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Bill

SB 3664

DCEO-ENERGY CHOICE

104th Regular Session Introduced by Chris Balkema and 2 co-sponsors

Creates a multi-stakeholder Illinois Energy Policy Commission to study affordability, reliability, and choice, and issue annual policy recommendations through 2030.

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Bill Summary · SB 3664

Summary of SB 3664 (104th General Assembly, Illinois)

Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes the Illinois Future of Energy Choice and Economic Impact Commission within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to analyze and advise on energy policy.
  • Motivated by concerns about energy affordability, accessibility, resilience, and consumer energy choice, building on CEJA guidelines and ongoing energy developments.

Key Provisions

Creation and Structure

  • Creates the Illinois Future of Energy Choice and Economic Impact Commission (the Commission).
  • Administrative support provided by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
  • Members (non-compensated) include:
    • 2 legislators: one Senate member appointed by the President of the Senate; one Senate member appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; one House member appointed by the Speaker; one House member appointed by the House Minority Leader.
    • 1 Director-level designee from the Illinois Power Agency.
    • 1 designee from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) Chair.
    • 1 designee from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Director.
    • 1 designee from the DCEO Director (who serves as Chair of the Commission).
    • 2 members representing natural gas utilities (appointed by the DCEO Director).
    • 2 members representing electric utilities (appointed by the DCEO Director).
    • 1 member representing a statewide organization for regulated municipalities and cooperatives (appointed by the DCEO Director).
    • 2 members representing a statewide business organization (appointed by the DCEO Director).
    • 2 members representing a statewide labor organization (appointed by the DCEO Director).
    • 1 member representing Illinois’ nuclear power industry (appointed by the DCEO Director).
    • 1 member representing a trade association for wind/solar generators, renewable transmission, and storage (appointed by the DCEO Director).
    • Up to 2 additional members with energy policy expertise from private sector or Illinois higher education (appointed by the DCEO Director).

Duties and Activities

  • Analyze feasibility of Illinois remaining a net energy exporter; identify regulatory/statutory barriers and propose solutions to mitigate negative impacts on energy export capacity.
  • Assess the economic impact of current energy policies on Illinois’ economy, with attention to workers in utilities and energy sectors dependent on diverse energy sources (natural gas, electricity, nuclear, etc.).
  • Review existing energy policies (by rule or statute) for potential negative effects on meeting energy demand, keeping energy affordable, and sustaining jobs; propose reasonable delays or eliminations of certain policy timelines, retirements, or disruptions as needed.
  • Develop recommendations or studies for future energy policy decisions, using scenarios (actual, pessimistic, optimistic) to forecast impacts on affordability, energy choices, workforce, economic development, resource adequacy, energy efficiency, and demand.
  • Examine all sources influencing energy costs in Illinois; leverage industry data and other sources to identify potential regulations, policy impacts, and external pressures from federal, state, or local entities.
  • Allow for public comments to inform the Commission’s work.
  • Identify opportunities and barriers to ensure State agencies support an inclusive energy policy that reasonably sustains existing energy sources and infrastructure while exploring new technologies.

Reporting and Sunset

  • Annual report: The Commission must report its activities, findings, and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 1 each year.
  • Sunset: The section creating the Commission is repealed on December 31, 2030 (i.e., a five-year window unless extended).

Who Is Affected

  • State government agencies (DCEO, Illinois Power Agency, ICC, IEPA) interact through the Commission.
  • Energy providers: natural gas utilities and electric utilities participate via appointed members.
  • Stakeholders: regulated municipalities/cooperatives, business associations, labor organizations, the nuclear power sector, wind/solar/renewable storage sectors, higher education and private sector energy policy experts.
  • General public: potential impact through policy recommendations affecting energy affordability, reliability, and choice.

Timelines and Process

  • Effective date: Upon becoming law.
  • Meetings: Commission must meet at least quarterly.
  • Reporting: Annual reports due by December 1 each year.
  • Duration: Section remains in effect until December 31, 2030.

Observations

  • The bill codifies a broad, multi-stakeholder Commission to regularly reassess energy policy in Illinois.
  • Emphasizes balancing energy affordability, reliability, and consumer choice while considering a wide array of energy sources and technologies.
  • Includes mechanisms for public input and ongoing evaluation of policy timelines and infrastructure needs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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