Section 2700.10  Definitions and Abbreviations

 

The following definitions and abbreviations are applicable in the Office of Public Counsel's rules:

 

a)         "The OPC" or "OPC" or "the Office" refers to the Office of Public Counsel that is created in Article XI of The Public Utilities Act ("the PUA") (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 111²/₃, pars. 11-101 et seq.).

 

b)         "The Public Counsel" refers to the person who is appointed as the Public Counsel under Illinois Revised Statutes 1987, chapter 111²/₃, paragraph 11-202.

 

Section 2700.13  Agency's Powers and Duties

 

The Office of Public Counsel is created by Article XI of the PUA.  The Office has the power and duty to intervene in and to initiate proceedings before the Illinois Commerce Commission, federal agencies, and Illinois and federal courts to promote or protect the rights and interests of all Illinois citizens, customer classes, and users of electric, gas, water and sewer, and telecommunication services.

 

Section 2700.15  Rulemaking

 

Any interested person may file a petition that requests that the OPC adopt, amend, or repeal a rule.  The petition shall be filed with the agency clerk.  Each petition shall set forth the petitioner's interest in the subject matter, the specific rule, amendment, or repeal that is requested, and the reasons in support of the request.  Within 30 days of receiving the petition, the Public Counsel either shall deny the petition, giving a written explanation for the denial, or shall initiate rulemaking proceedings by publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Illinois Register.  If, within 30 days of the OPC's receipt of a petition, the Public Counsel has not acted upon the petition, then the petition shall be considered denied.

 

Section 2700.20  Distribution of Rules

 

a)         The OPC's Springfield and Chicago offices will each have a certified copy of the OPC's rules. Any person may obtain a copy of the OPC's rules by making a request to the Deputy Public Counsel or Public Counsel.

 

b)         In addition to the rules published in the Illinois Register and the Illinois Administrative Code, the OPC has internal regulations on financial and ethical restrictions, general personnel regulations, affirmative action, travel regulations, and financial services.  Any person may obtain a copy of the internal regulations by making a request to the Deputy Public Counsel or the Public Counsel.

 

Section 2700.25  Office Location

 

The OPC maintains two offices:

 

a)         Office of Public Counsel

528 South Fifth Street

Suite 212

Springfield, Illinois 62701

(217) 785-7687

 

b)         Office of Public Counsel

State of Illinois Center

100 West Randolph Street

Suite 11-300

Chicago, Illinois 60601

(312) 814-3903

 

Section 2700.26  Office Hours for Public Access

 

a)         The Springfield office is open from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday, except for legal holidays and other days declared by the Public Counsel.

 

b)         The Chicago office is open from 8:30 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday, except for legal holidays and other days declared by the Public Counsel.

 

Section 2700.27  Agency Clerk and Official Custodian of Files

 

The Deputy Public Counsel, who is located in the Chicago office, is the OPC's clerk and the official custodian of the OPC's files.  All official correspondence should be directed to the Chicago office:

 

Clerk

Office of Public Counsel

State of Illinois Center

100 West Randolph Street

Suite 11-300

Chicago, Illinois 60601

(312) 814-3903

Section 2700.APPENDIX A   Office of Public Counsel Organizational Chart