Article XIX. Alternative Gas Supplier Law  



 
    (220 ILCS 5/Art. XIX heading)
ARTICLE XIX. ALTERNATIVE GAS SUPPLIER LAW

    (220 ILCS 5/19-100)
    Sec. 19-100. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Alternative Gas Supplier Law.
(Source: P.A. 92-529, eff. 2-8-02.)

    (220 ILCS 5/19-105)
    Sec. 19-105. Definitions. For the purposes of this Article, the following terms shall be defined as set forth in this Section.
    "Alternative gas supplier" means every person, cooperative, corporation, municipal corporation, company, association, joint stock company or association, firm, partnership, individual, or other entity, their lessees, trustees, or receivers appointed by any court whatsoever, that offers gas for sale, lease, or in exchange for other value received to one or more customers, or that engages in the furnishing of gas to one or more customers, and shall include affiliated interests of a gas utility, resellers, aggregators and marketers, but shall not include (i) gas utilities (or any agent of the gas utility to the extent the gas utility provides tariffed services to customers through an agent); (ii) public utilities that are owned and operated by any political subdivision, public institution of higher education or municipal corporation of this State, or public utilities that are owned by a political subdivision, public institution of higher education, or municipal corporation and operated by any of its lessees or operating agents; (iii) natural gas cooperatives that are not-for-profit corporations operated for the purpose of administering, on a cooperative basis, the furnishing of natural gas for the benefit of their members who are consumers of natural gas; and (iv) the ownership or operation of a facility that sells compressed natural gas at retail to the public for use only as a motor vehicle fuel and the selling of compressed natural gas at retail to the public for use only as a motor vehicle fuel.
    "Gas utility" means a public utility, as defined in Section 3-105 of this Act, that has a franchise, license, permit, or right to furnish or sell gas or transportation services to customers within a service area.
    "Residential customer" means a customer who receives gas utility service for household purposes distributed to a dwelling of 2 or fewer units which is billed under a residential rate or gas utility service for household purposes distributed to a dwelling unit or units which is billed under a residential rate and is registered by a separate meter for each dwelling unit.
    "Sales agent" means any employee, agent, independent contractor, consultant, or other person that is engaged by the alternative gas supplier to solicit customers to purchase, enroll in, or contract for alternative gas service on behalf of an alternative gas supplier.
    "Service area" means (i) the geographic area within which a gas utility was lawfully entitled to provide gas to customers as of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly and includes (ii) the location of any customer to which the gas utility was lawfully providing gas utility services on such effective date.
    "Single billing" means the combined billing of the services provided by both a natural gas utility and an alternative gas supplier to any customer who has enrolled in a customer choice program.
    "Small commercial customer" means a nonresidential retail customer of a natural gas utility who consumed 5,000 or fewer therms of natural gas during the previous year; provided that any alternative gas supplier may remove the customer from designation as a "small commercial customer" if the customer consumes more than 5,000 therms of natural gas in any calendar year after becoming a customer of the alternative gas supplier. In determining whether a customer has consumed 5,000 or fewer therms of natural gas during the previous year, usage by the same commercial customer shall be aggregated to include usage at the same premises even if measured by more than one meter, and to include usage at multiple premises. Nothing in this Section creates an affirmative obligation on a gas utility to monitor or inform customers or alternative gas suppliers as to a customer's status as a small commercial customer as that term is defined herein. Nothing in this Section relieves a gas utility from any obligation to provide information upon request to a customer, alternative gas supplier, the Commission, or others necessary to determine whether a customer meets the classification of small commercial customers as that term is defined herein.
    "Tariffed service" means a service provided to customers by a gas utility as defined by its rates on file with the Commission pursuant to the provisions of Article IX of this Act.
    "Transportation services" means those services provided by the gas utility that are necessary in order for the storage, transmission and distribution systems to function so that customers located in the gas utility's service area can receive gas from suppliers other than the gas utility and shall include, without limitation, standard metering and billing services.
(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09; 96-435, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)

    (220 ILCS 5/19-110)
    Sec. 19-110. Certification of alternative gas suppliers.
    (a) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve residential or small commercial customers and only to the extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential or small commercial customers.
    (b) An alternative gas supplier must obtain a certificate of service authority from the Commission in accordance with this Section before serving any customer or other user located in this State. An alternative gas supplier may request, and the Commission may grant, a certificate of service authority for the entire State or for a specified geographic area of the State. A person, corporation, or other entity acting as an alternative gas supplier on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly shall have 180 days from the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly to comply with the requirements of this Section in order to continue to operate as an alternative gas supplier.
    (c) An alternative gas supplier seeking a certificate of service authority shall file with the Commission a verified application containing information showing that the applicant meets the requirements of this Section. The alternative gas supplier shall publish notice of its application in the official State newspaper within 10 days following the date of its filing. No later than 45 days after the application is properly filed with the Commission, and such notice is published, the Commission shall issue its order granting or denying the application.
    (d) An application for a certificate of service authority shall identify the area or areas in which the applicant intends to offer service and the types of services it intends to offer. Applicants that seek to serve residential or small commercial customers within a geographic area that is smaller than a gas utility's service area shall submit evidence demonstrating that the designation of this smaller area does not violate Section 19-115. An applicant may state in its application for certification any limitations that will be imposed on the number of customers or maximum load to be served. The applicant shall submit as part of its application a statement indicating:
        (1) Whether the applicant has been denied a natural

    
gas supplier license in any state in the United States.
        (2) Whether the applicant has had a natural gas
    
supplier license suspended or revoked by any state in the United States.
        (3) Where, if any, other natural gas supplier license
    
applications are pending in the United States.
        (4) Whether the applicant is the subject of any
    
lawsuits filed in a court of law or formal complaints filed with a regulatory agency alleging fraud, deception or unfair marketing practices, or other similar allegations, identifying the name, case number, and jurisdiction of each such lawsuit or complaint.
    For the purposes of this subsection (d), formal complaints include only those complaints that seek a binding determination from a state or federal regulatory body.
    (e) 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.
        (1) That the applicant possesses sufficient
    
technical, financial, and managerial resources and abilities to provide the service for which it seeks a certificate of service authority. In determining the level of technical, financial, and managerial resources and abilities which the applicant must demonstrate, the Commission shall consider:
            (A) the characteristics, including the size and
        
