Court Opinion

ID: 2685225
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-07-22 20:01:48.307955+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:32:58.834297
License: Public Domain

2014 IL App (1st) 130544

                                                                       SECOND DIVISION
                                                                            July 22, 2014

Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY,                                )   Appeal from Order of
                                                            )   Illinois Commerce
       Petitioner,                                          )   Commission
                                                            )
v.                                                          )
                                                            )
ILLINOIS COMMERCE COMMISSION; AMEREN                        )
ILLINOIS COMPANY; C3, INC.; COLATION OF                     )
ENERGY SUPPLIERS (Interstate Gas Supply, Inc.;              )
MidAmerican Energy Company; and North American              )
Power and Gas, LLC); CONSTELLATION                          )
NEWENERGY, INC.; ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND )
POLICY CENTER; EXELON GENERATION                            )
COMPANY, LLC; FUTUREGEN INDUSTRIAL                          )
ALLIANCE, INC.; ILLINOIS COALITION TO                       )
ADVANCE RENEWABLE ENERGY (ACCIONA Energy )
North America Corporation; EDP Renewables                   )
North America LLC; Iberdrola Renewables, LLC;               )   No. 1-12-0544
Invenergy LLC; and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC);          )
ILLINOIS COMPETITIVE ENERGY ASSOCIATION                     )
(Ameren Energy Marketing Company; Champion                  )
Energy, LLC; Constellation NewEnergy, Inc.; Direct          )
Energy Services, LLC; Exelon Energy Company; Integrys )
Energy Services, Inc.; MC Squared Energy Services, LLC; )
FirstEnergy Solutions Corporation; Nordic Energy            )
Services, LLC; and Reliant); ILLINOIS INDUSTRIAL            )
ENERGY CONSUMERS; ILLINOIS POWER AGENCY; )
NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL;                         )
RETAIL ENERGY SUPPLY ASSOCIATION (Champion )
Energy Services, LLC; ConEdison Solutions; Constellation )
NewEnergy, Inc.; Direct Energy Services, LLC;               )
Energetix, Inc.; Energy Plus Holdings, LLC; Exelon          )
Energy Company; GDF Suez Energy Resources NA, Inc.; )
Green Mountain Energy Company; Hess Corporation;            )
Integrys Energy Services, Inc.; Just Energy; Liberty Power; )
MC Squared Energy Services, LLC; Mint Energy LLC;           )
NextEra Energy Services; Noble American Energy              )
Solutions LLC; PPL EnergyPlus, LLC; Reliant; Stream         )
Energy; TransCanada Power Marketing Ltd.; and               )
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

TriEagle Energy, L.P.); WIND ON THE WIRES,                      )
                                                                )
       Respondents.                                             )

       PRESIDING JUSTICE HARRIS delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
       Justice Pierce concurred in the judgment and opinion.
       Justice Pucinski dissented, with opinion.

                                              OPINION

¶1     Petitioner Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd), Illinois Competitive Energy

Association (ICEA), and Illinois Industrial Energy Consumers (IIEC) appeal the order of the

Illinois Commerce Commission (Commission) that requires ComEd to enter into a sourcing

agreement to procure electricity for the retail customers of alternative retail electric suppliers

(ARES) and recoup the costs through a "competitively neutral" charge.       On appeal, appellants

contend that the Commission violated section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act (220 ILCS

5/16-111.5 (West 2012)) when it ordered ComEd to enter into a sourcing agreement to procure

electricity for customers other than its own "eligible retail customers" and rendered its decision

without substantial support from the record.

¶2                                         JURISDICTION

¶3     The Commission issued its final order on December 19, 2012. ComEd filed a timely

application for rehearing on January 22, 2013, and a joint motion for clarification of the final

order. On January 29, 2013, the Commission denied the application for rehearing but granted

the motion for clarification and, on the same day, issued an amendatory order. On February 22,

2013, ComEd filed a notice of appeal.         Accordingly, this court has jurisdiction pursuant to

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 335(a) governing direct review of administrative orders by the

appellate court.   Ill. S. Ct. R. 335(a) (eff. Feb. 1, 1994).

                                                  -2-
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

¶4                                        BACKGROUND

¶5     Under the Public Utilities Act, article XVI (titled Electric Service Customer Choice and

Rate Relief Law of 1997) (Rate Relief Law) sought to restructure the electricity industry in order

to create competition and introduce customer choice in the supply of electricity. 220 ILCS

5/16-101A(b) (West 2012). Prior to the passage of this article, electric utilities like ComEd

both sold electricity to customers and delivered that electricity through its distribution network.

Article XVI separated the two components so that ARES could now compete with one another to

sell electricity to consumers. 220 ILCS 5/16-115 (West 2012).            Before an ARES can serve

any retail customer, it must first obtain a certificate of service authority from the Commission in

accordance with section 16-115. As part of its certification, subsection (d)(5) requires an ARES

applicant to source some electricity from clean coal facilities, and further provides that "the

required sourcing of electricity generated by clean coal facilities, other than the initial clean coal

facility,1 shall be limited to the amount of electricity that can be procured or sourced at a price at

or below the benchmarks *** in accordance with item (1) of subsection (c) and items (1) and (5)

of subsection (d) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act."                       220 ILCS

5/16-115(d)(5)(iii) (West 2012).        ComEd, however, remains responsible for delivering

electricity to ARES customers over its distribution network. 220 ILCS 5/16-108 (West 2012).

¶6     Article XVI also requires ComEd to continue supplying electricity to residential and

small commercial customers within their service territory who have not chosen an ARES and

who purchase power from the utility "under fixed-price bundled service tariffs." 220 ILCS

1
 The parties agree that an initial clean coal facility has never been established by the legislature
and therefore the statutory provisions dealing with the initial clean coal facility are not relevant in
this appeal.

