§ 5 — Policy Advisory Council

(a) Within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is created a Low Income Energy Assistance Policy Advisory Council. (b) The Council shall be chaired by the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or his or her designee. There shall be 19 members of the Low Income Energy Assistance Policy Advisory Council, including the chairperson and the following members: (1) one member designated by the Illinois Commerce Commission; (2) (blank); (3) one member designated by the Illinois Energy Association to represent electric public utilities serving in excess of 1 million customers in this State; (4) one member agreed upon by gas public utilities that serve more than 500,000 and fewer than 1,500,000 customers in this State; (5) one member agreed upon by gas public utilities that serve 1,500,000 or more customers in this State; (6) one member designated by the Illinois Energy Association to represent combination gas and electric public utilities; (7) one member agreed upon by the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency and the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives; (8) one member agreed upon by the Illinois Industrial Energy Consumers; (9) three members designated by the Department to represent low income energy consumers; (10) two members designated by the Illinois Community Action Association to represent local agencies that assist in the administration of this Act; (11) one member designated by the Citizens Utility Board to represent residential energy consumers; (12) one member designated by the Illinois Retail Merchants Association to represent commercial energy customers; (13) one member designated by the Department to represent independent energy providers; and (14) three members designated by the Mayor of the City of Chicago. (c) Designated and appointed members shall serve 2 year terms and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The designating organization shall notify the chairperson of any changes or substitutions of a designee within 10 business days of a change or substitution. Members shall serve without compensation, but may receive reimbursement for actual costs incurred in fulfilling their duties as members of the Council. (d) The Council shall have the following duties: (1) to monitor the administration of this Act to ensure effective, efficient, and coordinated program development and implementation; (2) to assist the Department in developing and administering rules and regulations required to be promulgated pursuant to this Act in a manner consistent with the purpose and objectives of this Act; (3) to facilitate and coordinate the collection and exchange of all program data and other information needed by the Department and others in fulfilling their duties pursuant to this Act; (4) to advise the Department on the proper level of support required for effective administration of the Act; (5) to provide a written opinion concerning any regulation proposed pursuant to this Act, and to review and comment on any energy assistance or related plan required to be prepared by the Department; (6) to advise the Department on the use of funds collected pursuant to Section 11 of this Act, and on any changes to existing low income energy assistance programs to make effective use of such funds, so long as such uses and changes are consistent with the requirements of the Act.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 97-916, eff. 8-9-12.)