financial sophistication of the customers that the applicant seeks to serve;
            (B) whether the applicant seeks to provide gas
        
using property, plant, and equipment that it owns, controls, or operates; and
            (C) the applicant's commitment of resources to
        
the management of sales and marketing staff, through affirmative managerial policies, independent audits, technology, hands-on field monitoring and training, and, in the case of applicants who will have sales personnel or sales agents within the State of Illinois, the applicant's managerial presence within the State.
        (2) That the applicant will comply with all
    
applicable federal, State, regional, and industry rules, policies, practices, and procedures for the use, operation, and maintenance of the safety, integrity, and reliability of the gas transmission system.
        (3) That the applicant will comply with such
    
informational or reporting requirements as the Commission may by rule establish.
        (4) That the area to be served by the applicant and
    
any limitations it proposes on the number of customers or maximum amount of load to be served meet the provisions of Section 19-115, provided, that if the applicant seeks to serve an area smaller than the service area of a gas utility or proposes other limitations on the number of customers or maximum amount of load to be served, the Commission can extend the time for considering such a certificate request by up to 90 days, and can schedule hearings on such a request.
        (5) That the applicant and the applicant's sales
    
agents will comply with all other applicable laws and rules.
    (f) The Commission can extend the time for considering such a certificate request by up to 90 days, and can schedule hearings on such a request if:
        (1) a party to the application proceeding has
    
formally requested that the Commission hold hearings in a pleading that alleges that one or more of the allegations or certifications in the application is false or misleading; or
        (2) other facts or circumstances exist that will
    
necessitate additional time or evidence in order to determine whether a certificate should be issued.
    (g) The Commission shall have the authority to promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of this Section. Within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, the Commission shall adopt an emergency rule or rules applicable to the certification of those gas suppliers that seek to serve residential customers. Within 180 days of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, the Commission shall adopt rules that specify criteria which, if met by any such alternative gas supplier, shall constitute the demonstration of technical, financial, and managerial resources and abilities to provide service required by item (1) of subsection (e) of this Section, such as a requirement to post a bond or letter of credit, from a responsible surety or financial institution, of sufficient size for the nature and scope of the services to be provided, demonstration of adequate insurance for the scope and nature of the services to be provided, and experience in providing similar services in other jurisdictions.
    (h) The Commission may deny with prejudice any application that repeatedly fails to include the attachments, documentation, and affidavits required by the application form or that repeatedly fails to provide any other information required by this Section.
(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09.)

    (220 ILCS 5/19-111)
    Sec. 19-111. Material changes in business.
    (a) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve residential or small commercial customers and only to the extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential or small commercial customers.
    (b) Alternative gas suppliers shall file with the Commission a notification of any material change to the information supplied in a certification application within 30 days of such material change.
        (1) An alternative gas supplier shall file such

    
notice under the docket number assigned to the alternative gas supplier's certification application, whichever is the most recent. The supplier shall also serve such notice upon the gas utility company serving customers in the service area where the alternative gas supplier is certified to provide service.
        (2) After notice and an opportunity for a hearing,
    
the Commission may (i) suspend, rescind, or conditionally rescind an alternative gas supplier's certificate if it determines that the material change will adversely affect the alternative gas supplier's fitness or ability to provide the services for which it is certified or (ii) require the alternative gas supplier to provide reasonable financial assurances sufficient to protect their customers and gas utilities from default.
    (c) Material changes to the information contained in or supplied with a certification application include, but are not limited to, the following:
        (1) Any significant change in ownership (an ownership
    
interest of 5% or more) of the applicant or alternative gas supplier.
        (2) An affiliation with any gas utility or change of
    
an affiliation with a gas utility in this State.
        (3) Retirement or other long-term changes to the
    
operational status of supply resources relied upon by the alternative gas supplier to provide alternative gas service. Changes in the volume of supply from any given supply resource replaced by a comparable supply resource do not need to be reported.
        (4) Revocation, restriction, or termination of any
    
interconnection or service agreement with a pipeline company or natural gas company relied upon by an alternative gas supplier to provide alternative retail natural gas service, but only if such revocation, restriction, or termination creates a situation in which the alternative gas supplier does not meet the tariffed capacity requirements of the relevant Illinois natural gas utility or utilities.
        (5) If the alternative gas supplier has a long-term
    
bond rating from Standard & Poor's or its successor, or Fitch Ratings or its successor, or Moody's Investor Service or its successor, and the alternative gas supplier's long-term bond rating falls below BBB as reported by Standard & Poor's or its successor or Fitch Ratings or its successor or below Baa3 as reported by Moody's Investors Service or its successor.
        (6) The applicant or alternative gas supplier has or
    
intends to file for reorganization, protection from creditors, or any other form of bankruptcy with any court.
        (7) Any judgment, finding, or ruling by a court or
    
regulatory agency that could affect an alternative gas supplier's fitness or ability to provide service in this State.
        (8) Any change in the alternative gas supplier's name
    
or logo, including without limitation any change in the alternative gas supplier's legal name, fictitious names, or assumed business names, except for logos and names the alternative gas supplier provided as part of its original certification process or that the alternative gas supplier previously provided to the Commission under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09.)

    (220 ILCS 5/19-112)
    Sec. 19-112. Managerial resources.
    (a) An alternative gas supplier must maintain sufficient managerial resources and abilities to provide the service for which it has a certificate of service authority. In determining the level of managerial resources and abilities that the alternative gas supplier must demonstrate, the Commission shall consider, in addition to the requirements in Section 19-110(e)(1), the following:
        (1) complaints to the Commission by consumers

    
regarding the alternative gas supplier, including those that reflect on the alternative gas supplier's ability to properly manage solicitation and authorization; and
        (2) the alternative gas supplier's involvement in the
    
Commission's consumer complaint process, including the resources the alternative gas supplier dedicates to the process and the alternative gas supplier's ability to manage the issues raised by complaints, and the resolutions of the complaints.
    (b) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve residential or small commercial customers and only to the extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential or small commercial customers, unless otherwise noted.
(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)

