UTILITIES-NATURAL GAS-SCHOOLS

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that, for public schools, the "transition charge" is: (i) 0.5 cents per kilowatt-hour during the period October 1, 1999 through December 31, 2004, 1.25 cents per kilowatt-hour in calendar year 2005, and 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in calendar year 2006, multiplied in each year by the usage identified in paragraph (1); or (ii) an amount equal to the following percentages of the amount produced by applying the applicable base rates or contract rate to the identified usage: 8% for the period October 1, 1999 through December 31, 2002, 10% in calendar years 2003 and 2004, 15% in calendar year 2005 and 25% in calendar year 2006 (now, the transition charge for public schools is calculated in the same manner as that of all nonresidential retail customers). Requires each Illinois gas corporation to file annually a set of transportation schedules or tariffs applicable to public schools authorizing a public school association to aggregate the purchase of natural gas for its members. Requires the transportation schedules or tariffs to (i) establish certain delivery charges; (ii) authorize a public school association to contract with the gas corporation at monthly market prices for interstate pipeline capacity; (iii) require the gas corporation to provide certain usage projections; and (iv) authorizes the corporation to impose a penalty under limited circumstances. Authorizes the Illinois Commerce Commission to suspend the transportation schedule or tariff for up to 3 months. Requires energy sellers to comply with applicable Commission rules. Provides that any agreement between a public school association and an energy seller is void if the energy seller does not comply with Commission rules. Requires each gas corporation to file an annual statement of its revenues and incremental charges incurred as direct result of the aggregation of natural gas for public schools. Authorizes the Commission to promulgate rules reasonable and necessary to administer the aggregation program. Effective immediately.