Customer rights and responsibilities

Over the past several years, Peoples Gas worked with the Illinois Commerce Commission and other Illinois utilities to improve the state's regulations dealing with customer rights and responsibilities. These regulations, known as 83 Illinois Administrative Code Section 280 (Part 280), establish fair, clear procedures for utilities to follow regarding:

  • Eligibility for service
  • Customer deposits
  • Billing
  • Payments
  • Refunds
  • Disconnection of service

The improvements called for in the revised Part 280 must be fully implemented by May 1, 2016. You can follow our progress toward that goal on the checklist below.

If you have questions about Part 280, please call us at 866-556-6001. You can read Part 280 online or review copies of it at the ICC's offices at 160 N. LaSalle St., Suite C-800, Chicago, IL 60601 or 527 E. Capitol Ave., Springfield, IL 62701.

Part 280 Implementation Checklist

Section # Section Title
280.15 Compliance
.15 Compliance
Section # Section Title
280.20 Definitions
.20 Definitions
Section # Section Title
280.30 Application
.30.a Intent
.30.b Information Requirements
.30.c Methods
.30.d Application Content
.30.e Requirements for Successful Application
.30.f Applicable Past Due Debts
.30.g Disputed Past Due Debts
.30.h Deposit Payment Requirement
.30.i.1 Timeline for Application Process
.30.i.2,3 Timeline for Application Process
.30.j.2-7 Timeline for Service Activation
.30.j.8 Timeline for Service Activation
.30.k Data Collection and Maintenance Requirements
Section # Section Title
280.35 Revert to Landlord / Property Manager Agreements
.35.b Prearrangement to be in Writing
.35.c Notice to Landlord When Responsibility Reverts to Them
.35.d Tenant Bills
.35.e Accuracy of Billing
.35.f Itemization of Transfer Balances
Section # Section Title
280.40 Deposits
.40.b Notice requirement for Deposit Assessment for Applicant and Customers
.40.c Methodology for Deposit Calculation for Residential/Small Business Customers and Other Customers
.40.d Applicant Deposit "Trigger"
.40.e.1,2 Present Customer Deposit "Trigger"
.40.e.3,4 Present Customer Deposit "Trigger"
.40.f Timing of Deposit Payment
.40.g Deposit Interest
.40.h Refund Conditions for Deposits
.40.i Issuance of Deposit Refund
.40.j Records of Deposits
.40.k Data Collection and Maintenance Requirements
Section # Section Title
280.45 Deposits for Low Income Customers
.45 Requirements for Deposit
Section # Section Title
280.50 Billing
.50.b Billing Cycle
.50.c Bill Content
.50.d Bill Delivery
.50.e Due Dates
.50.f Bill Transfer
.50.g Bill Example
Section # Section Title
280.60 Payment
.60.b Methods of Payment
.60.c.1 Late Payment
.60.c.2,3 Late Payment
.60.d.1, 3-6 Late Fees
.60.d.2 Late Fees
.60.e Returned Payments
Section # Section Title
280.65 Late Payment Fee Waiver for Low Income Customers
.65 Waiver, Qualification and Expiration of Qualification
Section # Section Title
280.70 Preferred Payment Date
.70.b Notification
.70.c Eligibility
.70.d Options
.70.e Removal
Section # Section Title
280.80 Budget Payment Plan
.80.b Applicability
.80.c.1 Eligibility
.80.c.2 Eligibility
.80.d Offering
.80.e Enrollment
80.f Bill Itemization
.80.g.1 Periodic Adjustments
.80.g.2 Periodic Adjustments
.80.h Reconciliation
.80.i Late Payments
.80.j Transfer of Service
.80.k.1 Cancellation
.80.k.2 Cancellation
.80.k.3 Cancellation
.80.k.4 Cancellation
Section # Section Title
280.90 Estimated Bills
.90b.1 Utility Meter Reading - every 2 billing periods
.90.b.2 Utility Meter Reading - if ERT, reading every billing period
.90.b.3 Utility Meter Reading
.90.b.4 Utility Meter Reading