    (220 ILCS 5/19-115)
    Sec. 19-115. Obligations of alternative gas suppliers.
    (a) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve residential or small commercial customers and only to the extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential or small commercial customers.
    (b) An alternative gas supplier shall:
        (1) comply with the requirements imposed on public

    
utilities by Sections 8-201 through 8-207, 8-301, 8-505 and 8-507 of this Act, to the extent that these Sections have application to the services being offered by the alternative gas supplier;
        (2) continue to comply with the requirements for
    
certification stated in Section 19-110;
        (3) comply with complaint procedures established by
    
the Commission;
        (4) except as provided in subsection (h) of this
    
Section, file with the Chief Clerk of the Commission, within 20 business days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, a copy of bill formats, standard customer contract and customer complaint and resolution procedures, and the name and telephone number of the company representative whom Commission employees may contact to resolve customer complaints and other matters. In the case of a gas supplier that engages in door-to-door solicitation, the company shall file with the Commission the consumer information disclosure required by item (3) of subsection (c) of Section 2DDD of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and shall file updated information within 10 business days after changes in any of the documents or information required to be filed by this item (4); and
        (5) maintain a customer call center where customers
    
can reach a representative and receive current information. At least once every 6 months, each alternative gas supplier shall provide written information to customers explaining how to contact the call center. The average answer time for calls placed to the call center shall not exceed 60 seconds where a representative or automated system is ready to render assistance and/or accept information to process calls. The abandon rate for calls placed to the call center shall not exceed 10%. Each alternative gas supplier shall maintain records of the call center's telephone answer time performance and abandon call rate. These records shall be kept for a minimum of 2 years and shall be made available to Commission personnel upon request. In the event that answer times and/or abandon rates exceed the limits established above, the reporting alternative gas supplier may provide the Commission or its personnel with explanatory details. At a minimum, these records shall contain the following information in monthly increments:
            (A) total number of calls received;
            (B) number of calls answered;
            (C) average answer time;
            (D) number of abandoned calls; and
            (E) abandon call rate.
    Alternative gas suppliers that do not have electronic answering capability that meets these requirements shall notify the Manager of the Commission's Consumer Services Division or its successor within 30 days following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly and work with Staff to develop individualized reporting requirements as to the call volume and responsiveness of the call center.
    On or before March 1 of every year, each entity shall file a report with the Chief Clerk of the Commission for the preceding calendar year on its answer time and abandon call rate for its call center. A copy of the report shall be sent to the Manager of the Consumer Services Division or its successor.
    (c) An alternative gas supplier shall not submit or execute a change in a customer's selection of a natural gas provider unless and until (i) the alternative gas supplier first discloses all material terms and conditions of the offer to the customer; (ii) the alternative gas supplier has obtained the customer's express agreement to accept the offer after the disclosure of all material terms and conditions of the offer; and (iii) the alternative gas supplier has confirmed the request for a change in accordance with one of the following procedures:
        (1) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the
    
customer's written or electronically signed authorization in a form that meets the following requirements:
            (A) An alternative gas supplier shall obtain any
        
necessary written or electronically signed authorization from a customer for a change in natural gas service by using a letter of agency as specified in this Section. Any letter of agency that does not conform with this Section is invalid.
            (B) The letter of agency shall be a separate
        
document (or an easily separable document containing only the authorization language described in item (E) of this paragraph (1)) whose sole purpose is to authorize a natural gas provider change. The letter of agency must be signed and dated by the customer requesting the natural gas provider change.
            (C) The letter of agency shall not be combined
        
with inducements of any kind on the same document.
            (D) Notwithstanding items (A) and (B) of this
        
paragraph (1), the letter of agency may be combined with checks that contain only the required letter of agency language prescribed in item (E) of this paragraph (1) and the necessary information to make the check a negotiable instrument. The letter of agency check shall not contain any promotional language or material. The letter of agency check shall contain in easily readable, bold face type on the face of the check a notice that the consumer is authorizing a natural gas provider change by signing the check. The letter of agency language also shall be placed near the signature line on the back of the check.
            (E) At a minimum, the letter of agency must be
        
printed with a print of sufficient size to be clearly legible and must contain clear and unambiguous language that confirms:
                (i) the customer's billing name and address;
                (ii) the decision to change the natural gas
            
provider from the current provider to the prospective alternative gas supplier;
                (iii) the terms, conditions, and nature of
            
the service to be provided to the customer, including, but not limited to, the rates for the service contracted for by the customer; and
                (iv) that the customer understands that any
            
natural gas provider selection the customer chooses may involve a charge to the customer for changing the customer's natural gas provider.
            (F) Letters of agency shall not suggest or
        
require that a customer take some action in order to retain the customer's current natural gas provider.
            (G) If any portion of a letter of agency is
        
translated into another language, then all portions of the letter of agency must be translated into that language.
        (2) An appropriately qualified independent third
    
party has obtained, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph (2), the customer's oral authorization to change natural gas providers that confirms and includes appropriate verification data. The independent third party must (i) not be owned, managed, controlled, or directed by the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's marketing agent; (ii) not have any financial incentive to confirm provider change requests for the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's marketing agent; and (iii) operate in a location physically separate from the alternative gas supplier or the alternative gas supplier's marketing agent. Automated third-party verification systems and 3-way conference calls may be used for verification purposes so long as the other requirements of this paragraph (2) are satisfied. An alternative gas supplier or alternative gas supplier's sales representative initiating a 3-way conference call or a call through an automated verification system must drop off the call once the 3-way connection has been established. All third-party verification methods shall elicit, at a minimum, the following information:
            (A) the identity of the customer;
            (B) confirmation that the person on the call is
        
authorized to make the provider change;
            (C) confirmation that the person on the call
        
wants to make the provider change;
            (D) the names of the providers affected by the
        
change;
            (E) the service address of the service to be
        
switched; and
            (F) the price of the service to be provided and
        
the material terms and conditions of the service being offered, including whether any early termination fees apply.
        Third-party verifiers may not market the alternative
    
gas supplier's services by providing additional information. All third-party verifications shall be conducted in the same language that was used in the underlying sales transaction and shall be recorded in their entirety. Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall maintain and preserve audio records of verification of customer authorization for a minimum period of 2 years after obtaining the verification. Automated systems must provide customers with an option to speak with a live person at any time during the call.
        (3) The alternative gas supplier has obtained the
    
