HB5021 Summary: Municipal and Cooperative Electric Utility Planning and Transparency Act

• Creates integrated resource plan (IRP) requirements for municipal utilities, electric cooperatives, and municipal power agencies, with plans due November 1, 2024 and every 3 years thereafter to the Illinois Power Agency.

• IRPs must include detailed information on existing generation facilities, power purchase agreements, capital expenditures, load forecasts, and a 5-year action plan; utilities must achieve 25% renewable energy by June 1, 2026, increasing by 3% annually to reach 40% by 2030.

• Requires municipal utilities to submit plans for 100% renewable energy by 2045 and retire all coal and gas generation by January 1, 2045.

• Establishes stakeholder meetings and public comment processes for IRP development, with the Illinois Power Agency maintaining lists of qualified experts to assist utilities and covering 90% of planning costs up to $250,000.

• Amends Open Meetings Act to allow closed meetings for municipal utilities regarding trade secrets and contract negotiations; modifies net metering provisions in the Public Utilities Act to include municipal utilities and cooperatives; requires ICC approval for eminent domain use only if the utility's most recent IRP identified the needed facility.