                                                 -3-
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

5/16-111.5(a) (West 2012). The statute refers to these customers as "eligible retail customers."

Id. To guide ComEd's procurement of electricity, the General Assembly passed the Illinois

Power Agency Act (20 ILCS 3855/1-5(1) (West 2012)), which created the Illinois Power Agency

(IPA). The IPA has the powers and duties enumerated in the Illinois Power Agency Act.                20

ILCS 3855/1-15(a) (West 2012).

¶7        The goal of the Illinois Power Agency Act is to protect "[t]he health, welfare, and

prosperity of all Illinois citizens" in the "provision of adequate, reliable, affordable, efficient, and

environmentally sustainable electric services at the lowest total cost over time." 20 ILCS

3855/1-5(1) (West 2012).          To accomplish this goal, the General Assembly declared it

"necessary to improve the process of procuring electricity to serve Illinois residents, to promote

investment in energy efficiency ***, and to support development of clean coal technologies and

renewable resources."       20 ILCS 3855/1-5(4) (West 2012). The legislature established that by

January 1, 2025, "25% of the electricity used in the State shall be generated by cost-effective

clean coal facilities."      20 ILCS 3855/1-75(d)(1) (West 2012).           It also determined that

"[p]rocuring a diverse electricity supply portfolio will ensure the lowest total cost over time for

adequate, reliable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable electric service."            20 ILCS

3855/1-5(5) (West 2012).

¶8        Pursuant to the Illinois Power Agency Act, the Illinois Power Agency is tasked with

procuring electricity for ComEd and Ameren Illinois Company (Ameren).2                To this end, the

Illinois Power Agency develops annual electricity procurement plans for the utilities and submits

the plans for final approval by the Commission.          220 ILCS 5/16-111.5(b) (West 2012) ("[a]

2
    Ameren is not a party to this consolidated appeal.

                                                  -4-
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

procurement plan shall be prepared for each electric utility consistent with the applicable

requirements of the Illinois Power Agency Act").        Relevant to this appeal, the clean coal

portfolio standard contained in the Illinois Power Agency Act states that the IPA's "procurement

plans shall include electricity generated using clean coal." 20 ILCS 3855/1-75(d) (West 2012).

¶9     On September 28, 2013, the Illinois Power Agency filed a proposed procurement plan

with the Commission. The plan required ComEd and ARES to enter into sourcing agreements

with FutureGen 2.0, a project of the FutureGen Industrial Alliance, Inc. (FutureGen Alliance).

The FutureGen Alliance is a nonprofit corporation "formed to create the world's first coal-fueled,

near-zero emissions electric power plant." The FutureGen 2.0 project consists of the retrofitting

of Ameren's facility in Meredosia, Illinois, to utilize clean-coal technology. The Illinois Power

Agency determined that the utilities and ARES should purchase the facility's output in an amount

consistent with their proportional share, or in a "competitively neutral" manner.

¶ 10   The Commission found that, pursuant to section 1-75(d)(5) of the Illinois Power Agency

Act, it had the authority to compel both the utilities and ARES to enter into sourcing agreements

with retrofitted clean coal facilities approved by the Commission.    However, Commission staff

expressed concern that, given the number of ARES involved (approximately 70), requiring each

ARES to enter into a sourcing agreement with FutureGen 2.0 would present an administrative

burden.3   The staff suggested an alternate approach whereby FutureGen 2.0 would contract only

with ComEd and Ameren, and each utility would purchase FutureGen 2.0 power for its own

eligible retail customers as well as the retail customers of ARES. The utilities would then

3
 The majority of customers in ComEd's service territory receive their electricity from ARES,
not ComEd.

                                               -5-
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

recover the additional costs through a competitively neutral charge assessed to ARES' customers

for their share of the output.

¶ 11    On December 19, 2012, the Commission issued its final order approving the Illinois

Power Agency's procurement plan, but modified the plan to reflect the staff's alternate approach

regarding sourcing agreements with FutureGen 2.0.        It concluded that the staff's proposal was

"quite reasonable in light of the administrative burden that would be placed on FutureGen, the

Commission, Staff and ARES if a separate sourcing agreement were required for each and every

ARES as well as ComEd and Ameren."         Scott, Ill. Commerce Comm'n Order 12-0544 (Dec. 19,

2012). The Commission found that while sections 1-75(d)(5) of the Illinois Power Agency Act

and 16-115 of the Public Utilities Act did not explicitly sanction the alternate approach, "the

intent of the Legislature that all customers equally bear the costs and benefits of the State's clean

coal portfolio standard is consistent with the alternative proposal."      Id.   Upon a motion for

clarification, the Commission entered an amendatory order on January 29, 2013, stating that

under the alternate approach, ComEd would be able to recover its costs incurred under the

FutureGen 2.0 sourcing agreement through a competitively neutral charge that is not a delivery

services charge.    Scott, Ill. Commerce Comm'n Amendatory Order (Jan. 29, 2013).              After

denial of the petitions for rehearing filed on January 29, 2013, ComEd, ICEA, and IIEC initiated

this action for administrative review. This court consolidated the appeals.

