Illinois Statutes Chapter 220. Utilities § 5/8-407. Reevaluation of certificates of public convenience and necessity; construction of new electric generating facility; construction cost audit; withdrawal or alteration of certificate

§ 8-407. (a) The Commission, after granting any certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of a new electric generating facility, shall reevaluate the propriety and necessity for the certificate at least every 3 years and shall consider in the reevaluation any and all changes in the forecasts and circumstances relied upon in its initial decision to grant the certificate, including but not limited to, each criterion that is outlined in this Section as a precondition for the granting of a certificate and any changes in the energy plans for the utility and the State.

(b) Whenever the Commission grants any certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of a new electric generating facility, the Commission shall design and establish all procedures necessary for it to thoroughly and effectively evaluate, supervise, and monitor construction, and shall thereafter take all steps necessary to assure that construction is efficient and economical.

The Commission shall have the power to conduct a construction cost audit at any time during construction, or to arrange for such an audit to be conducted by persons independent of the utility and selected by the Commission, whenever the Commission has cause to believe that such audit is necessary, or likely to be beneficial, to the efficiency or economy of construction. The cost of such an independent audit shall be borne initially by the utility, but shall be recovered as an expense through normal ratemaking procedures pursuant to this Act.

(c) The Commission shall have the power to withdraw or alter any certificate of public convenience and necessity including any certificate granted for the construction of a new electric generating facility or a substantial alteration or addition to an existing generating facility where it determines that: