Public Act 0826 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 


 
Public Act 103-0826
 
HB4634 EnrolledLRB103 36124 LNS 66215 b

    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Public Utilities Act is amended by changing
Section 13-506.2 as follows:
 
    (220 ILCS 5/13-506.2)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2026)
    Sec. 13-506.2. Market regulation for competitive retail
services.
    (a) Definitions. As used in this Section:
        (1) "Electing Provider" means a telecommunications
    carrier that is subject to either rate regulation pursuant
    to Section 13-504 or Section 13-505 or alternative
    regulation pursuant to Section 13-506.1 and that elects to
    have the rates, terms, and conditions of its competitive
    retail telecommunications services solely determined and
    regulated pursuant to the terms of this Article.
        (2) "Basic local exchange service" means either a
    stand-alone residence network access line and per-call
    usage or, for any geographic area in which such
    stand-alone service is not offered, a stand-alone flat
    rate residence network access line for which local calls
    are not charged for frequency or duration. Extended Area
    Service shall be included in basic local exchange service.
        (3) "Existing customer" means a residential customer
    who was subscribing to one of the optional packages
    described in subsection (d) of this Section as of the
    effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General
    Assembly. A customer who was subscribing to one of the
    optional packages on that date but stops subscribing
    thereafter shall not be considered an "existing customer"
    as of the date the customer stopped subscribing to the
    optional package, unless the stoppage is temporary and
    caused by the customer changing service address locations,
    or unless the customer resumes subscribing and is eligible
    to receive discounts on monthly telephone service under
    the federal Lifeline program, 47 C.F.R. Part 54, Subpart
    E.
        (4) "New customer" means a residential customer who
    was not subscribing to one of the optional packages
    described in subsection (d) of this Section as of the
    effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General
    Assembly and who is eligible to receive discounts on
    monthly telephone service under the federal Lifeline
    program, 47 C.F.R. Part 54, Subpart E.
    (b) Election for market regulation. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Act, an Electing Provider may elect to
have the rates, terms, and conditions of its competitive
retail telecommunications services solely determined and
regulated pursuant to the terms of this Section by filing
written notice of its election for market regulation with the
Commission. The notice of election shall designate the
geographic area of the Electing Provider's service territory
where the market regulation shall apply, either on a
state-wide basis or in one or more specified Market Service
Areas ("MSA") or Exchange areas. An Electing Provider shall
not make an election for market regulation under this Section
unless it commits in its written notice of election for market
regulation to fulfill the conditions and requirements in this
Section in each geographic area in which market regulation is
elected. Immediately upon filing the notice of election for
market regulation, the Electing Provider shall be subject to
the jurisdiction of the Commission to the extent expressly
provided in this Section.
    (c) Competitive classification. Market regulation shall be
available for competitive retail telecommunications services
as provided in this subsection.
        (1) For geographic areas in which telecommunications
    services provided by the Electing Provider were classified
    as competitive either through legislative action or a
    tariff filing pursuant to Section 13-502 prior to January
    1, 2010, and that are included in the Electing Provider's
    notice of election pursuant to subsection (b) of this
    Section, such services, and all recurring and nonrecurring
    charges associated with, related to or used in connection
    with such services, shall be classified as competitive
    without further Commission review. For services classified
    as competitive pursuant to this subsection, the
    requirements or conditions in any order or decision
    rendered by the Commission pursuant to Section 13-502
    prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
    96th General Assembly, except for the commitments made by
    the Electing Provider in such order or decision concerning
    the optional packages required in subsection (d) of this
    Section and basic local exchange service as defined in
    this Section, shall no longer be in effect and no
    Commission investigation, review, or proceeding under
    Section 13-502 shall be continued, conducted, or
    maintained with respect to such services, charges,
    requirements, or conditions. If an Electing Provider has
    ceased providing optional packages to customers pursuant
    to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, the commitments
    made by the Electing Provider in such order or decision
    concerning the optional packages under subsection (d) of
    this Section shall no longer be in effect and no
    Commission investigation, review, or proceeding under
    Section 13-502 shall be continued, conducted, or
    maintained with respect to such packages.