customer's authorization via an automated verification system to change natural gas service via telephone. An automated verification system is an electronic system that, through pre-recorded prompts, elicits voice responses, touchtone responses, or both, from the customer and records both the prompts and the customer's responses. Such authorization must elicit the information in paragraph (2)(A) through (F) of this subsection (c). Alternative gas suppliers electing to confirm sales electronically through an automated verification system shall establish one or more toll-free telephone numbers exclusively for that purpose. Calls to the number or numbers shall connect a customer to a voice response unit, or similar mechanism, that makes a date-stamped, time-stamped recording of the required information regarding the alternative gas supplier change.
        The alternative gas supplier shall not use such
    
electronic authorization systems to market its services.
        (4) When a consumer initiates the call to the
    
prospective alternative gas supplier, in order to enroll the consumer as a customer, the prospective alternative gas supplier must, with the consent of the customer, make a date-stamped, time-stamped audio recording that elicits, at a minimum, the following information:
            (A) the identity of the customer;
            (B) confirmation that the person on the call is
        
authorized to make the provider change;
            (C) confirmation that the person on the call
        
wants to make the provider change;
            (D) the names of the providers affected by the
        
change;
            (E) the service address of the service to be
        
switched; and
            (F) the price of the service to be supplied and
        
the material terms and conditions of the service being offered, including whether any early termination fees apply.
        Submitting alternative gas suppliers shall maintain
    
and preserve the audio records containing the information set forth above for a minimum period of 2 years.
        (5) In the event that a customer enrolls for service
    
from an alternative gas supplier via an Internet website, the alternative gas supplier shall obtain an electronically signed letter of agency in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection (c) and any customer information shall be protected in accordance with all applicable statutes and regulations. In addition, an alternative gas supplier shall provide the following when marketing via an Internet website:
            (A) The Internet enrollment website shall, at a
        
minimum, include:
                (i) a copy of the alternative gas supplier's
            
customer contract that clearly and conspicuously discloses all terms and conditions; and
                (ii) a conspicuous prompt for the customer to
            
print or save a copy of the contract.
            (B) Any electronic version of the contract shall
        
be identified by version number, in order to ensure the ability to verify the particular contract to which the customer assents.
            (C) Throughout the duration of the alternative
        
gas supplier's contract with a customer, the alternative gas supplier shall retain and, within 3 business days of the customer's request, provide to the customer an e-mail, paper, or facsimile of the terms and conditions of the numbered contract version to which the customer assents.
            (D) The alternative gas supplier shall provide a
        
mechanism by which both the submission and receipt of the electronic letter of agency are recorded by time and date.
            (E) After the customer completes the electronic
        
letter of agency, the alternative gas supplier shall disclose conspicuously through its website that the customer has been enrolled, and the alternative gas supplier shall provide the customer an enrollment confirmation number.
        (6) When a customer is solicited in person by the
    
alternative gas supplier's sales agent, the alternative gas supplier may only obtain the customer's authorization to change natural gas service through the method provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection (c).
    Alternative gas suppliers must be in compliance with this subsection (c) within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly.
    (d) Complaints may be filed with the Commission under this Section by a customer whose natural gas service has been provided by an alternative gas supplier in a manner not in compliance with subsection (c) of this Section. If, after notice and hearing, the Commission finds that an alternative gas supplier has violated subsection (c), then the Commission may in its discretion do any one or more of the following:
        (1) Require the violating alternative gas supplier to
    
refund the customer charges collected in excess of those that would have been charged by the customer's authorized natural gas provider.
        (2) Require the violating alternative gas supplier to
    
pay to the customer's authorized natural gas provider the amount the authorized natural gas provider would have collected for natural gas service. The Commission is authorized to reduce this payment by any amount already paid by the violating alternative gas supplier to the customer's authorized natural gas provider.
        (3) Require the violating alternative gas supplier to
    
pay a fine of up to $1,000 into the Public Utility Fund for each repeated and intentional violation of this Section.
        (4) Issue a cease and desist order.
        (5) For a pattern of violation of this Section or for
    
intentionally violating a cease and desist order, revoke the violating alternative gas supplier's certificate of service authority.
    (e) No alternative gas supplier shall:
        (1) enter into or employ any arrangements which have
    
the effect of preventing any customer from having access to the services of the gas utility in whose service area the customer is located;
        (2) charge customers for such access;
        (3) bill for goods or services not authorized by the
    
customer; or
        (4) bill for a disputed amount where the alternative
    
gas supplier has been provided notice of such dispute. The supplier shall attempt to resolve a dispute with the customer. When the dispute is not resolved to the customer's satisfaction, the supplier shall inform the customer of the right to file an informal complaint with the Commission and provide contact information. While the pending dispute is active at the Commission, an alternative gas supplier may bill only for the undisputed amount until the Commission has taken final action on the complaint.
    (f) An alternative gas supplier that is certified to serve residential or small commercial customers shall not:
        (1) deny service to a customer or group of customers
    
nor establish any differences as to prices, terms, conditions, services, products, facilities, or in any other respect, whereby such denial or differences are based upon race, gender, or income;
        (2) deny service based on locality, nor establish any
    
unreasonable difference as to prices, terms, conditions, services, products, or facilities as between localities;
        (3) include in any agreement a provision that
    
obligates a customer to the terms of the agreement if the customer (i) moves outside the State of Illinois; (ii) moves to a location without a transportation service program; or (iii) moves to a location where the customer will not require natural gas service, provided that nothing in this subsection precludes an alternative gas supplier from taking any action otherwise available to it to collect a debt that arises out of service provided to the customer before the customer moved; or
        (4) assign the agreement to any alternative natural
    
gas supplier, unless:
            (A) the supplier is an alternative gas supplier
        
certified by the Commission;
            (B) the rates, terms, and conditions of the
        
agreement being assigned do not change during the remainder of the time covered by the agreement;
            (C) the customer is given no less than 30 days
        
prior written notice of the assignment and contact information for the new supplier; and
            (D) the supplier assigning the contract provides
        
contact information that a customer can use to resolve a dispute.
    (g) An alternative gas supplier shall comply with the following requirements with respect to the marketing, offering, and provision of products or services:
        (1) Any marketing materials which make statements
    