¶ 12                                        ANALYSIS

¶ 13    Initially, we address a preliminary issue raised by the Commission.        The Commission

contends that this court should disregard and strike the brief of Coalition of Energy Suppliers

(CES), and to strike portions of ComEd's brief in response to ICEA/IIEC's appellant brief.         It

                                                -6-
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

argues that CES is an appellee, but CES's brief attacks the Commission's order.                   The

Commission contends that if CES seeks reversal or modification of the order, it must file its own

appeal or cross-appeal.     The Commission also argues that this court should strike the portion of

ComEd's response brief raising the dormant commerce clause argument, because ComEd did not

present the issue as a ground for error in its application for rehearing as required, nor did it raise

the issue in its main brief. The striking of a brief, in whole or in part, is a harsh sanction and is

proper only in cases where the alleged violations interfere with or preclude our review.        In re

Detention of Powell, 217 Ill. 2d 123, 132 (2005). This consolidated appeal involves numerous

parties presenting, and responding to, arguments on complex issues regarding the regulation of

the electricity industry.   The fact that this court ordered a specific briefing schedule, pursuant to

an agreement by the parties, underscores the unique nature of this appeal.      The briefs before us

sufficiently set forth the issues, and we find that the alleged violations identified by the

Commission do not preclude meaningful review of the merits of this case. Therefore, in the

exercise of our discretion, we deny the Commission's request to strike and will address the

arguments briefed in this appeal.    Id.

¶ 14    On appeal, ComEd and ICEA/IIEC challenge the Commission's order.                 Courts give

substantial deference to the Commission's decisions for it is an administrative body with

expertise in the area of public utilities, and thus is qualified to interpret highly technical

evidence.   United Cities Gas Co. v. Illinois Commerce Comm'n, 163 Ill. 2d 1, 12 (1994). The

Commission's findings are considered prima facie reasonable and the burden of proof is on the

appellant on all issues raised in the appeal.   220 ILCS 5/10-201(d) (West 2012).       In reviewing

the Commission's orders, a court is limited to determining whether (1) the Commission acted

                                                 -7-
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

within its authority; (2) it made adequate findings to support its decision; (3) substantial evidence

supports its decision; and (4) any constitutional rights were violated.        Commonwealth Edison

Co. v. Illinois Commerce Comm'n, 322 Ill. App. 3d 846, 849 (2001).

¶ 15    ComEd and ICEA/IIEC contend that the Commission's approval of the procurement plan,

which compels ComEd to enter into a sourcing agreement with FutureGen 2.0 on behalf of

ARES, exceeded its statutory authority. The scope of the Commission's authority is a question

of law, which we review de novo.       City of Chicago v. Illinois Commerce Comm'n, 294 Ill. App.
3d 129, 134-35 (1997).

¶ 16    An administrative agency derives its authority to act solely from the statute creating the

agency.   Resource Technology Corp. v. Commonwealth Edison Co., 343 Ill. App. 3d 36, 44

(2003). Therefore, the issue before this court is one involving statutory interpretation.         In

interpreting a statute, a court's primary objective is to ascertain and give effect to legislative

intent as indicated by the plain and ordinary meaning of the statutory language.     Commonwealth

Edison Co. v. Illinois Commerce Comm'n, 328 Ill. App. 3d 937, 942 (2002). However, courts

appreciate an agency's experience and expertise in a given area and therefore will give

substantial deference to its interpretation of an ambiguous statute it administers and enforces.

Illinois Consolidated Telephone Co. v. Illinois Commerce Comm'n, 95 Ill. 2d 142, 152-53

(1983). While not binding on the courts, an agency's interpretations are an informed source for

ascertaining the legislature's intent in enacting the statute.   Id. at 153.

¶ 17    In construing a statute, courts must "ascertain and give effect to the overall intent of the

drafters." Knolls Condominium Ass'n v. Harms, 202 Ill. 2d 450, 458 (2002). The Rate Relief

Law of the Public Utilities Act sought to restructure the electricity industry so as to create

                                                  -8-
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

competition and introduce customer choice in the supply of electricity. 220 ILCS 5/16-101A(b)

(West 2012).    Accordingly, section 16-111.5(a) of the Public Utilities Act sets forth ComEd's

procurement of electricity for its customers.    It states that an electric utility "shall procure

power and energy for its eligible retail customers in accordance with the applicable provisions

set forth in Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act and this Section."          220 ILCS

5/16-111.5(a) (2012).   "Those customers that are excluded from the definition of 'eligible retail

customers' shall not be included in the procurement plan load requirements ***." Id. The

Rate Relief Law further provides that utilities shall procure power pursuant to procurement plans

approved by the Commission. 220 ILCS 5/16-111.5(b) (West 2012).

¶ 18   Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency Act grants the Illinois Power Agency authority

to "develop procurement plans and conduct competitive procurement processes in accordance

with the requirements of Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act for the eligible retail

customers of electric utilities." 20 ILCS 3855/1-75(a) (West 2012).     It also sets forth specific

provisions relating to the procurement plan requirements.      Relevant to this appeal, section

1-75(d)(1) provides that such procurement plans "shall include electricity generated using clean

coal." 20 ILCS 3855/1-75(d)(1) (West 2012). This section is referred to as the clean coal

portfolio standard.

¶ 19   Section 1-75(d)(5) provides that the Illinois Power Agency shall also "consider sourcing

agreements covering electricity generated by power plants" previously owned by Illinois utilities

"that have been or will be converted into clean coal facilities." 20 ILCS 3855/1-75(d)(5) (West

2012). As part of the procurement planning process, owners of these retrofitted facilities "may

propose to the [Illinois Power] Agency sourcing agreements with utilities and alternative retail

                                              -9-
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

electric suppliers required to comply with subsection (d) of this Section and item (5) of

subsection (d) of Section 16-115 of the Public Utilities Act." Id.