        (2) For those geographic areas in which residential
    local exchange telecommunications services have not been
    classified as competitive as of the effective date of this
    amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, all
    telecommunications services provided to residential and
    business end users by an Electing Provider in the
    geographic area that is included in its notice of election
    pursuant to subsection (b) shall be classified as
    competitive for purposes of this Article without further
    Commission review.
        (3) If an Electing Provider was previously subject to
    alternative regulation pursuant to Section 13-506.1 of
    this Article, the alternative regulation plan shall
    terminate in whole for all services subject to that plan
    and be of no force or effect, without further Commission
    review or action, when the Electing Provider's residential
    local exchange telecommunications service in each MSA in
    its telecommunications service area in the State has been
    classified as competitive pursuant to either subdivision
    (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this Section.
        (4) The service packages described in Section 13-518
    shall be classified as competitive for purposes of this
    Section if offered by an Electing Provider in a geographic
    area in which local exchange telecommunications service
    has been classified as competitive pursuant to either
    subdivision (c)(1) or (c)(2) of this Section.
        (5) Where a service, or its functional equivalent, or
    a substitute service offered by a carrier that is not an
    Electing Provider or the incumbent local exchange carrier
    for that area is also being offered by an Electing
    Provider for some identifiable class or group of customers
    in an exchange, group of exchanges, or some other clearly
    defined geographical area, the service offered by a
    carrier that is not an Electing Provider or the incumbent
    local exchange carrier for that area shall be classified
    as competitive without further Commission review.
        (6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act,
    retail telecommunications services classified as
    competitive pursuant to Section 13-502 or subdivision
    (c)(5) of this Section shall have their rates, terms, and
    conditions solely determined and regulated pursuant to the
    terms of this Section in the same manner and to the same
    extent as the competitive retail telecommunications
    services of an Electing Provider, except that subsections
    (d), (g), and (j) of this Section shall not apply to a
    carrier that is not an Electing Provider or to the
    competitive telecommunications services of a carrier that
    is not an Electing Provider. The access services of a
    carrier that is not an Electing Provider shall remain
    subject to Section 13-900.2. The requirements in
    subdivision (e)(3) of this Section shall not apply to
    retail telecommunications services classified as
    competitive pursuant to Section 13-502 or subdivision
    (c)(5) of this Section, except that, upon request from the
    Commission, the telecommunications carrier providing
    competitive retail telecommunications services shall
    provide a report showing the number of credits and
    exemptions for the requested time period.
    (d) Consumer choice safe harbor options.
        (1) Subject to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, an
    Electing Provider in each of the MSA or Exchange areas
    classified as competitive pursuant to subdivision (c)(1)
    or (c)(2) of this Section shall offer to all residential
    customers who choose to subscribe the following optional
    packages of services priced at the same rate levels in
    effect on January 1, 2010:
            (A) A basic package, which shall consist of a
        stand-alone residential network access line and 30
        local calls. If the Electing Provider offers a
        stand-alone residential access line and local usage on
        a per call basis, the price for the basic package shall
        be the Electing Provider's applicable price in effect
        on January 1, 2010 for the sum of a residential access
        line and 30 local calls, additional calls over 30
        calls shall be provided at the current per call rate.
        However, this basic package is not required if
        stand-alone residential network access lines or
        per-call local usage are not offered by the Electing
        Provider in the geographic area on January 1, 2010 or
        if the Electing Provider has not increased its
        stand-alone network access line and local usage rates,
        including Extended Area Service rates, since January
        1, 2010.
            (B) An extra package, which shall consist of
        residential basic local exchange network access line
        and unlimited local calls. The price for the extra
        package shall be the Electing Provider's applicable
        price in effect on January 1, 2010 for a residential
        access line with unlimited local calls.
            (C) A plus package, which shall consist of
        residential basic local exchange network access line,
        unlimited local calls, and the customer's choice of 2
        vertical services offered by the Electing Provider.
        The term "vertical services" as used in this
        subsection, includes, but is not limited to, call
        waiting, call forwarding, 3-way calling, caller ID,
        call tracing, automatic callback, repeat dialing, and
        voicemail. The price for the plus package shall be the
        Electing Provider's applicable price in effect on
        January 1, 2010 for the sum of a residential access
        line with unlimited local calls and 2 times the
        average price for the vertical features included in
        the package.
