
(4) The lender shall conduct credit checks or     undertake other appropriate measures to limit credit risk, and shall review and approve or  deny financing applications submitted by customers identified in subsection (b) of this Section.  Following the lender's approval of financing and the participant's purchase of the measure or measures, the lender shall forward payment information to the gas utility, and the utility shall add as a separate line item on the participant's utility bill a charge showing the amount due under the program each month.
(5)  A loan issued to a participant pursuant to the     program shall be the sole responsibility of the participant, and any dispute that may arise concerning the loan's terms, conditions, or charges shall be resolved between the participant and lender.  Upon transfer of the property title for the premises at which the participant receives gas service from the utility or the participant's request to terminate service at such premises, the participant shall pay in full its gas utility bill, including all amounts due under the program, provided that this obligation may be modified as provided in subsection (g) of this Section.  Amounts due under the program shall be deemed amounts owed for residential and, as appropriate,  small commercial gas service.
(6)  The gas utility shall remit payment in full to     the lender each month on behalf of the participant.  In the event a participant defaults on payment of its gas utility bill, the gas utility shall continue to remit all payments due under the program to the lender, and the utility shall be entitled to recover all costs related to a participant's nonpayment through the automatic adjustment clause tariff established pursuant to Section 19-145 of this Act.  In addition, the gas utility shall retain a security interest in the measure or measures purchased under the program, and the utility retains its right to disconnect a participant that defaults on the payment of its utility bill.
(7) The total outstanding amount financed under the     program in this subsection and subsection (c-5) of this Section shall not exceed $2.5 million for a gas utility or gas utilities under a single holding company, provided that the gas utility or gas utilities may petition the Commission for an increase in such amount.
(c-5)  Within 120 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, each covered gas utility shall submit an informational filing to the Commission that describes its plan for implementing the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly on or before December 31, 2013. A  gas utility subject to this Section shall cooperate with any electric utility  that provides electric service to buildings within the gas utility's service territory so that it is practical and feasible for the owner of a multifamily building to make a single application to access loans for both gas and electric energy efficiency measures in any individual building.
(d)  A program approved by the Commission shall also include the following criteria and guidelines for such program:
(1)  guidelines for financing of measures installed     under a program, including, but not limited to, RFP criteria and limits on both individual loan amounts and the duration of the loans;
(2)  criteria and standards for identifying and     approving measures;
(3)  qualifications of vendors that will market or     install measures, as well as a methodology for ensuring ongoing compliance with such qualifications;
(4)  sample contracts and agreements necessary to     implement the measures and program; and
(5)  the types of data and information that utilities     and vendors participating in the program shall collect for purposes of preparing the reports required under subsection (g) of this Section.
(e)  The proposed program submitted by each gas utility shall be consistent with the provisions of this Section that define operational, financial, and billing arrangements between and among program participants, vendors, lenders, and the gas utility.
(f)  A gas utility shall recover all of the prudently incurred costs of offering a program approved by the Commission pursuant to this Section, including, but not limited to, all start-up and administrative costs and the costs for program evaluation.  All  prudently incurred costs under this Section shall be recovered from the residential and small commercial retail customer classes eligible to participate in the program through the automatic adjustment clause tariff established pursuant to Section 8-104 of this Act.
(g)  An independent evaluation of a program shall be conducted after 3 years of the program's operation.  The gas utility shall retain an independent evaluator who shall evaluate the effects of the measures installed under the program and the overall operation of the program, including, but not limited to, customer eligibility criteria and whether the payment obligation for permanent gas energy efficiency measures that will continue to provide benefits of energy savings should attach to the meter location.  As part of the evaluation process, the evaluator shall also solicit feedback from participants and interested stakeholders.  The evaluator shall issue a report to the Commission on its findings no later than 4 years after the date on which the program commenced, and the Commission shall issue a report to the Governor and General Assembly including a summary of the information described in this Section as well as its recommendations as to whether the program should be discontinued, continued with modification or modifications or continued without modification, provided that any recommended modifications shall only apply prospectively and to measures not yet installed or financed.
(h)  A gas utility offering a Commission-approved program pursuant to this Section shall not be required to comply with any other statute, order, rule, or regulation of this State that may relate to the offering of such program, provided that nothing in this Section is intended to limit the gas utility's obligation to comply with this Act and the Commission's orders, rules, and regulations, including Part 280 of Title 83 of the Illinois Administrative Code.
