Sec. 9-211.7. Financial assistance; water and sewer utilities.

315 words·~1 min read·/il/chapter-220/act-5/9-211-7·

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(a)On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a water or sewer utility subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, after receiving approval from the Commission, shall be allowed to offer a financial assistance program designed for bill payment assistance for low-income customers in accordance with the Water and Sewer Financial Assistance Act. A water or sewer utility subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission shall petition the Commission for such approval, and the Commission shall render its decision within 90 days after receiving such petition. If no decision is rendered by the Commission within 90 days, then the petition shall be deemed to be approved.

(b)The costs of a financial assistance program offered by a water or sewer utility subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, excluding such costs deemed by the Commission to be not reimbursable, shall be reimbursed from the Water and Sewer Low-Income Assistance Fund established pursuant to the Water and Sewer Financial Assistance Act. The utility shall submit a bill to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which shall be promptly paid out of such funds or may net such costs against moneys it would otherwise remit to the Fund. The water or sewer utility shall provide a report to the Commission on a quarterly basis accounting for moneys reimbursed or netted through the Fund.

(c)A water or sewer utility subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission providing a financial assistance program pursuant to the Water and Sewer Financial Assistance Act in this State shall be permitted to recover costs of those assessments through a tariff filed with and approved by the Commission. The tariff shall be established outside the context of a general rate case and shall be applicable to the utility's customers.