        (2) Subject to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, for
    those geographic areas in which local exchange
    telecommunications services were classified as competitive
    on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th
    General Assembly, an Electing Provider in each such MSA or
    Exchange area shall be subject to the same terms and
    conditions as provided in commitments made by the Electing
    Provider in connection with such previous competitive
    classifications, which shall apply with equal force under
    this Section, except as follows: (i) the limits on price
    increases on the optional packages required by this
    Section shall be extended consistent with subsection
    (d)(1) of this Section and (ii) the price for the extra
    package required by subsection (d)(1)(B) shall be reduced
    by one dollar from the price in effect on January 1, 2010.
    In addition, if an Electing Provider obtains a competitive
    classification pursuant to subsection (c)(1) and (c)(2),
    the price for the optional packages shall be determined in
    such area in compliance with subsection (d)(1), except the
    price for the plus package required by subsection (d)(1)
    (C) shall be the lower of the price for such area or the
    price of the plus package in effect on January 1, 2010 for
    areas classified as competitive pursuant to subsection
    (c)(1).
        (3) To the extent that the requirements in Section
    13-518 applied to a telecommunications carrier prior to
    the effective date of this Section and that
    telecommunications carrier becomes an Electing Provider in
    accordance with the provisions of this Section, the
    requirements in Section 13-518 shall cease to apply to
    that Electing Provider in those geographic areas included
    in the Electing Provider's notice of election pursuant to
    subsection (b) of this Section.
        (4) Subject to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, an
    Electing Provider shall make the optional packages
    required by this subsection and stand-alone residential
    network access lines and local usage, where offered,
    readily available to the public by providing information,
    in a clear manner, to residential customers. Information
    shall be made available on a website, and an Electing
    Provider shall provide notification to its customers every
    6 months, provided that notification may consist of a bill
    page message that provides an objective description of the
    safe harbor options that includes a telephone number and
    website address where the customer may obtain additional
    information about the packages from the Electing Provider.
    The optional packages shall be offered on a monthly basis
    with no term of service requirement. An Electing Provider
    shall allow online electronic ordering of the optional
    packages and stand-alone residential network access lines
    and local usage, where offered, on its website in a manner
    similar to the online electronic ordering of its other
    residential services.
        (5) Subject to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, an
    Electing Provider shall comply with the Commission's
    existing rules, regulations, and notices in Title 83, Part
    735 of the Illinois Administrative Code when offering or
    providing the optional packages required by this
    subsection (d) and stand-alone residential network access
    lines.
        (6) Subject to subdivision (d)(8) of this Section, an
    Electing Provider shall provide to the Commission
    semi-annual subscribership reports as of June 30 and
    December 31 that contain the number of its customers
    subscribing to each of the consumer choice safe harbor
    packages required by subsection (d)(1) of this Section and
    the number of its customers subscribing to retail
    residential basic local exchange service as defined in
    subsection (a)(2) of this Section. The first semi-annual
    reports shall be made on April 1, 2011 for December 31,
    2010, and on September 1, 2011 for June 30, 2011, and
    semi-annually on April 1 and September 1 thereafter. Such
    subscribership information shall be accorded confidential
    and proprietary treatment upon request by the Electing
    Provider.
        (7) The Commission shall have the power, after notice
    and hearing as provided in this Article, upon complaint or
    upon its own motion, to take corrective action if the
    requirements of this Section are not complied with by an
    Electing Provider.
        (8) On and after the effective date of this amendatory
    Act of the 99th General Assembly, an Electing Provider
    shall continue to offer and provide the optional packages
    described in this subsection (d) to existing customers and
    new customers. On and after July 1, 2017, an Electing
    Provider may immediately stop offering the optional
    packages described in this subsection (d) and, upon
    providing two notices to affected customers and to the
    Commission, may stop providing the optional packages
    described in this subsection (d) to all customers who
    subscribe to one of the optional packages. The first
    notice shall be provided at least 90 days before the date
    upon which the Electing Provider intends to stop providing
    the optional packages, and the second notice must be
    provided at least 30 days before that date. The first
    notice shall not be provided prior to July 1, 2017. Each
    notice must identify the date on which the Electing
    Provider intends to stop providing the optional packages,
    at least one alternative service available to the
    customer, and a telephone number by which the customer may
    contact a service representative of the Electing Provider.
