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Article X - Proceedings Before The Commission And The Courts

      (220 ILCS 5/Art. X heading)ARTICLE X. PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND THE COURTS

(220 ILCS 5/10‑101) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 10‑101)     Sec. 10‑101. The Commission, or any commissioner or hearing examiner designated by the Commission, shall have power to hold investigations, inquiries and hearings concerning any matters covered by the provisions of this Act, or by any other Acts relating to public utilities subject to such rules and regulations as the Commission may establish. In the conduct of any investigation, inquiry or hearing the provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, including but not limited to Sections 10‑25 and 10‑35 of that Act, shall be applicable and the Commission's rules shall be consistent therewith. Complaint cases initiated pursuant to any Section of this Act, investigative proceedings and ratemaking cases shall be considered "contested cases" as defined in Section 1‑30 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, any contrary provision therein notwithstanding. Any proceeding intended to lead to the establishment of policies, practices, rules or programs applicable to more than one utility may, in the Commission's discretion, be conducted pursuant to either rulemaking or contested case provisions, provided such choice is clearly indicated at the beginning of such proceeding and subsequently adhered to. No violation of this Section or the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and no informality in any proceeding or in the manner of taking testimony before the Commission, any commissioner or hearing examiner of the Commission shall invalidate any order, decision, rule or regulation made, approved, or confirmed by the Commission in the absence of prejudice. All hearings conducted by the Commission shall be open to the public.     Each commissioner and every hearing examiner of the Commission designated by it to hold any inquiry, investigation or hearing, shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations, certify to all official acts, issue subpoenas, compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and the production of papers, books, accounts and documents.     Hearings shall be held either by the Commission or by one or more commissioners or hearing examiners.     When any counselor or attorney at law, licensed in any other state or territory, may desire to appear before the Commission, such counselor or attorney shall be allowed to appear before the Commission upon the same terms and in the same manner that counselors and attorneys at law licensed in this State now are or hereafter may be admitted to appear in such other state or territory before its Commission or equivalent body.     All evidence presented at hearings held by the Commission or under its authority shall become a part of the records of the Commission. In all cases in which the Commission bases any action on reports of investigation or inquiries not conducted as hearings, such reports shall be made a part of the records of the Commission. All proceedings of the Commission and all documents and records in its possession shall be public records, except as in this Act otherwise provided.     To the extent consistent with this Section and the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, the Commission may adopt reasonable and proper rules and regulations relative to the exercise of its powers, and proper rules to govern its proceedings, and regulate the mode and manner of all investigations and hearings, and alter and amend the same. (Source: P.A. 88‑45.)

(220 ILCS 5/10‑101.1)     Sec. 10‑101.1. Mediation; arbitration; case management.     (a) It is the intent of the General Assembly that proceedings before the Commission shall be concluded as expeditiously as is possible consistent with the right of the parties to the due process of law and protection of the public interest. It is further the intent of the General Assembly to permit and encourage voluntary mediation and voluntary binding arbitration of disputes arising under this Act.     (b) Nothing in this Act shall prevent parties to contested cases brought before the Commission from resolving those cases, or other disputes arising under this Act, in part or in their entirety, by agreement of all parties, by compromise and settlement, or by voluntary mediation; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall limit the Commission's authority to conduct such investigations and enter such orders as it shall deem necessary to enforce the provisions of this Act or otherwise protect the public interest. Evidence of conduct or statements made by a party in furtherance of voluntary mediation or in compromise negotiations is not admissible as evidence should the matter subsequently be heard by the Commission; provided, however that evidence otherwise discoverable is not excluded or deemed inadmissible merely because it is presented in the course of voluntary mediation or compromise negotiations. No civil penalty shall be imposed upon parties that reach an agreement pursuant to the mediation procedures in this Section.     (c) The Commission shall prescribe by rule such procedures and facilities as are necessary to permit parties to resolve disputes through voluntary mediation prior to the filing of, or at any point during, the pendency of a contested matter. Parties to disputes arising under this Act are encouraged to submit disputes to the Commission for voluntary mediation, which shall not be binding upon the parties. Submission of a dispute to voluntary mediation shall not compromise the right of any party to bring action under this Act.     (d) In any contested case before the Commission, at the Commission's or hearing examiner's direction or on motion of any party, a case management conference may be held at such time in the proceeding prior to evidentiary hearing as the hearing examiner deems proper. Prior to the conference, when directed to do so, all parties shall file a case management memorandum that addresses items (1) through (9) as directed by the hearing examiner. At the conference, the following shall be considered:         (1) the identification and simplification of the

issues; provided, however, that the identification of issues by a party shall not foreclose that party from raising such other meritorious issues as that party might subsequently identify;