concerning prices, terms, and conditions of service shall contain information that adequately discloses the prices, terms and conditions of the products or services.
        (2) Before any customer is switched from another
    
supplier, the alternative gas supplier shall give the customer written information that clearly and conspicuously discloses, in plain language, the prices, terms, and conditions of the products and services being offered and sold to the customer. Nothing in this paragraph (2) may be read to relieve an alternative gas supplier from the duties imposed on it by item (3) of subsection (c) of Section 2DDD of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
        (3) The alternative gas supplier shall provide to the
    
customer:
            (A) accurate, timely, and itemized billing
        
statements that describe the products and services provided to the customer and their prices and that specify the gas consumption amount and any service charges and taxes; provided that this item (g)(3)(A) does not apply to small commercial customers;
            (B) billing statements that clearly and
        
conspicuously discloses the name and contact information for the alternative gas supplier;
            (C) an additional statement, at least annually,
        
that adequately discloses the average monthly prices, and the terms and conditions, of the products and services sold to the customer; provided that this item (g)(3)(C) does not apply to small commercial customers;
            (D) refunds of any deposits with interest within
        
30 days after the date that the customer changes gas suppliers or discontinues service if the customer has satisfied all of his or her outstanding financial obligations to the alternative gas supplier at an interest rate set by the Commission which shall be the same as that required of gas utilities; and
            (E) refunds, in a timely fashion, of all
        
undisputed overpayments upon the oral or written request of the customer.
        (4) An alternative gas supplier and its sales agents
    
shall refrain from any direct marketing or soliciting to consumers on the gas utility's "Do Not Contact List", which the alternative gas supplier shall obtain on the 15th calendar day of the month from the gas utility in whose service area the consumer is provided with gas service. If the 15th calendar day is a non-business day, then the alternative gas supplier shall obtain the list on the next business day following the 15th calendar day of that month.
        (5) Early Termination.
            (A) Any agreement that contains an early
        
termination clause shall disclose the amount of the early termination fee, provided that any early termination fee or penalty shall not exceed $50 total, regardless of whether or not the agreement is a multiyear agreement.
            (B) In any agreement that contains an early
        
termination clause, an alternative gas supplier shall provide the customer the opportunity to terminate the agreement without any termination fee or penalty within 10 business days after the date of the first bill issued to the customer for products or services provided by the alternative gas supplier. The agreement shall disclose the opportunity and provide a toll-free phone number that the customer may call in order to terminate the agreement.
        (6) Within 2 business days after electronic receipt
    
of a customer switch from the alternative gas supplier and confirmation of eligibility, the gas utility shall provide the customer written notice confirming the switch. The gas utility shall not switch the service until 10 business days after the date on the notice to the customer.
        (7) The alternative gas supplier shall provide each
    
customer the opportunity to rescind its agreement without penalty within 10 business days after the date on the gas utility notice to the customer. The alternative gas supplier shall disclose all of the following:
            (A) that the gas utility shall send a notice
        
confirming the switch;
            (B) that from the date the utility issues the
        
notice confirming the switch, the customer shall have 10 business days to rescind the switch without penalty;
            (C) that the customer shall contact the gas
        
utility or the alternative gas supplier to rescind the switch; and
            (D) the contact information for the gas utility.
        The alternative gas supplier disclosure shall be
    
included in its sales solicitations, contracts, and all applicable sales verification scripts.
    (h) An alternative gas supplier may limit the overall size or availability of a service offering by specifying one or more of the following:
        (1) a maximum number of customers and maximum amount
    
of gas load to be served;
        (2) time period during which the offering will be
    
available; or
        (3) other comparable limitation, but not including
    
the geographic locations of customers within the area which the alternative gas supplier is certificated to serve.
    The alternative gas supplier shall file the terms and conditions of such service offering including the applicable limitations with the Commission prior to making the service offering available to customers.
    (i) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as preventing an alternative gas supplier that is an affiliate of, or which contracts with, (i) an industry or trade organization or association, (ii) a membership organization or association that exists for a purpose other than the purchase of gas, or (iii) another organization that meets criteria established in a rule adopted by the Commission from offering through the organization or association services at prices, terms and conditions that are available solely to the members of the organization or association.
(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09.)

    (220 ILCS 5/19-120)
    Sec. 19-120. Commission oversight of services provided by gas suppliers.
    (a) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve residential or small commercial customers and only to the extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential or small commercial customers.
    (b) The Commission shall have jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions of Article X of this Act either to investigate on its own motion in order to determine whether or to entertain and dispose of any complaint against any alternative gas supplier alleging that:
        (1) the alternative gas supplier has violated or is

    
in nonconformance with any applicable provisions of Section 19-110, 19-111, 19-112, or Section 19-115;
        (2) an alternative gas supplier has failed to provide
    
service in accordance with the terms of its contract or contracts with a customer or customers;
        (3) the alternative gas supplier has violated or is
    
in nonconformance with the transportation services tariff of, or any of its agreements relating to transportation services with, the gas utility or municipal system providing transportation services; or
        (4) the alternative gas supplier has violated or
    
failed to comply with the requirements of Sections 8-201 through 8-207, 8-301, 8-505, or 8-507 of this Act as made applicable to alternative gas suppliers.
    (c) The Commission shall have authority after notice and hearing held on complaint or on the Commission's own motion to order any or all of the following remedies, penalties, or forms of relief:
        (1) order an alternative gas supplier to cease and
    
desist, or correct, any violation of or nonconformance with the provisions of Section 19-110, 19-111, 19-112, or 19-115;
        (2) impose financial penalties for violations of or
    
nonconformances with the provisions of Section 19-110, 19-111, 19-112, or 19-115, not to exceed (i) $10,000 per occurrence or (ii) $30,000 per day for those violations or nonconformances which continue after the Commission issues a cease-and-desist order; and
        (3) alter, modify, revoke, or suspend the certificate
    
of service authority of an alternative gas supplier for substantial or repeated violations of or nonconformances with the provisions of Section 19-110, 19-111, 19-112, or 19-115.
    (d) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit, restrict, or mitigate in any way the power and authority of the State's Attorneys or the Attorney General under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09.)