.90.b.5 Utility Meter Reading
.90.b.6 Utility Meter Reading
.90.c Customer-Conducted Meter Read
.90.d Meter Readings for Beginning and Ending Service
.90.e Estimated Bill Formula
.90.f Bill Labeling
.90.g No Disconnection for 2 Estimated Bills Unless Meter is Read
Section # Section Title
Part 280.100 Previously Unbilled Service
.100.b Time Limits
.100.c Itemization
.100.d Calculation
.100.e Payment
Section # Section Title
Part 280.110 Refunds and Credits
.110.b Billing Time Period for Refunds and Credits Due to Overcharges Resulting from Utility Error
.110.c Billing Time Period for Refunds and Credits Due to Overcharges without Utility Error
.110.d Interest on Refunds and Credits
.110.e Itemization of Overcharges
.110.f Credit to Bill Statement or Direct Refund to Customer
.110.g Time Limit to File Complaint
Section # Section Title
Part 280.120 Deferred Payment Arrangements
.120.b.1 Eligibility
.120.b.2 Eligibility
.120.c Amounts Included in DPA
.120.d Transfer
.120.e.1 Bill Itemization
.120.e.2 Bill Itemization
.120.f Down Payment
.120.g Length of DPA
.120.h Installments
.120.i Default
.120.j.1 Reinstatement
.120.j.2 Reinstatement
.120.j.3 Reinstatement
.120.j.4 Reinstatement
.120.k Renegotiation
.120.l Overlapping Arrangements
.120.m Eligibility for Winter DPA
Section # Section Title
Part 280.125 Deferred Payment Arrangements for Low Income Customers
.125.b Down Payment
.125.c Length of DPA
.125.d Reinstatement Fee Waiver
.125.e Amended DPA
Section # Section Title
Part 280.130 Disconnection of Service
.130.b.1 Allowable Reasons for Disconnection: Nonpayment of Past Due Bills
.130.b.2 Allowable Reasons for Disconnection: Nonpayment of Deposit
.130.b.3 Allowable Reasons for Disconnection: Nonpayment of Deposit Related to 280.210
.130.b.4 Allowable Reasons for Disconnection: Failure to Provide Access to Multi-Meter Premises Related to 280.140
.130.b.5 Allowable Reasons for Disconnection: Failure to Provide Access to Single Customer Premises
.130.b.6 Allowable Reasons for Disconnection: Occupant Usage w/o Customer of Record
.130.b.7 Allowable Reasons for Disconnection: Tampering
.130.b.8 Allowable Reasons for Disconnection: Noncompliance with Utility Tariff
.130.b.9 Allowable Reasons for Disconnection: Noncompliance with Commission Order
.130.b.10 Allowable Reasons for Disconnection: Unsafe Conditions
.130.b.11 Allowable Reasons for Disconnection: Cooperation with Civil Authorities
.130.c Non-deniable Charges
.130.d Disconnection Notice Content
.130.e Method of Disconnection Notice Delivery
.130.f Third Party Notice
.130.g Timing of Notice
.130.h.1 Exemptions of Notice Requirements
.130.h.2-6 Exemptions of Notice Requirements
.130.i.1 Warning Letter Required Instead of Appendix A (Disconnection Notice for Occupant Usage without Valid Customer): Warning Letter
.130.i.2 Warning Letter Required Instead of Appendix A (Disconnection Notice for Occupant Usage without Valid Customer): Duplicate Warning Letter to Landlord
.130.i.3 If No Response Within 10 days, Right to Disconnect Service
.130.i.4 Customer Requests Service Disconnection
.130.j Warning Call to Residential and Master-Metered Customers
.130.k.1 Obligation to Act
.130.k.2 Obligation to Act
.130.l Time of Day and Day of the Week Prohibitions and Limitations
.130.m Medical Certification
.130.n Temperature Prohibitions
.130.o Energy Act of 1989 Participants (Low Income Customers) Winter Disconnection Prohibition
.130.p Electric Space-Heating Customer Winter Disconnection Prohibition
.130.q Military Personnel on Active Duty Disconnection Prohibition
.130.r Service Member or Veteran Disconnection Prohibition
Section # Section Title