(2) amendments to the pleadings;         (3) the possibility of obtaining admissions of fact

and of documents which will avoid unnecessary proof;

(4) limitations on discovery including:             (A) the area of expertise and the number of

witnesses who will likely be called; provided, however, that the identification of witnesses by a party shall not foreclose that party from producing such other witnesses as that party might subsequently identify; and

(B) schedules for responses to and completion of

discovery; provided, however, that such responses shall under no circumstances be provided later than 28 days after such discovery or requests are served, unless the hearing examiner shall order or the parties agree to some other time period for response;

(5) the possibility of settlement and scheduling of

a settlement conference;

(6) the advisability of alternative dispute

resolution including, but not limited to, mediation or arbitration;

(7) the date on which the matter should be ready for

evidentiary hearing and the likely duration of the hearing;

(8) the advisability of holding subsequent case

management conferences; and

(9) any other matters that may aid in the

disposition of the action.

(e) The Commission is hereby authorized, if requested by all parties to any complaint brought under this Act, to arbitrate the complaint and to enter a binding arbitration award disposing of the complaint. The Commission shall prescribe by rule procedures for arbitration. (Source: P.A. 92‑22, eff. 6‑30‑01.)

    (220 ILCS 5/10‑102)(from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 10‑102)
    Sec. 10‑102. All meetings of the Commission shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of the Open Meetings Act. Whenever the Commission holds an open meeting or, pursuant to such Act, closes any meeting, or portion of any meeting, it shall arrange for all discussions, deliberations and meetings to be transcribed verbatim by a certified court reporter. The transcripts may be provided in an electronic format only. The Commission shall review and approve all such transcripts within 30 days of the date of the meeting, but at least 10 days prior to the expiration of the time within which an application for rehearing is due in any proceeding that is the subject of the meeting. When, in the Commission's judgment, the exception of the Open Meetings Act relied upon for authorizing the closing of a meeting, as recorded pursuant to Section 2a of the Open Meetings Act, is no longer applicable, such transcripts shall be made available to the public. Any party to a Commission proceeding shall be given access to the transcript of any closed meeting pertaining to such proceeding at least 10 days prior to the expiration of the time within which his application for rehearing must be filed, upon the signing of an appropriate protective agreement. Transcripts of open Commission meetings shall be electronically posted in the relevant docket on the same day that the transcript is approved by the Commission.
(Source: P.A. 96‑33, eff. 7‑10‑09.)

    (220 ILCS 5/10‑103)(from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 10‑103)
    Sec. 10‑103. In all proceedings, investigations or hearings conducted by the Commission, except in the disposition of matters which the Commission is authorized to entertain or dispose of on an ex parte basis, any finding, decision or order made by the Commission shall be based exclusively on the record for decision in the case, which shall include only the transcript of testimony and exhibits together with all papers and requests filed in the proceeding, including, in contested cases, the documents and information described in Section 10‑35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.
    The provisions of Section 10‑60 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act shall apply in full to Commission proceedings, including ratemaking cases, any provision of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to the contrary notwithstanding.
    The provisions of Section 10‑60 shall not apply, however, to communications between Commission employees who are engaged in investigatory, prosecutorial or advocacy functions and other parties to the proceeding, provided that such Commission employees are still prohibited from communicating on an ex parte basis, as designated in Section 10‑60, directly or indirectly, with members of the Commission, any hearing examiner in the proceeding, or any Commission employee who is or may reasonably be expected to be involved in the decisional process of the proceeding. Any commissioner, hearing examiner, or other person who is or may reasonably be expected to be involved in the decisional process of a proceeding, who receives, or who makes or knowingly causes to be made, a communication prohibited by this Section or Section 10‑60 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act as modified by this Section, shall place on the public record of the proceeding (1) any and all such written communications; (2) memoranda stating the substance of any and all such oral communications; and (3) any and all written responses and memoranda stating the substance of any and all oral responses to the materials described in clauses (1) and (2).
    The Commission, or any commissioner or hearing examiner presiding over the proceeding, shall in the event of a violation of this Section, take whatever action is necessary to ensure that such violation does not prejudice any party or adversely affect the fairness of the proceedings, including dismissing the affected matter.
(Source: P.A. 96‑33, eff. 7‑10‑09.)

