UTILITIES-GAS COOPERATIVE

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Changes the definition of "public utility" to exclude commercial natural gas cooperatives. Provides that for a commercial natural gas cooperative to qualify and be recognized by the Illinois Commerce Commission, the properties that receive retail natural gas service from each commercial natural gas cooperative: (i) shall not have a public utility-owned natural gas transportation pipeline located within the properties at the time of commencement of service; (ii) shall comprise of not less than 500 acres and not more than 2,500 acres, which territory does not need to be contiguous; and (iii) shall be used exclusively for non-residential purposes. Effective July 1, 2021. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds a requirement that for a commercial natural gas cooperative to qualify and be recognized by the Illinois Commerce Commission, the properties that receive retail natural gas service from each commercial natural gas cooperative must be located in a county that has a population of not more than 300,000 people and that borders the Mississippi River or is contiguous to any such county and has a population of between 10,000 and 50,000 people.