    After July 1, 2017 with respect to new customers, and upon
    the expiration of the second notice period with respect to
    customers who were subscribing to one of the optional
    packages, subdivisions (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(4), (d)(5),
    (d)(6), and (d)(7) of this Section shall not apply to the
    Electing Provider. Notwithstanding any other provision of
    this Article, an Electing Provider that has ceased
    providing the optional packages under this subdivision
    (d)(8) is not subject to Section 13-301(1)(c) of this Act.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, and
    subject to subdivision (d)(7) of this Section, the
    Commission's authority over the discontinuance of the
    optional packages described in this subsection (d) by an
    Electing Provider shall be governed solely by this
    subsection (d)(8).
    (e) Service quality and customer credits for basic local
exchange service.
        (1) An Electing Provider shall meet the following
    service quality standards in providing basic local
    exchange service, which for purposes of this subsection
    (e), includes both basic local exchange service and any
    consumer choice safe harbor options that may be required
    by subsection (d) of this Section.
            (A) Install basic local exchange service within 5
        business days after receipt of an order from the
        customer unless the customer requests an installation
        date that is beyond 5 business days after placing the
        order for basic service and to inform the customer of
        the Electing Provider's duty to install service within
        this timeframe. If installation of service is
        requested on or by a date more than 5 business days in
        the future, the Electing Provider shall install
        service by the date requested.
            (B) Restore basic local exchange service for the
        customer within 30 hours after receiving notice that
        the customer is out of service.
            (C) Keep all repair and installation appointments
        for basic local exchange service if a customer
        premises visit requires a customer to be present. The
        appointment window shall be either a specific time or,
        at a maximum, a 4-hour time block during evening,
        weekend, and normal business hours.
            (D) Inform a customer when a repair or
        installation appointment requires the customer to be
        present.
        (2) Customers shall be credited by the Electing
    Provider for violations of basic local exchange service
    quality standards described in subdivision (e)(1) of this
    Section. The credits shall be applied automatically on the
    statement issued to the customer for the next monthly
    billing cycle following the violation or following the
    discovery of the violation. The next monthly billing cycle
    following the violation or the discovery of the violation
    means the billing cycle immediately following the billing
    cycle in process at the time of the violation or discovery
    of the violation, provided the total time between the
    violation or discovery of the violation and the issuance
    of the credit shall not exceed 60 calendar days. The
    Electing Provider is responsible for providing the credits
    and the customer is under no obligation to request such
    credits. The following credits shall apply:
            (A) If an Electing Provider fails to repair an
        out-of-service condition for basic local exchange
        service within 30 hours, the Electing Provider shall
        provide a credit to the customer. If the service
        disruption is for more than 30 hours, but not more than
        48 hours, the credit must be equal to a pro-rata
        portion of the monthly recurring charges for all basic
        local exchange services disrupted. If the service
        disruption is for more than 48 hours, but not more than
        72 hours, the credit must be equal to at least 33% of
        one month's recurring charges for all local services
        disrupted. If the service disruption is for more than
        72 hours, but not more than 96 hours, the credit must
        be equal to at least 67% of one month's recurring
        charges for all basic local exchange services
        disrupted. If the service disruption is for more than
        96 hours, but not more than 120 hours, the credit must
        be equal to one month's recurring charges for all
        basic local exchange services disrupted. For each day
        or portion thereof that the service disruption
        continues beyond the initial 120-hour period, the
        Electing Provider shall also provide an additional
        credit of $20 per calendar day.
            (B) If an Electing Provider fails to install basic
        local exchange service as required under subdivision
        (e)(1) of this Section, the Electing Provider shall
        waive 50% of any installation charges, or in the
        absence of an installation charge or where
        installation is pursuant to the Link Up program, the
        Electing Provider shall provide a credit of $25. If an
        Electing Provider fails to install service within 10
        business days after the service application is placed,
        or fails to install service within 5 business days
        after the customer's requested installation date, if
        the requested date was more than 5 business days after
        the date of the order, the Electing Provider shall
        waive 100% of the installation charge, or in the
        absence of an installation charge or where
        installation is provided pursuant to the Link Up
        program, the Electing Provider shall provide a credit
        of $50. For each day that the failure to install
        service continues beyond the initial 10 business days,
        or beyond 5 business days after the customer's
        requested installation date, if the requested date was
        more than 5 business days after the date of the order,
        the Electing Provider shall also provide an additional
        credit of $20 per calendar day until the basic local
        exchange service is installed.
