UTIL-ARES REPORTS-CONFIDENTIAL

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that alternative retail electric suppliers may file commercially or financially sensitive information or trade secrets contained in specified reports or filings with the Commission without also filing a formal petition with the Chief Clerk of the Commission seeking a Commission order granting confidential treatment. Provides that, if an alternative retail electric supplier elects not to file a formal petition with the Chief Clerk of the Commission seeking such a Commission order, but still desires confidential treatment for the commercially or financially sensitive information or trade secrets submitted to the Commission, it must (1) provide the Commission contemporaneously with its filing an affidavit that sets forth both the reasons for the confidentiality and a public synopsis of the information for which confidential treatment is sought; and (2) provide the Commission contemporaneously with its filing both a "confidential" and a "public" version of the report, filing, or document for which it seeks confidential treatment with all confidential information marked "Confidential". Provides that the information identified as confidential by the alternative retail electric supplier shall be afforded proprietary treatment and shall be accessible only by the Commission and the Commission staff for a 2-year period from the date of submission to the Commission. Provides that nothing prevents the Commission (A) on its own motion, after reviewing the submittal of an alternative retail electric supplier pursuant to this subsection, from requiring the alternative retail electric supplier to file a formal petition with the Chief Clerk seeking confidential treatment; (B) from entering an order expanding the list of recurring reports or filings eligible for the confidential treatment process; or (C) from entering an order adjusting the time period information may be treated by the Commission as confidential. Effective immediately.