(220 ILCS 5/10‑104) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 10‑104)     Sec. 10‑104. All hearings before the Commission or any commissioner or hearing examiner shall be held within the county in which the subject matter of the hearing is situated, or if the subject matter of the hearing is situated in more than one county, then at a place or places designated by the Commission, or agreed upon by the parties in interest, within one or more such counties, or at the place which in the judgment of the Commission shall be most convenient to the parties to be heard. (Source: P.A. 84‑617.)

(220 ILCS 5/10‑105) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 10‑105)     Sec. 10‑105. No person shall be excused from testifying or from producing any papers, books, accounts or documents in any investigation or inquiry or upon any hearing ordered by the Commission, when ordered to do so by the Commission or any commissioner or hearing examiner, upon the ground that the testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, may tend to incriminate him or subject him to a penalty or forfeiture. But no person shall be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter or thing concerning which he may testify or produce evidence, documentary or otherwise, before the Commission or a commissioner or hearing examiner: Provided, that such immunity shall extend only to a natural person, who in obedience to a subpoena, gives testimony under oath or produces evidence, documentary or otherwise under oath. No person so testifying shall be exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury committed in so testifying. The Commission or a commissioner or hearing examiner may, on the motion of a party or on its own motion, strike, in whole or in part, the testimony of a person who is not reasonably prepared to respond to questions under cross‑examination intending to elicit information directly related to matters raised by that person in his testimony. (Source: P.A. 93‑457, eff. 8‑8‑03.)

(220 ILCS 5/10‑106) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 10‑106)     Sec. 10‑106. All subpoenas issued under the terms of this Act may be served by any person of full age. The fees of witnesses for attendance and travel shall be the same as fees of witnesses before the circuit courts of this State, such fees to be paid when the witness is excused from further attendance, when the witness is subpoenaed at the instance of the Commission, or any commissioner or hearing examiner; and the disbursements made in the payment of such fees shall be audited and paid in the same manner as are other expenses of the Commission. Whenever a subpoena is issued at the instance of a complainant, respondent, or other party to any proceeding before the Commission, the Commission may require that the cost of service thereof and the fee of the witness shall be borne by the party at whose instance the witness is summoned, and the Commission shall have power, in its discretion, to require a deposit to cover the cost of such service and witness fees and the payment of the legal witness fee and mileage to the witness when served with subpoena. A subpoena issued as aforesaid shall be served in the same manner as a subpoena issued out of a court.     Any person who shall be served with a subpoena to appear and testify, or to produce books, papers, accounts or documents, issued by the Commission or by any commissioner or hearing examiner, in the course of an inquiry, investigation or hearing conducted under any of the provisions of this Act, and who refuse or neglect to appear, or to testify, or to produce books, papers, accounts and documents relevant to said inquiry, investigation or hearing as commanded in such subpoena, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.     Any circuit court of this State, upon application of the Commission, or a commissioner or hearing examiner, may, in its discretion, compel the attendance of witnesses, the production of books, papers, accounts and documents, and the giving of testimony before the Commission, or before any such commissioner or hearing examiner, by an attachment for contempt or otherwise, in the same manner as production of evidence may be compelled before the court.     The Commission or a commissioner or hearing examiner or any party may in any investigation or hearing before the Commission, cause the deposition of witnesses residing within or without the State to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for like depositions in civil actions in the courts of this State and to that end may compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers, books, accounts and documents.     The Commission may require, by order served on any public utility in the manner provided herein for the service of orders, the production within this State at such time and place as it may designate, of any books, accounts, papers or documents kept by any public utility operating within this State in any office or place without this State, or, at its option, verified copies in lieu thereof, so that an examination thereof may be made by the Commission or under its direction. (Source: P.A. 84‑617.)

(220 ILCS 5/10‑107) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 10‑107)     Sec. 10‑107. The Commission, each commissioner and each employee of the Commission properly authorized thereby shall have the right, at any and all times to inspect the papers, books, accounts and documents, plant, equipment or other property of any public utility, and the Commission, each commissioner and any hearing examiner of the Commission authorized to administer oaths shall have the power to examine under oath any officer, agent or employee of such public utility in relation to any matter within the jurisdiction of the Commission. A person other than a commissioner or hearing examiner demanding such inspection shall produce under the seal of the Commission his authority to make such inspection. A written record of the testimony or statement so given under oath shall be made and filed with the Commission. Information so obtained shall not be admitted in evidence or used in any proceeding except in proceedings provided for in this Act.     Any party to a proceeding before the Commission shall have the right to inspect the records of all hearings, investigations or inquiries conducted by or under the authority of the Commission, which may relate to the issues involved in such proceeding; and to submit suggestions as to other matters to be investigated or as to questions to be propounded. If the Commission is satisfied that such suggested investigation should be made or such suggested questions answered, and that the information desired is within the power of either party to furnish, it shall enter an order requiring the investigation to be made or the questions to be answered, and upon failure or refusal to comply with such order, the Commission shall either refuse to grant the relief prayed for by the party refusing to comply, or may grant the relief prayed for by the opposing party against the party refusing to comply. (Source: P.A. 84‑617.)

(220 ILCS 5/10‑108) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 10‑108)     Sec. 10‑108. Complaints; notice; parties. Complaint may be made by the Commission, of its own motion or by any person or corporation, chamber of commerce, board of trade, or any industrial, commercial, mercantile, agricultural or manufacturing society, or any body politic or municipal corporation by petition or complaint in writing, setting forth any act or things done or omitted to be done in violation, or claimed to be in violation, of any provision of this Act, or of any order or rule of the Commission. In the discretion of the Commission, matters presented by one complaint may be ordered separated, and matters upon which complaint may be founded may be joined. No objection shall be sustained to a separation merely because the matters separated are under the ownership, control or management of the same persons or corporation. No complaint shall be dismissed because of the absence of direct damage to the complainant.     Upon the filing of a complaint the Commission shall cause a copy thereof to be served upon the person or corporation complained of which shall be accompanied by a notice requiring that the complaint be satisfied and answered within a reasonable time to be specified by the Commission or within the discretion of the Commission, by a notice fixing a time when and place where a hearing will be had upon such complaint. Notice of the time and place shall also be given to the complainant and to such other persons as the Commission shall deem necessary. The Commission shall have authority to hear and investigate any complaint notwithstanding the fact that the person or corporation complained of may have satisfied the complaint.     The time fixed for such hearing shall not be less than ten days after the date of the service of such notice and complaint except as herein provided. Service in all hearings, investigations, and proceedings before the Commission may be made upon any person upon whom a summons may be served in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Practice Law and all existing and future amendments thereto and modifications thereof and the Supreme Court Rules now or hereafter adopted in relation to that Law, and may be made personally, by electronic means, or by mailing same in the United States mail in a sealed envelope with postage prepaid. The provisions of this section as to notice shall apply to all hearings held by the Commission or under its authority.     Any public utility shall have a right to complain on any of the grounds upon which complaints are allowed to be filed by other parties, and the same procedure shall be adopted and followed as in other cases.     All cities shall have power to appear as complainants or to make application before the Illinois Commerce Commission for an inquiry, investigation or hearing relating to the rates or other charges or services of public utilities within such city; and in case of any inquiry, investigation or hearing by or before the Illinois Commerce Commission on any matter relating to the rates or other charges or services within any city, the city shall receive written notice not less than ten days before such inquiry, investigation or hearing, and shall be entitled to appear and present evidence relating to the subject matter of such inquiry, investigation or hearing. Such notice shall be served upon the city clerk.     Whenever there shall be filed a complaint under Article IX of this Act regarding the rates, charges, classifications or services of a public utility, the Commission shall make and render findings concerning the subject matter and facts complained of and enter its order based thereon not later than one year after the filing of such complaint unless all parties to the complaint proceeding under Article IX agree to a period of greater than one year, provided that any agreement to extend the one year period must be in writing and must be for a specified period of time not exceeding 60 days. The parties may enter into more than one agreement to extend time.     In the event that the Commission fails to enter its order within one year after the filing of the complaint or upon the expiration of the last agreement to extend time, any party may file a complaint in the circuit court for an emergency order of mandamus to direct and compel the Commission to enter its order within 60 days of the expiration of the one year period or within 60 days of the expiration of the last agreement to extend time, and the court shall set a schedule to enable the Commission to complete the case and enter an order within the time frame specified herein. Summons upon the complaint shall be returnable within 5 days. The complaint for an order of mandamus shall be brought in the circuit in which the subject matter of the complaint is situated or, if the subject matter of the hearing is situated in more than one circuit, then in any one of those circuits. (Source: P.A. 91‑341, eff. 7‑29‑99.)