¶ 20   The legislature included a corresponding clean coal electricity requirement in the

certification of ARES. Before servicing any customer in Illinois, an ARES "must obtain a

certificate of service authority from the Commission in accordance with this Section." 220

ILCS 5/16-115(a) (West 2012). As part of the certification process, an ARES applicant must

source some of its electricity from clean coal facilities including retrofitted facilities. 220 ILCS

5/16-115(d)(5)(iii) (West 2012). This section provides:

       "(d) 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:

                                               ***

              (5) That the applicant will procure renewable energy resources in accordance with

               Section 16-115D of this Act, and will source electricity from clean coal facilities

               as defined in Section 1-10 of the [Illinois Power Agency Act] in amounts at least

               equal to the percentages set forth in subsections (c) and (d) of Section 1-75 of the

               [Illinois Power Agency Act.]     For purposes of this Section:

                                               ***

                       (iii) the required sourcing of electricity generated by clean coal facilities,

                       other than the initial clean coal facility, shall be limited to the amount of

                       electricity that can be procured or sourced at a price at or below the

                       benchmarks approved by the Commission each year in accordance with

                                               - 10 -
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

                        item (1) of subsection (c) and items (1) and (5) of subsection (d) of the

                        Illinois Power Agency Act[.]"        220 ILCS 5/16-115(d)(5)(iii) (West

                        2012).

¶ 21    Appellants agree that these statutory provisions allow the Illinois Power Agency to

develop a procurement plan that compels ComEd to enter a sourcing agreement with a retrofitted

clean coal facility on behalf of ComEd's eligible retail customers. However, they argue for a

strict reading of the statutory provisions. ComEd and ICEA/IIEC contend that the plain words

of the procurement plan provisions of the Rate Relief Law and the Illinois Power Agency Act

refer only to ComEd's eligible retail customers, which by definition excludes ARES customers.

Therefore, the IPA has no power to propose, and the Commission has no power to approve,

procurement plans requiring ComEd to procure electricity for ARES customers. At most, the

Commission can compel each ARES to enter into a sourcing agreement with FutureGen 2.0, but

it cannot compel ComEd to enter such agreements on behalf of ARES.

¶ 22    We disagree. While the general statutory provisions relating to procurement plans for

utilities refer only to ComEd's eligible retail customers, the specific provisions setting forth

ComEd's required procurement of electricity from retrofitted clean coal sources make no mention

of eligible retail customers. We will not place undue emphasis on the statutory construction

rule that the inclusion of one term necessarily excludes other possible terms.     See Knolls, 202
Ill. 2d at 459.   Instead, courts must construe statutes relating to the same subject with reference

to one another in order to give effect to all the provisions if possible.   Henrich v. Libertyville

High School, 186 Ill. 2d 381, 392 (1998).      If it appears a conflict exists between the statutes,

courts will try to construe the provisions harmoniously.     United Citizens of Chicago & Illinois

                                                - 11 -
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

v. Coalition to Let the People Decide in 1989, 125 Ill. 2d 332, 339 (1988). The intent of the

legislature is most significant.   Id. at 338-39.

¶ 23    The legislature clearly found the use of electricity generated by clean coal facilities

important for both utilities and ARES. Both parties must utilize such electricity in their supply

to customers, and when the electricity comes from retrofitted clean coal facilities, procurement

by utilities and ARES must meet the same benchmarks set forth in section 1-75(d)(5). This

legislative intent is reflected in the clean coal portfolio standard which, by its terms, grants the

Illinois Power Agency and the Commission more authority in the procurement of electricity from

such sources. See Knolls, 202 Ill. 2d at 459 (where both a general statutory provision and a

specific statutory provision address the same subject, "the specific provision controls and should

be applied").

¶ 24    The question is whether these provisions authorize the Illinois Power Agency to compel

ARES to enter into a sourcing agreement with FutureGen 2.0.             ICEA/IIEC argue that the

statutes grant no such authority. The statutory procurement planning process, after all, is aimed

at the utilities and not at ARES. Also, the statutes do not expressly state that ARES can be

compelled to enter into a sourcing agreement with a retrofitted clean coal facility.

¶ 25    However, as part of the certification process ARES must source electricity from clean

coal facilities in amounts at least equal to those set forth in section 1-75(c)(1) and (d)(5) of the

Illinois Power Agency Act.         Subsection (d)(5) provides that pursuant to the procurement

planning process, owners of qualified retrofitted clean coal facilities "may propose to the [Illinois

Power] Agency sourcing agreements with utilities and alternative retail electric suppliers

required to comply with" subsection (d) and section 16-115(d)(5) of the Public Utilities Act.

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Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

(Emphasis added.)        20 ILCS 3855/1-75(d)(5) (West 2012). The statute clearly contemplates,

at the very least, that the Illinois Power Agency can consider such sourcing agreements with

ARES in the procurement planning process.        If the Illinois Power Agency can consider such

agreements, it is reasonable to presume that the Illinois Power Agency can compel ARES to

enter into sourcing agreements with such facilities as part of the procurement planning process if

doing so furthers statutory goals.    The Commission contends that it has such authority where

compelling ARES to enter into sourcing agreements with retrofitted clean coal facilities furthers

the goals of supporting the development of clean coal technologies, and providing electricity at

the lowest total cost.    We acknowledge the Commission's experience and expertise in this area

and give substantial deference to its interpretation of an ambiguous statute it administers and

enforces.   Illinois Consolidated Telephone Co., 95 Ill. 2d at 152-53.

¶ 26   The Commission, however, adopted the alternate approach suggested by its staff. The

alternate approach requires only ComEd and Ameren to enter into sourcing agreements with

FutureGen 2.0 to purchase a pro rata share of the output based on the amount of electricity the

utilities deliver to its distribution customers (including ARES customers).   ComEd and Ameren

then could recover the costs associated with procurement through a competitively neutral charge

assessed to all of their retail distribution customers (including ARES customers).            The

Commission reasoned that this approach was a cost-effective alternative to the burdensome

process of administering and monitoring approximately 70 individual sourcing agreements.

