220 ILCS 31/1-30

(220 ILCS 31/1-30)

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 1-30. IRP prequalified consulting firm list.

(a) The Illinois Power Agency shall maintain a list of qualified consulting firms for the purpose of developing integrated resource plans on behalf of the utility. In order to prequalify a consulting firm must have:

(1) direct previous experience preparing integrated resource plans for utilities; assembling power supply plans or portfolios for utilities;

(2) one or more employees with an advanced degree in economics, mathematics, engineering, risk management, or a related area of study;

(3) 10 years of experience in the electricity sector;

(4) expertise in wholesale electricity market rules, market planning, market development, and market modeling. This includes, but is not limited to, expertise in current and ongoing FERC Order implementation into RTO markets, RTO governing documents, including, but not limited to, transmission planning processes, and resource planning;

(5) expertise in wholesale electricity market rules, including those established by the federal Energy Regulatory Commission and regional transmission organizations; and

(6) adequate resources to perform and fulfill the required functions and responsibilities.

(b) No later than January 1, 2026 or the effective date of this Act, whichever is later, the Illinois Power Agency shall issue a Request for Information seeking responses from consulting firms. Responses will be due within 45 days of that issuance. The Agency will review responses and within 45 days produce a list of prequalified consulting firms that the Agency determines meet all of the prequalification requirements contained in subsection (a) of this Section. A firm determined not to meet the requirements may request to submit additional information to the Agency for reconsideration. If the Agency subsequently determines a firm meets the requirements, the Agency shall add the firm to the list.

The list will be updated as additional consulting firms request to be added to the list and the Agency determines they meet the requirements contained in subsection (a) of this Section 1-30. The Agency shall not arbitrarily or capriciously deny inclusion to any qualified vendor that satisfies the minimum qualifications set forth in this Section 1-30.

(c) The Illinois Power Agency shall publish the list of prequalified consulting firms on its website. Upon request, the Agency shall also provide each prequalified consulting firm's response to the Request for Information to the affected utility.

(d) A utility required to submit an integrated resource plan may select a consulting firm on the Agency's list of prequalified consulting firms to develop the integrated resource plan and support stakeholder processes.

(e) The utility may apply for funding to offset its costs for its integrated resource plan through the Small Utility Clean Energy Planning Grant Program offered through the Illinois Finance Authority in its role as Climate Bank for the State of Illinois, subject to funding availability or subject to appropriation, and in accordance with program requirements and limitations.

(Source: P.A. 104-458, eff. 6-1-26.)