    (220 ILCS 5/19-125)
    Sec. 19-125. Consumer education.
    (a) The Commission shall make available upon request and at no charge, and shall make available to the public on the Internet through the State of Illinois World Wide Web site:
        (1) a list of all certified alternative gas suppliers

    
serving residential and small commercial customers within the service area of each gas utility including, in the case of the Internet, computer links to available web sites of the certified alternative gas suppliers;
        (2) a list of all certified alternative gas suppliers
    
serving residential or small commercial customers that have been found in the last 3 years by the Commission pursuant to Section 10-108 to have failed to provide service in accordance with this Act;
        (3) guidelines to assist customers in determining
    
which gas supplier is most appropriate for each customer; and
        (4) Internet links to providers of information that
    
enables customers to compare prices and services of gas utilities and alternative gas suppliers, if and when that information is available.
    (a-5) The Commission shall develop no later than 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly and maintain consumer education information to help residential and small commercial consumers understand their gas supply options and their rights and responsibilities. The Commission shall publish the consumer education information on its World Wide Web site.
    (a-10) To assist the Commission in developing consumer education information, the Commission shall form a working group that shall consist of representatives of gas utilities with residential and small commercial gas transportation service programs, alternative gas suppliers, the Attorney General, the Citizens Utility Board, and the Commission.
    (a-15) At a minimum, the consumer education information developed by the Commission shall include explanations or descriptions of the following:
        (1) The choices available to consumers to take gas
    
service from an alternative retail gas supplier or remain as a retail customer of the gas utility.
        (2) A consumer's rights and responsibilities in
    
receiving service from an alternative retail gas supplier or remaining as a retail customer of the gas utility.
        (3) The gas utility's role in delivering gas,
    
including, but not limited to, utility response to calls for service and gas leaks.
        (4) The legal obligations of alternative retail gas
    
suppliers.
        (5) The components of a bill that could be received
    
by a customer taking delivery services.
        (6) The procedures available to customers to address
    
complaints against a gas utility or an alternative retail gas supplier and a list of phone numbers and other contact information for the Commission, the Attorney General, or the Citizens Utility Board.
        (7) Guidance to assist consumers in making educated
    
decisions when choosing their natural gas provider, including:
            (A) how to compare prices;
            (B) questions to ask when considering natural gas
        
providers; and
            (C) current and historical utility gas rates.
        (8) The availability of the "Do Not Contact List" for
    
those who do not wish to be solicited by natural gas providers.
    (b) In any service area where customers are able to choose their natural gas supplier, the Commission shall require gas utilities and alternative gas suppliers to inform customers of how they may contact the Commission in order to obtain information about the customer choice program.
    (c) The Commission shall adopt a uniform disclosure that alternative gas suppliers shall be required to complete for each product offering. The uniform disclosure shall contain, at a minimum:
        (1) for products with a fixed price per therm, the
    
price per therm;
        (2) the length of the initial term of the product,
    
or, if applicable, the expiration date of the initial term of the product;
        (3) the amount of the termination fees, if any;
        (4) the amount of the administrative fees, other
    
fees, or recurring charges, if any, to be listed separately for each and every fee or charge;
        (5) for products with a variable price per therm, the
    
terms of such variability, including, but not limited to, any index that is used to calculate the price and any additional charges, costs and fees; and
        (6) for products where a customer's charges are a
    
fixed amount per billing period regardless of the market price for natural gas or the customer's natural gas consumption during the billing period, the billing period covered.
        If the alternative gas supplier will not offer a
    
different product for new customers as of the first of the month, then the alternative gas supplier does not have to provide new information until the first day of the month in which a different product or products are being offered.
        The Commission shall post this information on its
    
World Wide Web site in a manner that shall enable customers to compare prices, terms, and conditions offered by the alternative gas suppliers. The website shall be updated at least monthly and the Commission shall maintain this information on its website for at least 12 months to allow customers to compare the historical plans and prices for all alternative gas suppliers.
    (d) The Commission shall make available in print, upon request and at no charge and on its World Wide Web site, information on which customers of alternative gas suppliers serving residential and small commercial customers may address any complaint with regard to an alternative gas supplier's obligations under Section 19-115 of this Article, including the provision of service in accordance with the terms of its contract, sales tactics, and rates. The Commission shall maintain a summary by category and provider of all formal and informal complaints it receives pursuant to this Section, and it shall publish the summary on a quarterly basis on its World Wide Web site. Individual customer information shall not be included in the summary.
    (e) The provisions of this Section shall apply only to alternative gas suppliers serving or seeking to serve residential and small commercial customers and only to the extent such alternative gas suppliers provide services to residential and small commercial customers.
(Source: P.A. 95-1051, eff. 4-10-09.)

    (220 ILCS 5/19-130)
    Sec. 19-130. Commission study and report. The Commission's Office of Retail Market Development shall prepare an annual report regarding the development of competitive retail natural gas markets in Illinois. The Office shall monitor existing competitive conditions in Illinois, identify barriers to retail competition for all customer classes, and actively explore and propose to the Commission and to the General Assembly solutions to overcome identified barriers. Solutions proposed by the Office to promote retail competition must also promote safe, reliable, and affordable natural gas service.
    On or before October 1 of each year, beginning in 2015, the Director shall submit a report to the Commission, the General Assembly, and the Governor, that includes, at a minimum, the following information:
        (1) an analysis of the status and development of the

    
retail natural gas market in the State of Illinois; and
        (2) a discussion of any identified barriers to the
    
development of competitive retail natural gas markets in Illinois and proposed solutions to overcome identified barriers; and
        (3) any other information the Office considers
    
significant in assessing the development of natural gas markets in the State of Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 97-223, eff. 1-1-12; 98-1121, eff. 8-26-14.)

    (220 ILCS 5/19-135)
    Sec. 19-135. Single billing. It is the intent of the General Assembly that in any service area where customers are able to choose their natural gas supplier, a single billing option shall be offered to customers for both the services provided by the alternative gas supplier and the delivery services provided by the gas utility. A gas utility shall file a tariff pursuant to Article IX of this Act that allows alternative gas suppliers to issue single bills to residential and small commercial customers for both the services provided by the alternative gas supplier and the delivery services provided by the gas utility to customers; provided that if a form of single billing is being offered in a gas utility's service area on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, that form of single billing shall remain in effect unless and until otherwise ordered by the Commission.
(Source: P.A. 92-852, eff. 8-26-02.)