¶ 27   We find that the Commission acted within its statutory authority. Pursuant to the Rate

Relief Law of the Public Utilities Act and the Illinois Power Agency Act, both the utilities and

ARES must source some of their electricity from clean coal or retrofitted facilities.          As

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Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

discussed above, the Commission has the authority to compel both the utilities and ARES to

enter into sourcing agreements with retrofitted clean coal facilities as part of the procurement

planning process.     Viewed within this framework, the Commission's order approving a

procurement plan requiring ComEd to enter a sourcing agreement with FutureGen 2.0 on behalf

of ARES customers, while not explicitly condoned by statute, is within its "inherent authority

and wide latitude to adopt regulations or policies reasonably necessary to perform the agency's

statutory dut[y]." (Internal quotation marks omitted.)           Resource Technology Corp. v.

Commonwealth Edison Co., 343 Ill. App. 3d 36, 44 (2003).

¶ 28    ComEd argues, however, that even if the Commission has authority to approve the

alternate approach, it failed to support its finding with substantial evidence that the approach was

necessary to avoid administrative burdens on the parties. Upon review, courts consider the

Commission's factual findings prima facie true and its orders prima facie reasonable.         United

Cities Gas Co., 163 Ill. 2d at 11. Furthermore, the Commission need not provide findings on

each evidentiary claim; it is sufficient if the findings are specific enough for courts to review the

order. Commonwealth Edison Co. v. Illinois Commerce Comm'n, 2013 IL App (2d) 120334,

¶ 38.   Substantial evidence is evidence that a reasoning mind finds sufficient to support a

finding. Central Illinois Public Service Co. v. Illinois Commerce Comm'n, 268 Ill. App. 3d
471, 479 (1994). Substantial evidence is more than a mere scintilla, but need not rise to the

level of a preponderance of the evidence.        Commonwealth Edison Co., 2013 IL App (2d)
120334, ¶ 38. A party who argues that the Commission's findings were not supported by

substantial evidence must show more than the mere fact that the evidence supports a different

                                               - 14 -
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

conclusion.   Instead, the party must show that the opposite conclusion was clearly evident.

Abbott Laboratories, Inc. v. Illinois Commerce Comm'n, 289 Ill. App. 3d 705, 714 (1997).

¶ 29   The parties agreed to proceed before the Commission without hearings and addressed any

issues by filing verified responses to comments and objections, and by filing replies. The

Commission's staff contended that requiring the Illinois Power Agency to negotiate separate

sourcing agreements with an estimated 70 separate ARES, as well as with ComEd and Ameren,

would be burdensome.     Specifically, the staff determined that the utilities would bear the costs

of providing FutureGen with billing records for each customer served by ARES, ARES and

FutureGen would bear costs associated with entering into and managing 70 additional contracts,

and the staff would need to devote extra time to review all of the annual reports of compliance

with the clean coal portfolio standard by each party and to ensure compliance with the standard

by each ARES.     In support of its position, the staff presented affidavits of the following staff

members:      Diana Hathhorn (accountant in the Commission's financial analysis division),

Jennifer L. Hinman (economic analyst in the Commission's policy division), Rochelle Phipps

(senior financial analyst in the financial analysis division), and Jim Zolnierek (director of the

policy division). The affidavits stated that the witness had personal knowledge of the facts and

matters discussed in the response and objections, and to the best of their knowledge, information,

and belief, the facts and nonlegal opinions expressed are accurate and true.

¶ 30   ComEd, however, complains that the Commission did not support its findings with

substantial evidence because it "did not attempt to quantify or analyze in any systematic way the

burdens" on the parties, nor did it adequately consider the burdens placed on ComEd. ComEd

provides no authority for its position that the Commission must provide quantifiable findings on

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Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

each evidentiary claim.   It is self-evident that the administration of several sourcing agreements

is overall less burdensome than the administration and monitoring of more than 70 agreements.

Affidavits from Commission staff support that conclusion. We find the evidence sufficient to

support the Commission's decision. Furthermore, ComEd does not show that the opposite

conclusion is clearly evident.   It argues only that the Commission made no finding that the

administrative burdens avoided by the alternate approach outweigh the administrative burdens

the approach imposes on ComEd.

¶ 31   Pursuant to the Public Utilities Act, the Commission "should act to promote the

development of an effectively competitive electricity market that operates efficiently and is

equitable to all consumers." 220 ILCS 5/16-101A(d) (West 2012). By adopting the alternate

approach, which presented a more streamlined administration of the clean coal portfolio standard

required of the utilities and ARES, the Commission properly exercised its authority to formulate

reasonable means of achieving legislative objectives.        We find the Commission's order

approving the alternate approach lawful and supported by substantial evidence.

¶ 32    ICEA/IIEC make an additional argument that the Commission has no authority to

impose a competitively neutral charge, that is not a delivery service charge, upon ARES

customers. ComEd disagrees, arguing that if the Commission has authority to compel utilities

to procure electricity from retrofitted clean coal facilities for ARES customers, ComEd should

recover the costs associated with that procurement. As discussed above, the Commission's

authority to compel ComEd to enter into a sourcing agreement with FutureGen 2.0 derives from

the Illinois Power Agency's authority to develop a procurement plan for utilities that comply

with the clean coal portfolio standard of the Illinois Power Agency Act.            See 20 ILCS

                                              - 16 -
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

3855/1-75(d) (West 2012). Subsection (d)(6) states that "[c]osts incurred under this subsection

(d) or pursuant to a contract entered into under this subsection (d) shall be deemed prudently

incurred and reasonable in amount and the electric utility shall be entitled to full cost recovery

pursuant to the tariffs filed with the Commission." 20 ILCS 3855/1-75(d)(6) (West 2012).

