The House and Senate returned to Springfield this week. Both Chambers were in Session Tuesday through Thursday. This was the second to last week of committee work, with the committee deadline scheduled for next Friday.
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The Senate Energy Committee met on Thursday of this week to consider SB 1908 (Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park). SB 1908 would require the ICC to expand its annual report by including a summary of the adoption of solar photovoltaic systems by residential and small business customers in Illinois. The bill would also require the Commission to include a summary of the barriers that exists preventing more widespread adoption of solar photovoltaic systems. The bill faced no opposition and was approved unanimously.
The Senate Energy Committee also approved SB 1645 (Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford). The bill requires that utilities in Illinois waive, for 60 days, all deposits or credit requirements for a residential customer or applicant who is the victim of domestic violence. The bill faced no opposition and was approved unanimously.
The House Energy Committee met on Wednesday to consider HB 3766 (Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur). The bill prohibits utilities and alternative retail electric supply companies from charging customers more than $50 for an early termination fee. The bill was opposed by the Illinois Competitive Energy Association, but was approved by the committee after the Sponsor agreed to amend the bill and limit it to residential customers. HB 3766 was an initiative of the Citizens Utility Board.
The House Energy Committee also hosted a Subject Matter Hearing Wednesday on Illinois energy policy and regulation. The Wednesday hearing was the first, in what promises to be a series of hearings that will broadly cover energy policy in Illinois. The ICC and the IPA both provided testimony at the hearing.
The General Assembly returns to Springfield next Tuesday with the House and Senate in Session Tuesday through Friday. Both the House and the Senate have indicated that they will host subject matter hearings on Illinois energy policy and regulation next week. After next week, the House and Senate will take a two-week break, but there has been some indication that committees may meet during the legislative break.
- Monk
- Evans
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