Public Accountability Report

The Illinois Commerce Commission ("ICC" or "Commission") regulates investor-owned electricity, natural gas, and water and sewer utilities, and, to a more limited extent, telecommunications companies and competitive electricity and natural gas providers. In addition, the Commission also regulates and oversees household movers, certain relocation towing companies, public warehouses, collateral recovery companies, the enforcement of certain trucking insurance coverage laws, railroad grade crossing standards, rail movement of hazardous materials, and gas pipeline safety.

Public Utility Program: "The health, welfare and prosperity of all Illinois citizens require the provision of adequate, efficient, reliable, environmentally safe and least-cost public utility services at prices which accurately reflect the long-term cost of such services, and which are equitable to all citizens"-- [from the Illinois Public Utilities Act].

The Commission oversees the provision of adequate, reliable, efficient, and safe utility services at the least possible cost to Illinois citizens. Examples of responsibilities, which continue for the foreseeable future are: gas pipeline and electric line safety activities, 9-1-1 oversight, issuance of certificates of convenience and necessity, consumer complaint issues, evaluation of tariff changes and rate increase requests, and facility siting issues. The Commission also has and will continue to oversee numerous utility programs that implement Illinois’ policy of rapidly transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2050.

Transportation Program: The Commission has varied responsibilities with regard to transportation industries, regulating railroads, intrastate household goods carriers, certain relocation towers, public warehouses, collateral recovery companies, and inspects registered rail carriers' track, grade crossing signal systems, operating practices, and railroad regulations. The Commission, through the Grade Crossing Protection Fund, also helps local communities and railroads improve safety at public highway-rail crossings. The ICC has been able to improve its proactive approach to grade crossing safety improvements, through the implementation of a grade crossing signal system inspection program and in a cooperative effort with the Illinois Department of Transportation, development of a centralized database to track and monitor information related to Illinois highway-rail crossings.