(220 ILCS 5/10‑109) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 10‑109)     Sec. 10‑109. The Commission shall have power to receive complaints regarding loss or damage occasioned by a public utility, and to make inquiry as to the methods of adjusting such claims. All claims against any public utility for loss of, or damage to property, or for any other loss or damage, in connection with a public utility service, not covered by the preceding paragraphs of this section, if not acted upon within 90 days from the date of the filing of the claim with the public utility, may be investigated by the Commission, in its discretion, and the results of such investigation shall be embodied in a special report which shall be open to public inspection. (Source: P.A. 84‑617.)

    (220 ILCS 5/10‑110)(from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 10‑110)
    Sec. 10‑110. At the time fixed for any hearing upon a complaint, the complainant and the person or corporation complained of, and such persons or corporations as the Commission may allow to intervene, shall be entitled to be heard and to introduce evidence. The Commission shall issue process to enforce the attendance of all necessary witnesses. At the conclusion of such hearing the Commission shall make and render findings concerning the subject matter and facts inquired into and enter its order based thereon. A copy of such order, certified under the seal of the Commission, shall be served upon the person or corporation complained of, or his or its attorney, which order shall, of its own force, take effect and become operative twenty days after the service thereof, except as otherwise provided, and shall continue in force either for a period which may be designated therein or until changed or abrogated by the Commission. Where an order cannot, in the judgment of the Commission, be complied with within twenty days, the Commission may prescribe such additional time as in its judgment is reasonably necessary to comply with the order, and may, on application and for good cause shown, extend the time for compliance fixed in its order. A full and complete record shall be preserved of all proceedings had before the Commission, or any member thereof, or any hearing examiner, on any formal hearing had, and all testimony shall be taken down by a stenographer appointed by the Commission, and the parties shall be entitled to be heard in person or by attorney.
    In any proceeding involving a public utility in which the lawfulness of any of its rates or other charges shall be called in question by any person or corporation furnishing a commodity or service in competition with said public utility at prices or charges not subject to regulation, the Commission may investigate the competitive prices or other charges demanded or received by such person or corporation for such commodity or service, including the rates or other charges applicable to the transportation thereof. The Commission may, on its own motion or that of any party to such proceeding, issue subpoenas to secure the appearance of witnesses or the production of books, papers, accounts and documents necessary to ascertain the prices, rates or other charges for such commodity or service or for the transportation thereof, and shall dismiss from such proceeding any party failing to comply with a subpoena so issued.
    In case of an appeal from any order or decision of the Commission, under the terms of Sections 10‑201 and 10‑202 of this Act, a transcript of such testimony, together with all exhibits or copies thereof introduced and all information secured by the Commission on its own initiative and considered by it in rendering its order or decision (and required by this Act to be made a part of its records) and of the pleadings, records and proceedings in the case, including transcripts of Commission meetings prepared in accordance with Section 10‑102 of this Act, shall constitute the record of the Commission: Provided, that on appeal from an order or decision of the Commission, the person or corporation taking the appeal and the Commission may stipulate that a certain question or certain questions alone and a specified portion only of the evidence shall be certified to the court for its judgment, whereupon such stipulation and the question or questions and the evidence therein specified shall constitute the record on appeal.
    Copies of all official documents and orders filed or deposited according to law in the office of the Commission, certified by the Chairman of the Commission or his or her designee to be true copies of the originals, under the official seal of the Commission, shall be evidence in like manner as the originals.
    In any matter concerning which the Commission is authorized to hold a hearing, upon complaint or application or upon its own motion, notice shall be given to the public utility and to such other interested persons as the Commission shall deem necessary in the manner provided in Section 10‑108, and the hearing shall be conducted in like manner as if complaint had been made to or by the Commission. But nothing in this Act shall be taken to limit or restrict the power of the Commission, summarily, of its own motion, with or without notice, to conduct any investigations or inquiries authorized by this Act, in such manner and by such means as it may deem proper, and to take such action as it may deem necessary in connection therewith. With respect to any rules, regulations, decisions or orders which the Commission is authorized to issue without a hearing, and so issues, any public utility or other person or corporation affected thereby and deeming such rules, regulations, decisions or orders, or any of them, improper, unreasonable or contrary to law, may apply for a hearing thereon, setting forth specifically in such application every ground of objection which the applicant desires to urge against such rule, regulation, decision or order. The Commission may, in its discretion, grant or deny the application, and a hearing, if had, shall be subject to the provisions of this and the preceding Sections.
(Source: P.A. 96‑33, eff. 7‑10‑09.)

