ELECTRIC UTILITY OUTAGES

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Creates a new Article concerning electrical outages and emergency preparedness for electric utilities. Defines "area outage emergency". Provides that an electric utility must establish an Emergency Operations Center capable of receiving communications from municipalities and counties regarding down power lines or other damage during an area outage emergency. Provides that the failure of an electric utility to implement an emergency management plan or comply with plan provisions shall result in the denial of exemption from paying damages under the Act. Provides that an annual report shall be provided to a municipality or county that includes specified data sets. Provides that an electric utility is responsible for implementing the emergency management protocols and reporting requirements without diminishment of investment into the upgrade and maintenance of the existing system. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall take into account the performance of an electric utility in implementing emergency management protocols and reporting requirements in future rate increase cases. Provides that failure by the electric utility to implement emergency management protocols and reporting requirements, other specified criteria, or any diminishment of investment into the upgrade and maintenance of the existing system in order to meet the implementation of emergency management protocols and reporting requirements or critical public safety facilities restoration timeframes shall result in a decrease of 100 basis points in the return on equity sought within the future proposed rate increase case. Effective January 1, 2012.