ICC Begins Second Notice Period For Retail Supplier Rule Changes

The Illinois Commerce Commission this morning approved the start of a second notice period for certain discrete proposed changes to rules governing retail electric suppliers

As initially proposed by the ICC in October, at the start of the first notice period, an amendment to Part 451 would modify subsections (e) and (f) of Section 451.310 to reflect recent changes to the underlying statute, Section 16-117 of the Public Utilities Act.

Regarding prospective customers, subsection (e) of the rule currently requires ARES applicants to certify that they will include materials comprising a statutorily mandated consumer education program in all mailings to prospective residential and small commercial retail customers and before executing any contracts with those customers. This requirement was based on Section 16-117(g)(2) of the Act.

Regarding existing customers, subsection (f) of the rule currently requires applicants to certify that they will provide the same materials to those customers at no charge upon request. This requirement was based on Section 16-117(g)(3).

Public Act 97-222 modified the consumer education requirements in the statute, amending subsection (g)(2) to direct ARES to provide the Commission's electric education internet address to all residential and small commercial retail customers, and repealing the requirement in Section 16-117(g)(3).

The amendments, as proposed in the first notice order, for subsections (e) and (f) of Section 451.130 of the rule are designed to carry out these legislative changes

The proposed text, as contained in the first notice order, provided that, "The [ARES] applicant shall certify that it shall provide the Commission’s electric education internet address to all residential and small commercial retail customers pursuant to Section 16-117(g)(2) of the Act."

Docket 18-1604