    (220 ILCS 5/19-140)
    Sec. 19-140. On-bill financing program; gas utilities.
    (a) The Illinois General Assembly finds that Illinois homes and businesses have the potential to save energy through conservation and cost-effective energy efficiency measures. Programs created pursuant to this Section will allow utility customers to purchase cost-effective energy efficiency measures, including measures set forth in a Commission-approved energy efficiency plan under Section 8-104 of this Act, with no required initial upfront payment, and to pay the cost of those products and services over time on their utility bill.
    (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a gas utility serving more than 100,000 customers on January 1, 2009 shall offer a Commission-approved on-bill financing program ("program") that allows its retail customers who own a residential single family home, duplex, or other residential building with 4 or less units, or condominium at which the gas service is being provided (i) to borrow funds from a third party lender in order to purchase gas energy efficiency measures approved under the program for installation in such home or condominium without any required upfront payment and (ii) to pay back such funds over time through the gas utility's bill. Based upon the process described in subsection (b-5) of this Section, small commercial customers who own the premises at which gas service is being provided may be included in such program. After receiving a request from a gas utility for approval of a proposed program and tariffs pursuant to this Section, the Commission shall render its decision within 120 days. If no decision is rendered within 120 days, then the request shall be deemed to be approved. Beginning no later than December 31, 2013, a gas utility subject to this subsection (b) shall also offer its program to eligible retail customers that own a multifamily residential or mixed-use building with no more than 50 residential units, provided, however, that such customer must either be a residential customer or small commercial customer and may not use the program in such a way that repayment of the cost of energy efficiency measures is made through tenants' utility bills. A gas utility may impose a per site loan limit not to exceed $150,000. The program, and loans issued thereunder, shall only be offered to customers of the utility that meet the requirements of this Section and that also have a gas service account at the premises where the energy efficiency measures being financed shall be installed.
    For purposes of this Section, a small commercial customer for a gas utility shall be defined in that gas utility's informational filing that is made under subsection (c-5) of this Section.
    (b-5) Within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, the Commission shall convene a workshop process during which interested participants may discuss issues related to the program, including program design, eligible gas energy efficiency measures, vendor qualifications, and a methodology for ensuring ongoing compliance with such qualifications, financing, sample documents such as request for proposals, contracts and agreements, dispute resolution, pre-installment and post-installment verification, and evaluation. The workshop process shall be completed within 150 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly.
    (c) Not later than 60 days following completion of the workshop process described in subsection (b-5) of this Section, each gas utility subject to subsection (b) of this Section shall submit a proposed program to the Commission that contains the following components:
        (1) A list of recommended gas energy efficiency

    
measures that will be eligible for on-bill financing. An eligible gas energy efficiency measure ("measure") shall be a product or service for which one or more of the following is true:
            (A) (blank);
            (B) the projected gas savings (determined by
        
rates in effect at the time of purchase) are sufficient to cover the costs of implementing the measures, including finance charges and any program fees not recovered pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section; or
            (C) the product or service is included in a
        
Commission-approved energy efficiency plan under Section 8-104 of this Act.
        (2) The gas utility shall issue a request for
    
proposals ("RFP") to lenders for purposes of providing financing to participants to pay for approved measures. The RFP criteria shall include, but not be limited to, the interest rate, origination fees, and credit terms. The utility shall select the winning bidders based on its evaluation of these criteria, with a preference for those bids containing the rates, fees, and terms most favorable to participants.
        (3) The utility shall work with the lenders selected
    
pursuant to the RFP process, and with vendors, to establish the terms and processes pursuant to which a participant can purchase eligible gas energy efficiency measures using the financing obtained from the lender. The vendor shall explain and offer the approved financing packaging to those customers identified in subsection (b) of this Section and shall assist customers in applying for financing. As part of such process, vendors shall also provide to participants information about any other incentives that may be available for the measures.
        (4) The lender shall conduct credit checks or
    
undertake other appropriate measures to limit credit risk, and shall review and approve or deny financing applications submitted by customers identified in subsection (b) of this Section. Following the lender's approval of financing and the participant's purchase of the measure or measures, the lender shall forward payment information to the gas utility, and the utility shall add as a separate line item on the participant's utility bill a charge showing the amount due under the program each month.
        (5) A loan issued to a participant pursuant to the
    
program shall be the sole responsibility of the participant, and any dispute that may arise concerning the loan's terms, conditions, or charges shall be resolved between the participant and lender. Upon transfer of the property title for the premises at which the participant receives gas service from the utility or the participant's request to terminate service at such premises, the participant shall pay in full its gas utility bill, including all amounts due under the program, provided that this obligation may be modified as provided in subsection (g) of this Section. Amounts due under the program shall be deemed amounts owed for residential and, as appropriate, small commercial gas service.
        (6) The gas utility shall remit payment in full to
    
the lender each month on behalf of the participant. In the event a participant defaults on payment of its gas utility bill, the gas utility shall continue to remit all payments due under the program to the lender, and the utility shall be entitled to recover all costs related to a participant's nonpayment through the automatic adjustment clause tariff established pursuant to Section 19-145 of this Act. In addition, the gas utility shall retain a security interest in the measure or measures purchased under the program, and the utility retains its right to disconnect a participant that defaults on the payment of its utility bill.
        (7) The total outstanding amount financed under the
    
program in this subsection and subsection (c-5) of this Section shall not exceed $2.5 million for a gas utility or gas utilities under a single holding company, provided that the gas utility or gas utilities may petition the Commission for an increase in such amount.
    (c-5) Within 120 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, each covered gas utility shall submit an informational filing to the Commission that describes its plan for implementing the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly on or before December 31, 2013. A gas utility subject to this Section shall cooperate with any electric utility that provides electric service to buildings within the gas utility's service territory so that it is practical and feasible for the owner of a multifamily building to make a single application to access loans for both gas and electric energy efficiency measures in any individual building.
    (d) A program approved by the Commission shall also include the following criteria and guidelines for such program:
        (1) guidelines for financing of measures installed
    