            (C) If an Electing Provider fails to keep a
        scheduled repair or installation appointment when a
        customer premises visit requires a customer to be
        present as required under subdivision (e)(1) of this
        Section, the Electing Provider shall credit the
        customer $25 per missed appointment. A credit required
        by this subdivision does not apply when the Electing
        Provider provides the customer notice of its inability
        to keep the appointment no later than 8:00 pm of the
        day prior to the scheduled date of the appointment.
            (D) Credits required by this subsection do not
        apply if the violation of a service quality standard:
                (i) occurs as a result of a negligent or
            willful act on the part of the customer;
                (ii) occurs as a result of a malfunction of
            customer-owned telephone equipment or inside
            wiring;
                (iii) occurs as a result of, or is extended
            by, an emergency situation as defined in 83 Ill.
            Adm. Code 732.10;
                (iv) is extended by the Electing Provider's
            inability to gain access to the customer's
            premises due to the customer missing an
            appointment, provided that the violation is not
            further extended by the Electing Provider;
                (v) occurs as a result of a customer request
            to change the scheduled appointment, provided that
            the violation is not further extended by the
            Electing Provider;
                (vi) occurs as a result of an Electing
            Provider's right to refuse service to a customer
            as provided in Commission rules; or
                (vii) occurs as a result of a lack of
            facilities where a customer requests service at a
            geographically remote location, where a customer
            requests service in a geographic area where the
            Electing Provider is not currently offering
            service, or where there are insufficient
            facilities to meet the customer's request for
            service, subject to an Electing Provider's
            obligation for reasonable facilities planning.
        (3) Each Electing Provider shall provide to the
    Commission on a quarterly basis and in a form suitable for
    posting on the Commission's website in conformance with
    the rules adopted by the Commission and in effect on April
    1, 2010, a public report that includes the following data
    for basic local exchange service quality of service:
            (A) With regard to credits due in accordance with
        subdivision (e)(2)(A) as a result of out-of-service
        conditions lasting more than 30 hours:
                (i) the total dollar amount of any customer
            credits paid;
                (ii) the number of credits issued for repairs
            between 30 and 48 hours;
                (iii) the number of credits issued for repairs
            between 49 and 72 hours;
                (iv) the number of credits issued for repairs
            between 73 and 96 hours;
                (v) the number of credits used for repairs
            between 97 and 120 hours;
                (vi) the number of credits issued for repairs
            greater than 120 hours; and
                (vii) the number of exemptions claimed for
            each of the categories identified in subdivision
            (e)(2)(D).
            (B) With regard to credits due in accordance with
        subdivision (e)(2)(B) as a result of failure to
        install basic local exchange service:
                (i) the total dollar amount of any customer
            credits paid;
                (ii) the number of installations after 5
            business days;
                (iii) the number of installations after 10
            business days;
                (iv) the number of installations after 11
            business days; and
                (v) the number of exemptions claimed for each
            of the categories identified in subdivision
            (e)(2)(D).
            (C) With regard to credits due in accordance with
        subdivision (e)(2)(C) as a result of missed
        appointments:
                (i) the total dollar amount of any customer
            credits paid;
                (ii) the number of any customers receiving
            credits; and
                (iii) the number of exemptions claimed for
            each of the categories identified in subdivision
            (e)(2)(D).
            (D) The Electing Provider's annual report required
        by this subsection shall also include, for
        informational reporting, the performance data
        described in subdivisions (e)(2)(A), (e)(2)(B), and
        (e)(2)(C), and trouble reports per 100 access lines
        calculated using the Commission's existing applicable
        rules and regulations for such measures, including the
        requirements for service standards established in this
        Section.
