The Department of Revenue adopted a new part titled Water and Sewage Assistance Charge allowing water and sewer providers to assess a fixed monthly surcharge on residential and nonresidential customers.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) replaced the Part titled Public Water Supply Capacity with a new Part titled Community Water Supplies. The new rules specify electronic reporting requirements, address the environmental degradation that may result from corrosion prevention and mitigation procedures, and reaffirm existing standards on capacity development for community water supplies.

The Department of Public Health adopted amendments to the Drinking Water Systems Code, adding an assessment process for total coliform bacterial contamination in noncommunity public water systems (NCPWS).

This Act makes extensive changes designed to modernize the State's electric grid and increase the use of renewable resources.

Pursuant to amendments to the Public Utilities Act, the natural gas competitive conditions in Illinois and barriers to retail competition will be monitored by the Office of Retail Market Development.

To replace an earlier, outdated body of rules, the Illinois Commerce Commission ("ICC") has adopted a new Part to update the Commission's utility customer service practices.

The Energy Assistance Act has been amended to extend the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund program until December of 2018.

The General Assembly has amended the Public Utilities Act to alter the environmental disclosure delivery requirements.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (the "ICC") adopted new standards for telecommunication carriers implementing service quality and customer credit standards. 83 Ill. Adm. Code 737.

The General Assembly has amended The Public Utilities Act to add new regulations for public utilities that report to credit reporting agencies.

A circuit court may exercise jurisdiction over a class action against a gas utility alleging that the utility violated state law by attempting to collect debts discharged in bankruptcy, according to the Appellate Court for the First District of Illinois.

On August 27, 2009, the Illinois Appellate Court, Fourth District, reversed and remanded the grant of summary judgment by the Circuit Court of Cook County in favor of the defendant power company, finding that there was a genuine issue of material fact as to whether defendant breached its duty to the plaintiff to respond to a downed power line with due care.

Illinois lawmakers have amended the Energy Assistance Act to add a new section creating the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP), intended to help low-income residential customers pay their utility bills. 305 ILCS 20/18. 

The Public Utilities Act was amended by adding section 8-408 titled "Energy efficiency plans for small multi-jurisdictional utilities." 220 ILCS 5/8-408. 

The Illinois Commerce Commission has created a new part, "Public Information, Rulemaking and Organization." 2 Ill Adm Code 1700. 

In order to promote a more competitive retail electric market for all Illinois consumers, the Illinois General Assembly (Assembly) has amended the Public Utilities Act by adding the Retail Electric Competition Act (Act) of 2006. 220 ILCS 5/20-101 et seq. 

  The Illinois Commerce Commission recently adopted 83 Ill Adm Code 201, dealing with voluntary mediation practice in the resolution of public utilities disputes. 

Gov. George H. Ryan signed legislation last July that amends the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act (Act) (for an in-depth look, see William Zieske's article beginning on page 354).

On October 23, 2001, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Fourth District, affirmed the decision of the Circuit Court of Vermilion County granting summary judgment to Illinois Power in a wrongful death action.