Allowing ComEd to recover these costs from ARES customers further promotes the legislature's

intent to allocate the costs of supplying utility services "to those who cause the costs to be

incurred." 220 ILCS 5/1-102(d)(iii) (West 2012). Therefore, according to the plain terms of

the statute, ComEd is entitled to recover from ARES customers its costs of entering into the

sourcing agreement with FutureGen 2.0 on ARES' behalf.

¶ 33   ComEd and ICEA/IIEC also argue that the Commission's order violates the dormant

commerce clause and is therefore unconstitutional.     This negative component of the commerce

clause prohibits states from enacting regulatory measures designed to benefit in-state interests at

the expense of out-of-state competitors.   New Energy Co. of Indiana v. Limbach, 486 U.S. 269,

273-74 (1988).    In other words, "state statutes that clearly discriminate against interstate

commerce are routinely struck down [citations], unless the discrimination is demonstrably

justified by a valid factor unrelated to economic protectionism."   Id. at 274.

¶ 34   Appellants argue that the Commission's order is unconstitutional because it requires

ComEd to enter into a sourcing agreement for clean-coal energy with FutureGen 2.0, an Illinois

facility, effectively excluding from consideration out-of-state clean electric sources.      They

allege that the order also has a discriminatory effect because 70% of the rate cap imposed on

ComEd for clean coal electricity is devoted to FutureGen 2.0's output, "leaving little room for

any [other competitors] to place their clean coal electricity on the Illinois market." The order

                                              - 17 -
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

thus prevents customers from obtaining less costly clean coal electricity procured from

out-of-state sources, in violation of the dormant commerce clause.

¶ 35       Before addressing these constitutional arguments on the merits, however, we first

determine whether ICEA/IIEC and ComEd have standing to challenge the constitutionality of the

statute.      The doctrine of standing "ensure[s] that courts are deciding actual, specific

controversies, and not abstract questions or moot issues."      In re Marriage of Rodriguez, 131 Ill.
2d 273, 279-80 (1989). Generally, courts will not consider a constitutional challenge to a

statutory provision unless the party challenging it is directly affected by the provision.      In re

M.I., 2013 IL 113776 ¶ 32.          In other words, the party challenging the provision "must be

directly or materially affected by the attacked provision and must be in immediate danger of

sustaining a direct injury" from the statute's enforcement.         Id.     Without evidence of facts

showing such injury, a party does not have standing to challenge the statutory provision on the

ground that it would be unconstitutional if applied to third parties in a hypothetical case.   Id.

¶ 36       The Commission argues that ICEA/IIEC and ComEd have not shown "any evidence of

discrimination on any similarly situated clean coal facility."            On the issue of standing to

challenge this provision, however, the relevant question is whether ICEA/IIEC and/or ComEd is

"directly or materially affected by the attacked provision" and "in immediate danger of

sustaining a direct injury" from enforcement of the provision. See In re M.I., 2013 IL 113776,

¶ 32.      In their briefs, both parties acknowledge that the injured parties directly affected by the

provision are out-of-state facilities that would compete against FutureGen 2.0 in the production

of clean-coal electricity.    See also Alliance for Clean Coal v. Miller, 44 F.3d 591, 594 (7th Cir.

1995) (for the purpose of standing to challenge a statute that subsidized the use of Illinois coal

                                                 - 18 -
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

over the use of western coal, the relevant injury is the inability "to compete on an equal footing

in interstate commerce"). Neither ICEA/IIEC or ComEd claim an interest in producing clean

coal electricity.   Furthermore, neither party has shown a direct, material injury that would result

from enforcement of the provision.       In fact, the Commission has not had the opportunity to

enforce the provision since the FutureGen 2.0 facility is not yet operable. Therefore, we find

that ICEA/IIEC and ComEd do not have standing to challenge the constitutionality of the

provision at this time and, accordingly, we decline to address the issue here.

¶ 37    For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the order of the Commission.

¶ 38    Affirmed.

¶ 39    JUSTICE PUCINSKI, dissenting.

¶ 40    With great respect, I dissent from the opinion of the majority.

¶ 41    This is a one-word/one-phrase case. Some one-word cases require the court to determine

what the legislature meant by a word that is undefined. Local Union Nos. 15, 51 & 702 v.

Illinois Commerce Commission, 331 Ill. App. 3d 607 (5th Dist. 2002), is a good example. There

the court, looking at the Public Utilities Act, had to decide whether the word "if" meant: " 'in the

event that' " or " 'on the condition that.' " Id. at 614-15. Either use led to dramatically different

results. More recently, and more famously, the court has been required to decide what the words

" 'reside in' " mean in the Municipal Code and the Election Code. Maksym v. Board of Election

Commissioners Illinois, 242 Ill. 2d 303, 324 (2011). Some other one-word cases call on us to

decide what a missing word means. That is, whether we should insert it, as though it was an

oversight by the legislature to have left it out, or leave the language of the statute as written, and

consider that the legislature had a purpose in leaving the word out when they passed it.

