UTILITIES-CUST COMPENSATION

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that in the event that more than 0.8% (rather than 30,000) of the total customers of an electric utility are subjected to a continuous power interruption of 4 hours or more that results in the transmission of power at less than 50% of the standard voltage, or that results in the total loss of power transmission, the utility shall be responsible for compensating customers affected by that interruption for 4 hours or more for all actual damages, which shall not include consequential damages, suffered as a result of the power interruption. Provides that in the event of a power surge or other fluctuation that causes damage and affects more than 0.8% (rather than 30,000) of the customers, the electric utility shall pay to affected customers the replacement value of all goods damaged as a result of the power surge or other fluctuation unless the utility can show that the power surge or other fluctuation was due to one or more of specified causes. Provides that customers to whom a waiver has been granted by the Illinois Commerce Commission pursuant to specified provisions shall not count toward the 0.8% (rather than 30,000) of the customers specified in certain provisions. Provides that the requirements of specified provisions apply only to an electric public utility having 100,000 (rather than 1,000,000) or more customers. Effective immediately.