HB5061 Summary

• Illinois Commerce Commission shall not consider political contributions, gifts to political candidates or parties, or trade association/chamber of commerce contributions as recoverable utility expenses.

• Commission shall prohibit recovery of director and officers liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance costs; other insurance is recoverable only if it provides financial benefit to ratepayers rather than shareholders.

• Goodwill or institutional advertising expenses are non-recoverable; utilities must pay half their rate case attorney and expert expenses (capped at $500,000) into a Consumer Intervenor Compensation Fund.

• Creates Consumer Intervenor Compensation Fund to provide payments to consumer advocacy groups that participate in Commission proceedings, with contributions required from utilities based on customer size.

• Requires Illinois Commerce Commission to hold at least one public hearing in the utility's service area when a gas, electric, water, or sewer utility requests a general rate increase.