under a program, including, but not limited to, RFP criteria and limits on both individual loan amounts and the duration of the loans;
        (2) criteria and standards for identifying and
    
approving measures;
        (3) qualifications of vendors that will market or
    
install measures, as well as a methodology for ensuring ongoing compliance with such qualifications;
        (4) sample contracts and agreements necessary to
    
implement the measures and program; and
        (5) the types of data and information that utilities
    
and vendors participating in the program shall collect for purposes of preparing the reports required under subsection (g) of this Section.
    (e) The proposed program submitted by each gas utility shall be consistent with the provisions of this Section that define operational, financial, and billing arrangements between and among program participants, vendors, lenders, and the gas utility.
    (f) A gas utility shall recover all of the prudently incurred costs of offering a program approved by the Commission pursuant to this Section, including, but not limited to, all start-up and administrative costs and the costs for program evaluation. All prudently incurred costs under this Section shall be recovered from the residential and small commercial retail customer classes eligible to participate in the program through the automatic adjustment clause tariff established pursuant to Section 8-104 of this Act.
    (g) An independent evaluation of a program shall be conducted after 3 years of the program's operation. The gas utility shall retain an independent evaluator who shall evaluate the effects of the measures installed under the program and the overall operation of the program, including, but not limited to, customer eligibility criteria and whether the payment obligation for permanent gas energy efficiency measures that will continue to provide benefits of energy savings should attach to the meter location. As part of the evaluation process, the evaluator shall also solicit feedback from participants and interested stakeholders. The evaluator shall issue a report to the Commission on its findings no later than 4 years after the date on which the program commenced, and the Commission shall issue a report to the Governor and General Assembly including a summary of the information described in this Section as well as its recommendations as to whether the program should be discontinued, continued with modification or modifications or continued without modification, provided that any recommended modifications shall only apply prospectively and to measures not yet installed or financed.
    (h) A gas utility offering a Commission-approved program pursuant to this Section shall not be required to comply with any other statute, order, rule, or regulation of this State that may relate to the offering of such program, provided that nothing in this Section is intended to limit the gas utility's obligation to comply with this Act and the Commission's orders, rules, and regulations, including Part 280 of Title 83 of the Illinois Administrative Code.
    (i) The source of a utility customer's gas supply shall not disqualify a customer from participation in the utility's on-bill financing program. Customers of alternative gas suppliers may participate in the program under the same terms and conditions applicable to the utility's supply customers.
(Source: P.A. 98-586, eff. 8-27-13.)

    (220 ILCS 5/19-145)
    Sec. 19-145. Automatic adjustment clause tariff; uncollectibles.
    (a) A gas utility shall be permitted, at its election, to recover through an automatic adjustment clause tariff the incremental difference between its actual uncollectible amount as set forth in Account 904 in the utility's most recent annual Form 21 ILCC and the uncollectible amount included in the utility's rates for the period reported in such annual Form 21 ILCC. The Commission may, in a proceeding to review a general rate case filed subsequent to the effective date of the tariff established under this Section, prospectively switch, from using the actual uncollectible amount set forth in Account 904 to using net write-offs in such tariff, but only if net write-offs are also used to determine the utility's uncollectible amount in rates. In the event the Commission requires such a change, it shall be made effective at the beginning of the first full calendar year after the new rates approved in such proceeding are first placed in effect and an adjustment shall be made, if necessary, to ensure the change does not result in double-recovery or unrecovered uncollectible amounts for any year. For purposes of this Section, "uncollectible amount" means the expense set forth in Account 904 of the utility's Form 21 ILCC or cost of net write-offs as appropriate. In the event the utility's rates change during the period of time reported in its most recent annual Form 21 ILCC, the uncollectible amount included in the utility's rates during such period of time for purposes of this Section will be a weighted average, based on revenues earned during such period by the utility under each set of rates, of the uncollectible amount included in the utility's rates at the beginning of such period and at the end of such period. This difference may either be a charge or a credit to customers depending on whether the uncollectible amount is more or less than the uncollectible amount then included in the utility's rates.
    (b) The tariff may be established outside the context of a general rate case filing, and shall specify the terms of any applicable audit. The Commission shall review and by order approve, or approve as modified, the proposed tariff within 180 days after the date on which it is filed. Charges and credits under the tariff shall be allocated to the appropriate customer class or classes. In addition, customers who do not purchase their gas supply from a gas utility shall not be charged by the utility for uncollectible amounts associated with gas supply provided by the utility to the utility's customers. Upon approval of the tariff, the utility shall, based on the 2008 Form 21 ILCC, apply the appropriate credit or charge based on the full year 2008 amounts for the remainder of the 2010 calendar year. Starting with the 2009 Form 21 ILCC reporting period and each subsequent period, the utility shall apply the appropriate credit or charge over a 12-month period beginning with the June billing period and ending with the May billing period, with the first such billing period beginning June 2010.
    (c) The approved tariff shall provide that the utility shall file a petition with the Commission annually, no later than August 31st, seeking initiation of an annual review to reconcile all amounts collected with the actual uncollectible amount in the prior period. As part of its review, the Commission shall verify that the utility collects no more and no less than its actual uncollectible amount in each applicable Form 21 ILCC reporting period. The Commission shall review the prudence and reasonableness of the utility's actions to pursue minimization and collection of uncollectibles which shall include, at a minimum, the 6 enumerated criteria set forth in this Section. The Commission shall determine any required adjustments and may include suggestions for prospective changes in current practices. Nothing in this Section or the implementing tariffs shall affect or alter the gas utility's existing obligation to pursue collection of uncollectibles or the gas utility's right to disconnect service. A utility that has in effect a tariff authorized by this Section shall pursue minimization of and collection of uncollectibles through the following activities, including but not limited to:
        (1) identifying customers with late payments;
        (2) contacting the customers in an effort to obtain

    
payment;
        (3) providing delinquent customers with information
    
about possible options, including payment plans and assistance programs;
        (4) serving disconnection notices;
        (5) implementing disconnections based on the level
    
of uncollectibles; and
        (6) pursuing collection activities based on the
    
level of uncollectibles.
    (d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require a utility to immediately disconnect service for nonpayment.
(Source: P.A. 96-33, eff. 7-10-09.)