    (220 ILCS 5/10‑111)(from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 10‑111)
    Sec. 10‑111. In any hearing, proceeding, investigation or rulemaking conducted by the Commission, the Commission, commissioner or hearing examiner presiding, shall, after the close of evidentiary hearings, prepare a recommended or tentative decision, finding or order including a statement of findings and conclusions and the reasons or basis therefore, on all the material issues of fact, law or discretion presented on the record. Such recommended or tentative decision, finding or order shall be served on all parties who shall be entitled to a reasonable opportunity to respond thereto, either in briefs or comments otherwise to be filed or separately. The recommended or tentative decision, finding or order and any responses thereto, shall be included in the record for decision. This Section shall not apply to any hearing, proceeding, or investigation conducted under Section 13‑515.
(Source: P.A. 96‑33, eff. 7‑10‑09.)

(220 ILCS 5/10‑112) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 10‑112)     Sec. 10‑112. Service of Commission orders. Every order of the Commission shall be served upon every person or corporation to be affected thereby by personal delivery of a copy thereof, by mailing in the United States mail a copy thereof in a sealed package with postage prepaid, or by electronic means to the person to be affected thereby or in the case of a corporation, to any officer or agent thereof upon whom a summons of a circuit court may be served in a civil action. Where such persons or corporations, or both, exceed 3 in number, service as herein provided may be upon the attorneys or representatives of record, if there be any; and in any event, mailing in the United States mail as herein provided, shall constitute service, without additional proof of a receipt of such copy or copies of such order. Within a time specified in the order of the Commission every person and corporation upon whom it is served must, if so required in the order, notify the Commission in like manner whether the terms of the order are accepted and will be obeyed. (Source: P.A. 91‑341, eff. 7‑29‑99.)

