SB0697 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 06781 MJR 16865 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB0697

Introduced 2/6/2009, by Sen. John J. Cullerton

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

220 ILCS 5/13-504

from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-504

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the application of ratemaking provisions of Article IX of the Act.

A BILL FOR

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 13-504 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/13-504) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 13-504)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2009)

Sec. 13-504. Application of ratemaking provisions of Article IX.

(a) Except where the the context clearly renders such provisions inapplicable, the ratemaking provisions of Article IX of this Act relating to public utilities are fully and equally applicable to the rates, charges, tariffs and classifications for the offer or provision of noncompetitive telecommunications services. However, the ratemaking provisions do not apply to any proposed change in rates or charges, any proposed change in any classification or tariff resulting in a change in rates or charges, or the establishment of new services and rates therefor for a noncompetitive local exchange telecommunications service offered or provided by a local exchange telecommunications carrier with no more than 35,000 subscriber access lines. Proposed changes in rates, charges, classifications, or tariffs meeting these criteria shall be permitted upon the filing of the proposed tariff and 30 days notice to the Commission and all potentially affected customers. The proposed changes shall not be subject to suspension. The Commission shall investigate whether any proposed change is just and reasonable only if a telecommunications carrier that is a customer of the local exchange telecommunications carrier or 10% of the potentially affected access line subscribers of the local exchange telecommunications carrier shall file a petition or complaint requesting an investigation of the proposed changes. When the telecommunications carrier or 10% of the potentially affected access line subscribers of a local exchange telecommunications carrier file a complaint, the Commission shall, after notice and hearing, have the power and duty to establish the rates, charges, classifications, or tariffs it finds to be just and reasonable.

(b) Subsection (c) of Section 13-502 and Sections 13-505.1, 13-505.4, 13-505.6, and 13-507 of this Article do not apply to rates or charges or proposed changes in rates or charges for applicable competitive or interexchange services when offered or provided by a local exchange telecommunications carrier with no more than 35,000 subscriber access lines. In addition, Sections 13-514, 13-515, and 13-516 do not apply to telecommunications carriers with no more than 35,000 subscriber access lines. The Commission may require telecommunications carriers with no more than 35,000 subscriber access lines to furnish information that the Commission deems necessary for a determination that rates and charges for any competitive telecommunications service are just and reasonable.

(c) For a local exchange telecommunications carrier with no more than 35,000 access lines, the Commission shall consider and adjust, as appropriate, a local exchange telecommunications carrier's depreciation rates only in ratemaking proceedings.

(d) Article VI and Sections 7-101 and 7-102 of Article VII of this Act pertaining to public utilities, public utility rates and services, and the regulation thereof are not applicable to local exchange telecommunication carriers with no more than 35,000 subscriber access lines.

(Source: P.A. 89-139, eff. 1-1-96; 90-185, eff. 7-23-97.)