ISAWWA August Legislative Update Government Strategy Associates 2 Whisperglen Lane Springfield, Il (914) 826-1920

ISAWWA to Meet with American Water/Governor Proposes Energy Plan with Accountability Measures:

On August 27, the WUC agreed to meet with Illinois American Water (Sean Flynn) to discuss their legislation creating statewide assistance for low income water utility consumers. It is likely the General Assembly will take up this issue during the next legislative session, and IAW is trying to get in front of this issue. More to come on this next month…

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Governor Pritzker recently outlined a large package of renewable energy policies to have Illinois running on 100% clean energy by 2050. The Governor included many accountability measures for utilities and ethics proposals for decision makers as an intentional centerpiece of the energy legislation.

The governor is calling for new steps to boost solar and wind project developments in the state, plus encourage use of electric vehicles. The plan sets a goal to increase the number of electric cars to 750,000 within the next decade, establish a tax credit for electric vehicle companies that locate downstate, and put incentives in place for implementing electric vehicle charging stations.

Eliminate the customer deposit requirement and late fees for low-income utility residential customers. The plan will also eliminate the online payment fee for utility bills. The plan also will require utility companies to accurately report to the ICC on the number of shutoffs and reconnections on a monthly basis. This is designed to help the ICC in understanding how many customers are experiencing shutoffs and reconnections and what improvements need to be made to ensure more customers stay connected.

1 The proposal also works to strengthen transparency and ethics laws in order to hold utility companies accountable to ratepayers. This is in response to the conduct admitted to by Commonwealth Edison in their Deferred Prosecution Agreement.

The governor’s office seeks to end automatic rate increases and restore the oversight by the Illinois Commerce Commission as an oversight entity. Other accountability measures include strengthening transparency requirements for communication with regulators; expanded ethics filings for legislators, lobbyists and executive officeholders; and third party audits of infrastructure expenditures.

Working groups will continue to craft the legislation with the hope that the proposals will be voted upon during the November Veto session of the General Assembly.

COVID-19 Spikes Downstate/South Central Illinois:

On Wednesday, August 26, the Illinois Department of Public health announced additional COVID-19 restrictions for Will and Kankakee Counties (Region 7) and Metro East (Region 4).

IDPH has identified these regions as potential hot spots because COVID 19 rates of infection have exceeded an 8% positivity rate. Metro East is over 10% positivity.

IDPH also imposed similar measures 10 days earlier in Region 4 (Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington counties), when the positivity rates also jumped above the 8% infection rate threshold.

Here are the restrictions:

Bars

• No indoor service • All outside bar service closes at 11:00pm • All bar patrons should be seated at tables outside • No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed) • Tables should be 6 feet apart

2 • No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting • No dancing or standing indoors • Reservations required for each party • No seating of multiple parties at one table

Restaurants

• No indoor dining or bar service • All outdoor dining closes at 11:00pm • Outside dining tables should be 6 feet apart • No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting • Reservations required for each party • No seating of multiple parties at one table

Meetings, Social Events, Gatherings

• Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity • No party buses • Gaming and Casinos close at 11:00pm, are limited to 25 percent capacity, and follow mitigations for bars and restaurants, if applicable.

As anticipated, small business owners are upset: https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/metro-east-illinois- coronavirus-restrictions-return-tuesday/63-09c5db80-9b43-4879-92b4- e2c450d4fe86

Enforcement of Mask Rules Set by IDPH:

On Friday, August 7th, the Illinois Department of Public Health filed emergency rules to give local health departments and law enforcement agencies the ability to issue warnings, then levy penalties for businesses and schools that don't enforce wearing masks. These rules were upheld by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. A link to the full language included in the IDPH rule can be found here. This emergency rule is in place for 150 days.

3 Local Tax Revenue Down by 20-30 percent:

A recent survey by the Illinois Municipal League shows that local revenues are down significantly with the median decline 20 percent to 30 percent. The decreases are attributed to lower collections from sales tax, as well as a decrease in the revenue from motor fuel tax, gaming tax and state income taxes that are passed on to the local governments. Nearly half of the municipalities (46.5%) indicated that they plan to reduce municipal personnel or decrease services. Unless there is significant federal support. This increases the likelihood that there will be significant cuts in the future at the state and local levels.

Driver’s License Renewal Extended for 75+:

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that the expiration date for valid driver’s licenses held by Illinois drivers who are 75 years of age or older has been extended for a period of one year past the licenses’ current 2020 expiration date. https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/news/2020/august/200825d1.pdf

Changes from the 101st IL General Assembly to the 102nd GA:

The General Assembly continues to see significant turnover leading to an increase in the lack of experience. This turnover further underscores the need to establish and maintain communication with lawmakers. Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-49) – not running – running for other office Sen. Iris Martinez (D-20) – not running – running for other office Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-25) – not running – running for Congress Sen. Paul Schimpf (R- 55) – not running Sen. Dale Righter (R-55) – not running Sen. Chuck Weaver (R-37) – not running Rep. Darren Bailey – (R-109) – running for Sen. Righter’s seat Rep. (R-115) – running for Sen. Schimpf’s seat Rep. Yehiel Kalish (D-12) lost primary Rep. Margo McDermed (R-37) – not running Rep. David McSweeney (R-52) – not running Rep. (R-79) – not running Rep. Yoni Pizer (D-12) – lost primary Rep. Mike Unes – (R-91) – not running

4 Rep. Art Turner, Jr. (D-9) – just resigned – replaced by Lakesia Collins ** Sen. Terry Link (D-30) – indicted on tax evasion – resigning soon ** Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-66) – stated he’s not running but still on ballot

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