Bill > SB2489

This bill creates a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Program that requires electric utilities serving over 300,000 customers to develop tariffs for demand response technologies within 60 days of the bill's effective date. The program aims to encourage the use of flexible energy resources like smart thermostats, electric vehicle batteries, and energy storage systems that can reduce or shift electricity demand during peak periods. Key provisions include allowing customers to participate directly or through aggregators, ensuring compensation for grid support, and establishing that participation is voluntary with no minimum or maximum enrollment period. The bill defines demand response technologies as applications that can be controlled to respond to pricing or provide services like reducing peak electricity demand, and it mandates that the Illinois Commerce Commission approve the utility tariffs within 240 days and issue a report after two years assessing the program's effectiveness. Importantly, the program is designed to enhance grid reliability, protect customers from price increases, and provide financial incentives for customers who help balance energy demand. The bill also ensures that participants can join other energy programs simultaneously and aims to encourage participation in equity investment communities by potentially offering additional compensation to aggregators.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2489&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104