§ 110-95 — Utility tax exemptions for MICRO projects

The Department may certify a taxpayer with a credit for a project that meets the qualifications under paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) of subsection (c) of Section 110-20, subject to an agreement under this Act, for an exemption from the tax imposed at the project site by Section 2-4 of the Electricity Excise Tax Law. To receive such certification, the taxpayer must be registered to self-assess that tax. The taxpayer is also exempt from any additional charges added to the taxpayer's utility bills at the project site as a pass-on of State utility taxes under Section 9-222 of the Public Utilities Act. The taxpayer must meet any other criteria for certification set by the Department. The Department shall determine the period during which the exemption from the Electricity Excise Tax Law and the charges imposed under Section 9-222 of the Public Utilities Act are in effect, which shall not exceed 30 years from the date of the taxpayer's initial receipt of certification from the Department under this Section. The Department is authorized to adopt rules to carry out the provisions of this Section, including procedures to apply for the exemptions; to define the amounts and types of eligible investments that an applicant must make in order to receive electricity excise tax exemptions or exemptions from the additional charges imposed under Section 9-222 and the Public Utilities Act; to approve such electricity excise tax exemptions for applicants whose investments are not yet placed in service; and to require that an applicant granted an electricity excise tax exemption or an exemption from additional charges under Section 9-222 of the Public Utilities Act repay the exempted amount if the applicant fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement. Upon certification by the Department under this Section, the Department shall notify the Department of Revenue of the certification. The Department of Revenue shall notify the public utilities of the exempt status of any taxpayer certified for exemption under this Act from the electricity excise tax or pass-on charges. The exemption status shall take effect within 3 months after certification of the taxpayer and notice to the Department of Revenue by the Department.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 102-700, eff. 4-19-22; 103-595, eff. 6-26-24.)