Crystal Blakeman

The agenda for the Public Utility Bench meeting covered numerous items across Electric, Gas, Telecommunications, Water and Sewer, and Miscellaneous categories. Key electric items included initiating reconciliation proceedings for hazardous materials adjustment clause rider revenues and coal tar cleanup costs involving Ameren Illinois and other utilities, as well as a petition for special permission regarding tariff sheets. In Gas, proceedings were initiated for rule-making amendments and motions to dismiss various complaints regarding billing charges. The Telecommunications section featured tariff recommendations, granting of certificates for various services, and numerous petitions for withdrawal of certificates. A significant portion involved joint petitions for approval of interconnection agreements and petitions for relief to protect proprietary annual reports from disclosure for set periods. Water and Sewer items included suspension orders for proposed general rate increases for Camelot Utilities, Inc. and Lake Holiday Utilities Corporation, and orders granting motions to dismiss complaints or approving reconciliation hearings.

The meeting agenda for the Public Utility covered multiple dockets across Electric, Gas, Telecommunications, and Water and Sewer sectors. Key electric discussions involved filings (ERM #21-141 through ERM #21-144, ERM #21-146, ERM #21-155 through ERM #21-157) related to changes in Renewable Energy Resources and Coal Technology Development Assistance Charge expiration dates (Rider RCA) and revisions due to Public Act 102-0662 concerning 'Opt Out Customers.' The Commission also addressed applications for certification as Installers of Distributed Generation Facilities and Electric Vehicle Charging Station Facilities, with several orders granting certificates or terminating abandoned licenses. Gas matters included the reconciliation of revenues under gas adjustment charges for several companies and various tariff updates related to Public Act changes and the Third Party Transaction Fee Adjustment (Rider TPTFA). Telecommunications items involved initiating rulemaking proceedings for amendments to administrative codes and canceling certificates of authority. Water and Sewer items primarily focused on approving various reconciliation proceedings and the approval of certificates of public convenience and necessity for asset purchases and service areas.

The agenda for this public utility meeting included several items across Electric, Gas, Telecommunications, and Water and Sewer dockets. Electric items involved modification of Rate Qualifying Facilities filings and numerous applications for Certification as Installer of Distributed Generation Facilities and for Licensure of Agents, Brokers and Consultants. Gas items concerned filings to modify bill formats and a revision to the Rider Daily Balancing calculation methodology, as well as a joint motion to dismiss a complaint regarding a cancellation fee. Telecommunications topics included petitions to cancel Interexchange tariffs and certificates, and applications for Certificates to become a Telecommunications Carrier or facilities based carrier. Water and Sewer involved an application for a Consolidated Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. Miscellaneous business included an Order related to the regulatory accounting treatment of cloud-based solutions. Other scheduled business involved votes on submissions under the Illinois Adjustable Block Program, approval of a proposed contract for the Evaluator for the Illinois Solar for All Program, and a status report on compliance with a previous order for Southern Company Gas and Nicor Gas.

The meeting included discussions and approvals across multiple agendas. In the Public Utilities section, filings regarding Ameren's Net Metering and Hourly Supply Service Riders, and revisions to ComEd's tariff for 'Smart Streetlights' were addressed. A consumer complaint against Commonwealth Edison was resolved by approving an Order denying the complaint, following a discussion on the complainant's right to inspect evidence, including independent meter testing. Other approvals included granting a Joint Motion to Dismiss for another ComEd complaint, approving an Order concerning ComEd's Reconciliation of Revenues Collected under its Uncollectible Factor Rider, and approving Orders related to Distributed Generation Facilities installers and Ameren's petition for route modification between substations. Item E-9 concerning MidAmerican's petition was held for a later date. The Gas Agenda saw non-suspension of tariff updates from North Shore and Peoples, and approval of an Order denying a consumer complaint against Ambit Illinois. The Telecommunications Agenda included reopening the record for i-wireless's application and granting a Motion to Withdraw for Assist Wireless's application. Orders were approved concerning updates to the Universal Service Support Fund and the Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation's line charge. Finally, the Benchmark Methodology for the IPA's April 2017 Solicitation of Bids was approved.

The meeting addressed multiple agenda items including the approval of edited minutes from previous Public Utilities Regular Open Meetings (November 14, 2023) and Special Open Meetings (November 30, 2023). Key electric items involved initiating reconciliation proceedings for Ameren's Hazardous Materials Adjustment Clause Rider and coal tar riders for Ameren, Nicor, North Shore, and Peoples Gas. Orders were approved concerning a Commission investigation against LifeEnergy LLC, which included assessing a $1M fine and directing customer refunds. An amendatory order was approved correcting the reconciliation amount in docket 23-0345 for ComEd. Critically, the Commission rejected ComEd's Multi-year Integrated Grid Plan (dockets 22-0486 and 23-0055 consolidated) due to non-compliance with statutory requirements regarding equity, cost-effectiveness, and affordability, directing a refiling within three months. ComEd's associated Rate Plan was approved with modifications using an alternative methodology due to time constraints. Similarly, Ameren's Multi-year Integrated Grid Plan (dockets 22-0487 and 23-0082 consolidated) was rejected for non-compliance, requiring a refiling, while its Rate Plan was approved with modifications using an alternative methodology. Other approvals included reconciliations for Ameren's Customer Generation Rebate rider, granting ComEd authority to incur up to $2B in debt, approving ComEd transactions with affiliates, and approving certifications for distributed generation facilities. Gas items included commencing reconciliations for Nicor, Peoples Gas, and Ameren, and approving a penalty against Peoples Gas. The Commission also set maximum rates for 2024 telecommunications operators and the interest rate for customer deposits for 2024 across multiple utility types.