IL HB4781

Prohibits the Illinois Commerce Commission from allowing public utilities to recover from ratepayers expenses for political activity, lobbying, trade association contributions, chamber of commerce contributions, director and officer liability insurance, and fiduciary liability insurance.

Requires the Commission to evaluate whether other insurance purchases by utilities benefit ratepayers or shareholders; insurance benefiting shareholders cannot be recovered through rates.

Bans goodwill or institutional advertising as a recoverable expense for gas, electric, water, and sewer utilities.

Makes attorney and technical expert costs for preparing and litigating general rate cases entirely nonrecoverable, changing from the current standard requiring the Commission to assess their reasonableness.

Prohibits utilities from recovering contributions to the Consumer Intervenor Compensation Fund and requires that compensation awards from the Fund not exceed the market rate the utility paid for its own nonrecoverable rate case expenses.