                                                - 19 -
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

¶ 42    Here the statute in question is the Illinois Power Agency Act (20 ILCS 3855/1-75 (d)(5)

(West 2012):

                (5) [Sentence 1] Re-powering and retrofitting coal-fired power plants previously

        owned by Illinois utilities to qualify as clean coal facilities.      [Sentence 2] During the

        2009 procurement planning process and thereafter, the Agency and the Commission shall

        consider sourcing agreements covering electricity generated by power plants that were

        previously owned by Illinois utilities and that have been or will be converted into clean

        coal facilities, as defined by Section 1-10 of this Act. [Sentence 3] Pursuant to such

        procurement planning process, the owners of such facilities may propose to the Agency

        sourcing agreements with utilities and alternative retail electric suppliers required to

        comply with subsection (d) of this Section and item (5) of subsection (d) of Section 16-115

        of the Public Utilities Act, covering electricity generated by such facilities. [Sentence 4]

        In the case of sourcing agreements that are power purchase agreements, the contract price

        for electricity sales shall be established on a cost of service basis. [Sentence 5] In the

        case of sourcing agreements that are contract, for differences, the contract price from

        which the reference price is subtracted shall be established on a cost of service basis.

        [Sentence 6] The Agency and the Commission may approve any such utility sourcing

        agreements that do not exceed cost-based benchmarks developed by the procurement

        administrator, in consultation with the Commission staff, Agency staff and the

        procurement monitor, subject to Commission review and approval." (Emphases added.)

¶ 43    Under the plain language of sentence 2 above it is clear that FutureGen 2.0 qualifies under

this section since it is a retrofitted coal fired power plant previously owned by an Illinois utility, in

                                                 - 20 -
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

this case Ameren. And, with all the federal money (about $1.5 billion) coming into the state to

develop FutureGen 2.0's new technology, along with the dedicated property, equipment and plant

in Meriposa, Illinois, and the pipeline and storage/sequestration facility for the carbon dioxide at

the Mt. Sinai formation in Morgan County, it is clear that the state's policy makers have decided

that FutureGen 2.0 qualifies – at least in theory – as a clean coal facility as defined by section 1-10

of the Illinois Power Agency Act. Of course it is not up and running yet and will not be until

2017, and then the energy it produces will be more expensive than other clean coal facility energy,

because our legislature has also decided that "all coal used by a clean coal facility shall have high

volatile bituminous rank and greater than 1.7 pounds of sulfur per million btu content," a

restriction which favors Illinois coal. 20 ILCS 3855/1-10 (West 2012). Further, the record and

statements at oral argument make it clear that FutureGen 2.0 cannot even continue its development

without the sourcing agreements at issue in place because without a guaranteed revenue stream –

these sourcing agreements – it cannot attract future investment in the project.

¶ 44   Sentence 3 mandates the Illinois Power Agency and the Commission "shall" consider

sourcing agreements from such plants, and since FutureGen 2.0 is the only one like it, it is pretty

clear that the Illinois Power Agency and the Commission shall at least give sourcing agreements

with FutureGen 2.0 some consideration, but note the statute does not require that the sourcing

agreement be accepted, just that it shall be considered, the kind of waffling that leaves all the

discretion to the Illinois Power Agency and the Commission, and neatly takes the legislature off

the hook in case someone complains that just maybe this is a restraint of trade issue.

¶ 45   Sentence 4 gives the owners of the facilities, in this case FutureGen 2.0, the opportunity to

propose sourcing agreements to the Illinois Power Agency for both utilities and ARES, but only

                                                - 21 -
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

the opportunity to propose the agreements, not any guarantee that the sourcing agreements must be

accepted.

¶ 46    The rub comes at sentence 6 which says the "Agency and the Commission may approve

such utility sourcing agreements" but totally ignores whether the Illinois Power Agency and the

Commission may also approve such sourcing agreements for ARES. (Emphasis added.) 20 ILCS

3855/1-75(d)(5) (West 2012).

¶ 47    The FutureGen 2.0 and Commission briefs want us to insert the phrase: "and alternative

retail electric suppliers" to sentence 6, so that it would read: the "Agency and the Commission

may approve such utility and alternative retail electric suppliers sourcing agreements."

(Emphasis added.)

¶ 48    Clearly the Illinois Power Agency staff thinks so too, or they wouldn't have proposed the

FutureGen 2.0 sourcing agreements for ARES, but adding those words has a complicated result in

that it frustrates the reason the legislature passed another statute, the Rate Relief Law, which at

section 16-101A(d) calls on the Commission to "act to promote the development of an effectively

competitive electricity market that operates efficiently and is equitable to all consumers thereby

committing this state to a system that is both equitable and competitive. "                 220 ILCS

5/16-101A(d) (West 2012).

¶ 49    While it is true that the plan approved by the Commission is equitable to all customers in

the sense that every customer of every electricity supplier in Illinois will share in the higher cost of

the FutureGen 2.0 electricity, so the burden is spread around, that is because only clean coal

facilities that burn the kind of coal we have in abundance in Illinois qualify as clean coal suppliers

to either utilities or ARES. Coincidentally, FutureGen 2.0 is the only one in existence anywhere

                                                 - 22 -
Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063, 1-13-1120
(Consolidated)

identified in the record that burns that kind of coal.

¶ 50   However, it is also true that the FutureGen 2.0 energy will be more expensive than other

clean coal facility electricity that is generated without the particular problems associated with

Illinois coal thus frustrating the competitive purpose of the Customer Choice Act.

¶ 51   All of this is further complicated by the approval by the Commission of the Illinois Power

Agency's staff recommendation to require ComEd and Ameren (not a party to this appeal) to

actually do the sourcing agreements on behalf of all ARES. ComEd reasonably wonders under

what authority the Commission requires it, a regulated utility, to enter into contracts on behalf of

private sector ARES, even though the Commission has neatly provided a way for ComEd to

recoup its costs of doing so.