        (4) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the
    service quality rules and customer credits in this
    subsection (e) of this Section and other enforcement
    mechanisms, including fines and penalties authorized by
    Section 13-305, shall apply on a nondiscriminatory basis
    to all Electing Providers. Accordingly, notwithstanding
    any provision of any service quality rules promulgated by
    the Commission, any alternative regulation plan adopted by
    the Commission, or any other order of the Commission, any
    Electing Provider that is subject to any other order of
    the Commission and that violates or fails to comply with
    the service quality standards promulgated pursuant to this
    subsection (e) or any other order of the Commission shall
    not be subject to any fines, penalties, customer credits,
    or enforcement mechanisms other than such fines or
    penalties or customer credits as may be imposed by the
    Commission in accordance with the provisions of this
    subsection (e) and Section 13-305, which are to be
    generally applicable to all Electing Providers. The amount
    of any fines or penalties imposed by the Commission for
    failure to comply with the requirements of this subsection
    (e) shall be an appropriate amount, taking into account,
    at a minimum, the Electing Provider's gross annual
    intrastate revenue; the frequency, duration, and
    recurrence of the violation; and the relative harm caused
    to the affected customers or other users of the network.
    In imposing fines and penalties, the Commission shall take
    into account compensation or credits paid by the Electing
    Provider to its customers pursuant to this subsection (e)
    in compensation for any violation found pursuant to this
    subsection (e), and in any event the fine or penalty shall
    not exceed an amount equal to the maximum amount of a civil
    penalty that may be imposed under Section 13-305.
        (5) An Electing Provider in each of the MSA or
    Exchange areas classified as competitive pursuant to
    subsection (c) of this Section shall fulfill the
    requirements in subdivision (e)(3) of this Section for 3
    years after its notice of election becomes effective.
    After such 3 years, the requirements in subdivision (e)(3)
    of this Section shall not apply to such Electing Provider,
    except that, upon request from the Commission, the
    Electing Provider shall provide a report showing the
    number of credits and exemptions for the requested time
    period.
    (f) Commission jurisdiction over competitive retail
telecommunications services. Except as otherwise expressly
stated in this Section, the Commission shall thereafter have
no jurisdiction or authority over any aspect of competitive
retail telecommunications service of an Electing Provider in
those geographic areas included in the Electing Provider's
notice of election pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section
or of a retail telecommunications service classified as
competitive pursuant to Section 13-502 or subdivision (c)(5)
of this Section, heretofore subject to the jurisdiction of the
Commission, including but not limited to, any requirements of
this Article related to the terms, conditions, rates, quality
of service, availability, classification or any other aspect
of any competitive retail telecommunications services. No
telecommunications carrier shall commit any unfair or
deceptive act or practice in connection with any aspect of the
offering or provision of any competitive retail
telecommunications service. Nothing in this Article shall
limit or affect any provisions in the Consumer Fraud and
Deceptive Business Practices Act with respect to any unfair or
deceptive act or practice by a telecommunications carrier.
    (g) Commission authority over access services upon
election for market regulation.
        (1) As part of its Notice of Election for Market
    Regulation, the Electing Provider shall reduce its
    intrastate switched access rates to rates no higher than
    its interstate switched access rates in 4 installments.
    The first reduction must be made 30 days after submission
    of its complete application for Notice of Election for
    Market Regulation, and the Electing Provider must reduce
    its intrastate switched access rates by an amount equal to
    33% of the difference between its current intrastate
    switched access rates and its current interstate switched
    access rates. The second reduction must be made no later
    than one year after the first reduction, and the Electing
    Provider must reduce its then current intrastate switched
    access rates by an amount equal to 41% of the difference
    between its then current intrastate switched access rates
    and its then current interstate switched access rates. The
    third reduction must be made no later than one year after
    the second reduction, and the Electing Provider must
    reduce its then current intrastate switched access rates
    by an amount equal to 50% of the difference between its
    then current intrastate switched access rate and its then
    current interstate switched access rates. The fourth
    reduction must be made on or before June 30, 2013, and the
    Electing Provider must reduce its intrastate switched
    access rate to mirror its then current interstate switched
    access rates and rate structure. Following the fourth
    reduction, each Electing Provider must continue to set its
    intrastate switched access rates to mirror its interstate
    switched access rates and rate structure. For purposes of
    this subsection, the rate for intrastate switched access
    service means the composite, per-minute rate for that
    service, including all applicable fixed and
    traffic-sensitive charges, including, but not limited to,
    carrier common line charges.
        (2) Nothing in paragraph (1) of this subsection (g)
    prohibits an Electing Provider from electing to offer
    intrastate switched access service at rates lower than its
    interstate switched access rates.
