UTILITY-EXPEDITED ACQUISITION

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a large public utility, in its application to acquire a water or sewer utility or any other application requesting approval of an acquisition of a water or sewer utility, may request that the Illinois Commerce Commission expedite its review and issue an order within an expedited timeframe. Provides that, if, in its application, a large public utility requests an expedited review, the administrative law judge shall issue a ruling approving or denying expedited review within 30 days of the filing of the application. Provides that the large public utility, in its application, shall establish evidence that the expedited review is necessary based upon specified factors. Provides that, if, after hearing, the administrative law judge grants expedited review, and subject to the Commission's rules on interlocutory review, the Commission shall issue its final order no later than 5 months after the date of the administrative law judge's ruling. Provides that the Commission may adopt rules to implement the provisions. Effective immediately.