Part 280.135 Winter Disconnection of Residential Heating Services (Dec 1-Mar 31)
.135 Winter Disconnection for Nonpayment
Section # Section Title
Part 280.140 Disconnection for Lack of Access to Multi-Meter Premises
.140.b Allowable Reasons for Disconnection of an Entire Multi-Meter Premises
.140.c Utility Actions Required Prior to Disconnection of an Entire Multi-Meter Premises
.140.d Inconvenience Compensation Credit
.140.e Limitations on Non-payment Disconnections for Multi-Meter Premises
.140.f Reconnection
.140.g Data Collection and Maintenance
Section # Section Title
Part 280.150 Disconnection of Master-Metered Apartment Buildings
.150.a Information Requirements
.150.b Notice and Posting
Section # Section Title
Part 280.160 Medical Certification
.160.b Certifying Parties
.160.c Method of Certification
.160.d Certificate content
.160.e Certificate timing
.160.f Restoration of Service
.160.g Duration of Certificate
.160.h Data Collection
.160.i Medical Payment Arrangements
.160.j New Certification for Previously Certified Accounts
Section # Section Title
Part 280.170 Timely Reconnection of Service
.170.b Timing
.170.c Lack of Access, Exception
.170.d Disconnection Not a Meter or Normal Place, Exception
.170.e Damage or Unsafe Circumstances, Exception
.170.f Unforeseen Circumstances, Temporary Exception
.170.g Shut-off in Error - Charges
Section # Section Title
Part 280.180 Reconnection of Former Residential Customer for the Heating Season
.180.a Applicability
.180.b Limitations
.180.c DPA
.180.d Payment
.180.e Reconnection
.180.f Requirement in Writing
.180.g Survey and Notice to Affected Customers
.180.h ICC Reporting
.180.i Collections Process
Section # Section Title
Part 280.190 Treatment of Illegal Taps
.190.b Utility Investigation
.190.c Notice of Investigation Results
.190.d Disconnection of Service
.190.e Utility Determination of Benefiting Party
.190.f Construction Error
.190.g Charges if Customer Benefited
Section # Section Title
Part 280.200 Tampering
.200.b Proof
.200.c Investigation
.200.d Notice to Customer
.200.e Remedy
.200.f Timing
.200.g Record Keeping
Section # Section Title
Part 280.205 Non-Residential Tampering
.205.b Disconnection
Section # Section Title
Part 280.210 Payment Avoidance by Location
.210.b Conditions
.210.c Exemption
.210.d Notification of PAL
.210.e Deposit
.210.f Burden of Proof
.210.g Data Collection and Maintenance
Section # Section Title
Part 280.220 Utility Complaint Process
.220.b Customer Contact
.220.c Methods of Contact
.220.d Availability
.220.e Complaint Response Timeline
.220.f Customer Payment During Complaint
.220.g.1 Late Fees
.220.g.2 Late Fees
.220.h Third Party Services and Billing
.220.i Appeal to Supervisor
.220.j Record Keeping
.220.k Prohibition on Disconnection
.220.l Appeal to Commission Complaint Process
Section # Section Title
Part 280.230 Commission Complaint Process
.230.b Intake of Customer Complaints by ICC
.230.c Presentation of the Complaint to the Utility
.230.d Timeline to Answer
.230.e Extension
.230.f Utility Answer to the Informal Complaint
.230.g Prohibition on Disconnection
.230.h Right to Appeal
.230.i Timeline to File a Formal Complaint
Section # Section Title
Part 280.240 Public Notice of Commission Rules
.240 Public Notice of Commission Rules
Section # Section Title
Part 280.250 Second Language Requirements
.250 Second Language Requirements
Section # Section Title
Part 280.260 Customer Information Packet
.260.b Content
.260.c Distribution
.260.d Filing with Commission
Section # Section Title
Appendices
280.Appendix A Disconnection Notice
280.Appendix B Customer Rights
280.Appendix C Public Notice
280.Appendix D Disconnection Notice Insert