(i)  The source of a utility customer's gas supply shall not disqualify a customer from participation in the utility's on-bill financing program.  Customers of alternative gas suppliers may participate in the program under the same terms and conditions applicable to the utility's supply customers.
(Source: P.A. 98-586, eff. 8-27-13.)
(220 ILCS 5/19-145)
Sec. 19-145. Automatic adjustment clause tariff; uncollectibles.
(a) A gas utility shall be permitted, at its election, to recover through an automatic adjustment clause tariff the incremental difference between its actual uncollectible amount as set forth in Account 904 in the utility's most recent annual Form 21  ILCC and the uncollectible amount included in the utility's rates for the period reported in such annual Form 21 ILCC.   The Commission may, in a proceeding to review a general rate case filed subsequent to the effective date of the tariff established under this Section,  prospectively switch, from using the actual uncollectible amount set forth in Account 904 to using net write-offs in such tariff, but only if net write-offs are also used to determine the utility's uncollectible amount in rates. In the event the Commission requires such a change, it shall be made effective at the beginning of the first full calendar year after the new rates approved in such proceeding are first placed in effect and an adjustment shall be made, if necessary, to ensure the change does not result in double-recovery or unrecovered uncollectible amounts for any year.  For purposes of this Section, "uncollectible amount" means the expense set forth in Account 904 of the utility's Form 21 ILCC or cost of net write-offs as appropriate.  In the event the utility's rates change during the period of time reported in its most recent annual Form 21 ILCC, the uncollectible amount included in the utility's rates during such period of time for purposes of this Section will be a weighted average, based on revenues earned during such period by the utility under each set of rates, of the uncollectible amount included in the utility's rates at the beginning of such period and at the end of such period.  This difference may either be a charge or a credit to customers depending on whether the uncollectible amount is more or less than the uncollectible amount then included in the utility's rates.
(b) The tariff may be established outside the context of a general rate case filing, and shall specify the terms of any applicable audit.  The Commission shall review and by order approve, or approve as modified, the proposed tariff within 180 days after the date on which it is filed.  Charges and credits under the tariff shall be allocated to the appropriate customer class or classes.  In addition, customers who do not purchase their gas supply from a gas utility shall not be charged by the utility for uncollectible  amounts associated with gas supply provided by the utility to the utility's customers.  Upon approval of the tariff, the utility shall, based on the 2008 Form 21 ILCC, apply the appropriate credit or charge based on the full year 2008 amounts for the remainder of the 2010 calendar year. Starting with the 2009 Form 21 ILCC reporting period and each subsequent period, the utility shall apply the appropriate credit or charge over a 12-month period beginning with the June billing period and ending with the May billing period, with the first such billing period beginning June 2010.
(c) The approved tariff shall provide that the utility shall file a petition with the Commission annually, no later than August 31st, seeking initiation of an annual review to reconcile all amounts collected with the actual uncollectible amount in the prior period.   As part of its review, the Commission shall verify that the utility collects no more and no less than its actual uncollectible amount in each applicable Form 21 ILCC reporting period.  The Commission shall review the prudence  and reasonableness of the utility's actions to pursue minimization and collection of uncollectibles which shall include, at a minimum, the 6 enumerated criteria set forth in this Section.  The Commission shall determine any required adjustments and  may include suggestions for prospective changes in current practices.   Nothing in this Section or the implementing tariffs shall affect or alter the gas utility's existing obligation to pursue collection of uncollectibles or the gas utility's right to disconnect service.  A utility that has in effect a tariff authorized by this Section shall pursue minimization of and collection of uncollectibles through the following activities, including but not limited to:
(1)  identifying customers with late payments;
(2)  contacting the customers in an effort to obtain     payment;
(3)  providing delinquent customers with information     about possible options, including payment plans and assistance programs;
(4)  serving disconnection notices;
(5)  implementing disconnections based on the level     of uncollectibles; and
(6)  pursuing collection activities based on the     level of uncollectibles.
(d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require a utility to immediately disconnect service for nonpayment.
(Source: P.A. 96-33, eff. 7-10-09.)