        (3) The Commission shall have no authority to order an
    Electing Provider to set its rates for intrastate switched
    access at a level lower than its interstate switched
    access rates.
        (4) The Commission's authority under this subsection
    (g) shall only apply to Electing Providers under Market
    Regulation. The Commission's authority over switched
    access services for all other carriers is retained under
    Section 13-900.2 of this Act.
    (h) Safety of service equipment and facilities.
        (1) An Electing Provider shall furnish, provide, and
    maintain such service instrumentalities, equipment, and
    facilities as shall promote the safety, health, comfort,
    and convenience of its patrons, employees, and public and
    as shall be in all respects adequate, reliable, and
    efficient without discrimination or delay. Every Electing
    Provider shall provide service and facilities that are in
    all respects environmentally safe.
        (2) The Commission is authorized to conduct an
    investigation of any Electing Provider or part thereof.
    The investigation may examine the reasonableness,
    prudence, or efficiency of any aspect of the Electing
    Provider's operations or functions that may affect the
    adequacy, safety, efficiency, or reliability of
    telecommunications service. The Commission may conduct or
    order an investigation only when it has reasonable grounds
    to believe that the investigation is necessary to assure
    that the Electing Provider is providing adequate,
    efficient, reliable, and safe service. The Commission
    shall, before initiating any such investigation, issue an
    order describing the grounds for the investigation and the
    appropriate scope and nature of the investigation, which
    shall be reasonably related to the grounds relied upon by
    the Commission in its order.
    (i) (Blank).
    (j) Application of Article VII. The provisions of Sections
7-101, 7-102, 7-104, 7-204, 7-205, and 7-206 of this Act are
applicable to an Electing Provider offering or providing
retail telecommunications service, and the Commission's
regulation thereof, except that (1) the approval of contracts
and arrangements with affiliated interests required by
paragraph (3) of Section 7-101 shall not apply to such
telecommunications carriers provided that, except as provided
in item (2), those contracts and arrangements shall be filed
with the Commission; (2) affiliated interest contracts or
arrangements entered into by such telecommunications carriers
where the increased obligation thereunder does not exceed the
lesser of $5,000,000 or 5% of such carrier's prior annual
revenue from noncompetitive services are not required to be
filed with the Commission; and (3) any consent and approval of
the Commission required by Section 7-102 is not required for
the sale, lease, assignment, or transfer by any Electing
Provider of any property that is not necessary or useful in the
performance of its duties to the public.
    (k) Notwithstanding other provisions of this Section, the
Commission retains its existing authority to enforce the
provisions, conditions, and requirements of the following
Sections of this Article: 13-101, 13-103, 13-201, 13-301,
13-301.1, 13-301.2, 13-301.3, 13-303, 13-303.5, 13-304,
13-305, 13-401, 13-401.1, 13-402, 13-403, 13-404, 13-404.1,
13-404.2, 13-405, 13-406, 13-501, 13-501.5, 13-503, 13-505,
13-509, 13-510, 13-512, 13-513, 13-514, 13-515, 13-516,
13-519, 13-702, 13-703, 13-704, 13-705, 13-706, 13-707,
13-709, 13-713, 13-801, 13-802.1, 13-804, 13-900, 13-900.1,
13-900.2, 13-901, 13-902, and 13-903, which are fully and
equally applicable to Electing Providers and to
telecommunications carriers providing retail
telecommunications service classified as competitive pursuant
to Section 13-502 or subdivision (c)(5) of this Section
subject to the provisions of this Section. On the effective
date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, the
following Sections of this Article shall cease to apply to
Electing Providers and to telecommunications carriers
providing retail telecommunications service classified as
competitive pursuant to Section 13-502 or subdivision (c)(5)
of this Section: 13-302, 13-405.1, 13-502, 13-502.5, 13-504,
13-505.2, 13-505.3, 13-505.4, 13-505.5, 13-505.6, 13-506.1,
13-507, 13-507.1, 13-508, 13-508.1, 13-517, 13-518, 13-601,
13-701, and 13-712.
(Source: P.A. 99-6, eff. 6-29-15; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17;
100-840, eff. 8-13-18.)
 
    (220 ILCS 5/13-301.1 rep.)
    Section 10. The Public Utilities Act is amended by
repealing Section 13-301.1.