¶ 52   The Commission says it can do this because it has the authority to do those things

necessary to implement its mandates. However, the Commission has not provided any statute to

this court demonstrating that there is a mandate, that it has the authority, or that the state has a

public policy to guarantee 100% of FutureGen 2.0's output for the next 20 years in noncompetitive

contracts, let alone by ComEd for the benefit of ARES customers.

¶ 53   I would reverse the order of the Commission and let the legislature work to make sure that

all the interrelated, overlapping and conflicting laws and public policies are reconciled.

¶ 54   As an alternative, and as suggested by the Illinois Power Agency, the Commission should

at the very least engage in its rulemaking process to fully develop the set of rules that would permit

this level of regulatory agency sleight-of-hand.

                                                - 23 -
            REPORTER OF DECISIONS - ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT

COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY,

                                             Petitioner,

       v.

ILLINOIS COMMERCE COMMISSION; AMEREN ILLINOIS COMPANY;
C3, INC.; COLATION OF ENERGY SUPPLIERS (Interstate Gas Supply, Inc.;
MidAmerican Energy Company; And North American Power and Gas, LLC);
CONSTELLATION NEWENERGY, INC.; ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND
POLICY CENTER; EXELON GENERATION COMPANY, LLC;
FUTUREGEN INDUSTRIAL ALLIANCE, INC.; ILLINOIS COALITION TO
ADVANCE RENEWABLE ENERGY (ACCIONA Energy North America
Corporation; EDP Renewables North America LLC; Iberdrola Renewables, LLC;
Invenergy LLC; and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC); ILLINOIS COMPETITIVE
ENERGY ASSOCIATION (Ameren Energy Marketing Company; Champion
Energy, LLC; Constellation NewEnergy, Inc.; Direct Energy Services, LLC;
Exelon Energy Company; Integrys Energy Services, Inc.; MC Squared Energy
Services, LLC; FirstEnergy Solutions Corporation; Nordic Energy Services, LLC;
and Reliant); ILLINOIS INDUSTRIAL ENERGY CONSUMERS; ILLINOIS
POWER AGENCY; NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL;
RETAIL ENERGY SUPPLY ASSOCIATION (Champion Energy Services, LLC;
ConEdison Solutions; Constellation NewEnergy, Inc.; Direct Energy Services, LLC;
Energetix, Inc.; Energy Plus Holdings, LLC; Exelon Energy Company; GDF Suez
Energy Resources NA, Inc.; Green Mountain Energy Company; Hess Corporation;
Integrys Energy Services, Inc.; Just Energy; Liberty Power; MC Squared Energy
Services, LLC; Mint Energy LLC; NextEra Energy Services; Noble American
Energy Solutions LLC; PPL EnergyPlus, LLC; Reliant; Stream Energy; TransCanada
Power Marketing Ltd.; and TriEagle Energy, L.P.); WIND ON THE WIRES,

                                              Respondents.

             Nos. 1-13-0544, 1-13-0632, 1-13-0653, 1-13-1063 & 1-13-1120 (Consolidated)

                                    Appellate Court of Illinois
                                  First District, Second Division

                                           July 22, 2014

PRESIDING JUSTICE HARRIS delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Justice Pierce concurred in the judgment and opinion.
Justice Pucinski dissented, with opinion.

                                   Appeal from the Order of the
                                 Illinois Commerce Commission.
Rooney Rippie & Ratnaswamy LLP, 350 West Hubbard Street, Suite 600, Chicago, IL
60654, (E. Glenn Rippie, of counsel), for APPELLANT.
Jenner & Block LLP, 1099 New York Avenue NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC
20001, (David W. Debruin and Matthew E. Price, of counsel), for APPELLANT.
Jenner & Block LLP, 353 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654,
(Barry Levenstam and Irina Dmitrieva, of counsel), for APPELLANT.

Shefsky & Froelich Ltd., 111 East Wacker Drive, Suite 2800, Chicago, IL 60601,
(John F. Kennedy, Jonathan B. Amarillo, Barton J. O'Brien, Rachel L. Schaller and
Cary E. Donham, of counsel), for APPELLEE.
Lueders Robertson and Konzen LLC, P.O. Box 735, 1939 Delmar Avenue, Granite City,
IL 62040, (Eric Robertson, Ryan Robertson and Drew Rankin, of counsel), for APPELLEE.
Illinois Commerce Commission, Office of General Counsel, 160 North LaSalle Street,
Suite C-800, Chicago, IL 60601, (John P. Kelliher, James E. Weging and Thomas R. Stanton,
of counsel), for APPELLEE.
Quarles & Brady LLP, 300 North LaSalle Street, Suite 4000, Chicago, IL 60654,
(Christopher J. Townsend, Christopher N. Skey and Adam T. Margolin, of counsel),
for APPELLEE.
Law Offices of Gerald T. Fox, Two Prudential Plaza, 180 North Stetson Street, Suite 3500,
Chicago, IL 60601, (Gerald T. Fox, of counsel), for APPELLEE.
Husch Blackwell LLP, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2200, Chicago, IL 60606,
(Douglas F. McMeyer, of counsel), for APPELLEE.
Husch Blackwell LLP, 190 Carondelet Plaza, Suite 600, St. Louis, MO 63105,
(Kyle C. Barry and JoAnn T. Sandifer, of counsel), for APPELLEE.

Office of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Civil Appeals Division, 100 West Randolph
Street, 12th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601 (Clifford W. Berlow, of counsel), for APPELLEE.
Citizens Utility Board, 309 West Washington Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606
(Julie Soderman and Orijit Ghoshal, of counsel), for APPELLEE.

                                               2