(220 ILCS 5/10‑113) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 10‑113)     Sec. 10‑113. Rescission or hearing of order.     (a) Anything in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding, the Commission may at any time, upon notice to the public utility affected, and after opportunity to be heard as provided in the case of complaints, rescind, alter or amend any rule, regulation, order or decision made by it. Any order rescinding, altering or amending a prior rule, regulation, order or decision shall, when served upon the public utility affected, have the same effect as is herein provided for original rules, regulations, orders or decisions. Within 30 days after the service of any rule or regulation, order or decision of the Commission any party to the action or proceeding may apply for a rehearing in respect to any matter determined in said action or proceeding and specified in the application for rehearing. The Commission shall receive and consider such application and shall grant or deny such application in whole or in part within 20 days from the date of the receipt thereof by the Commission. In case the application for rehearing is granted in whole or in part the Commission shall proceed as promptly as possible to consider such rehearing as allowed. No appeal shall be allowed from any rule, regulation, order or decision of the Commission unless and until an application for a rehearing thereof shall first have been filed with and finally disposed of by the Commission: provided, however, that in case the Commission shall fail to grant or deny an application for a rehearing in whole or in part within 20 days from the date of the receipt thereof, or shall fail to enter a final order upon rehearing within 150 days after such rehearing is granted, the application for rehearing shall be deemed to have been denied and finally disposed of, and an order to that effect shall be deemed to have been served, for the purpose of an appeal from the rule, regulation, order or decision covered by such application. No person or corporation in any appeal shall urge or rely upon any grounds not set forth in such application for a rehearing before the Commission. An application for rehearing shall not excuse any corporation or person from complying with and obeying any rule, regulation, order or decision or any requirement of any rule, regulation, order or decision of the Commission theretofore made, or operate in any manner to stay or postpone the enforcement thereof, except in such cases and upon such terms as the Commission may by order direct. If, after such rehearing and consideration of all the facts, including those arising since the making of the rule, regulation, order or decision, the Commission shall be of the opinion that the original rule, regulation, order or decision or any part thereof is in any respect unjust or unwarranted, or should be changed, the Commission may rescind, alter or amend the same. A rule, regulation, order or decision made after such rehearing, rescinding, altering or amending the original rule, regulation, order or decision shall have the same force and effect as an original rule, regulation, order or decision, but shall not affect any right or the enforcement of any right arising from or by virtue of the original rule, regulation, order or decision unless so ordered by the Commission. Only one rehearing shall be granted by the Commission; but this shall not be construed to prevent any party from filing a petition setting up a new and different state of facts after 2 years, and invoking the action of the Commission thereon.     (b) Notwithstanding any contrary or inconsistent provision in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, the Commission may, in accordance with this Section, make a change in a rule or regulation adopted or modified pursuant to Section 5‑40 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, upon consideration of an application for rehearing of the Commission's order directing that the rule or regulation be filed with the Secretary of State and published in the Illinois Register pursuant to subsection (d) of Section 5‑40. The Commission shall provide the parties to the original hearing in which the rule was adopted or modified no less than 7 days notice to provide responses to the change the Commission proposes to make. Any such change shall be based upon evidence submitted in the record in the original hearing or in the rehearing. If the Commission makes such a substantive change in the rule or regulation pursuant to this subsection, it shall provide notice of the amendment to the rule or regulation to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules in accordance with subsection (c) of Section 5‑40, and shall thereafter comply with the requirements of subsection (d) of Section 5‑40 with respect to the rule or regulation as amended. The running of the time period specified in subsection (e) of Section 5‑40 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act for completing a rulemaking proceeding shall be tolled for the period of time necessary for the Commission to receive and consider an application for rehearing and to conduct any proceedings on rehearing, provided, that such tolling shall not serve to extend any of the time periods provided for in subsection (a) of this Section. (Source: P.A. 90‑561, eff. 12‑16‑97.)

    (220 ILCS 5/10‑201)(from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 10‑201)
    Sec. 10‑201. (a) Jurisdiction. Within 35 days from the date that a copy of the order or decision sought to be reviewed was served upon the party affected by any order or decision of the Commission refusing an application for a rehearing of any rule, regulation, order or decision of the Commission, including any order granting or denying interim rate relief, or within 35 days from the date that a copy of the order or decision sought to be reviewed was served upon the party affected by any final order or decision of the Commission upon and after a rehearing of any rule, regulation, order or decision of the Commission, including any order granting or denying interim rate relief, any person or corporation affected by such rule, regulation, order or decision, may appeal to the appellate court of the judicial district in which the subject matter of the hearing is situated, or if the subject matter of the hearing is situated in more than one district, then of any one of such districts, for the purpose of ha

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