Concluding our countdown of new Illinois environmental laws that took effect on January 1, 2016 is Public Act 99-0420, which requires that utilities waive deposit requirements on new accounts for 60 days for documented domestic abuse victims.
The new law amends the Public Utilities Act by adding Section 8-201.6, 220 ILCS 5/8-201.6, which requires that utilities “shall defer the utility’s initial credit and deposit requirements for a period of 60 days for a residential customer or applicant who is a victim of domestic violence.”  To be eligible for this deferral, the “domestic violence must (1) have been the basis for the issuance of an order of protection or (2) be certified by treating medical personnel, law enforcement personnel, a State’s Attorney, the Attorney General, or a domestic violence shelter.  The certification letter must be printed on the certifying entity’s letterhead or accompanied by a letter on the certifying entity’s letterhead that identifies the certifying individual.”