State Documents

• Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Utility Consumer, Illinois Commerce Commission, Consumer Affairs Division (April 1981), 15 pp.

This brief booklet discusses many of the problems facing the average utility consumer in this state. Among the topics covered are: how to file a complaint, steps that must be followed in the termination of service, and procedures for establishing credit.

• more for your money . . . Home Energy Savings, prepared by University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service and Small Homes Council for the Illinois Institute of Natural Resources, 325 W. Adams, Springfield 62706 (1980).

In 1979 the institute developed and distributed its first set of residential energy fact sheets. The response to them was so positive that this second phase includes expanded and updated information. The handbook covers weatherization and insulating techniques, moisture control, wood burning, water heating, appliances, new construction, mobile homes, landscaping, choosing a contractor and evaluating new products.

• Starting and Operating an Illinois Business, Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, no date, 26 pp.

The first part of this booklet deals with starting a business and covers such questions as legal organization, licenses and permits, and where to get start-up assistance. The second part, concerning the operation of a business, is three times as long and has six sections: uniform commercial code, labor, utilities, transportation, taxes and operating assistance. Maps and numerous addresses are also included.

• Voter Turnout in the First Consolidated Election — April 7, 1981, State Board of Elections, 14 pp.

The new consolidated election law may have achieved one of its primary goals: voter turnout was up. This report lists voter turnout by county and gives the number of local units of government that elected officials or held school referenda.

Other Reports

• A Reference Guide for County Government Law, by Maurice W. Scott, Taxpayers' Federation of Illinois, 525 W. Jefferson, Suite 506, Springfield 62702 (1980), 130pp. ($5.00)

This twelfth edition of the guide is a compilation of the statutes concerning counties, county boards, county funds and county officers, their powers, duties, salaries and fees; it also contains statutory citations, adjudicated cases, and attorney generals' opinions.

• A Practical Guide to Illinois Real Estate Taxation, prepared by Brent S. Bohlen for Taxpayers' Federation of Illinois, 525 W. Jefferson, Suite 506, Springfield 62702 (March 1981), 27pp. ($3.00)

Three questions are dealt with in this highly informative booklet: How is the property tax calculated and administered? How significant are the revenues obtained by the property tax? How can the individual have an impact upon his or her property taxes?

• Energy Connections: A Newsletter for the Springfield Energy Project, available free of charge from Springfield Energy Project, Sangamon State University, Springfield 62708. This new publication, which will appear at irregular intervals, is intended to keep project members and others throughout the state informed about the work of its 10 task forces, as well as other energy related events in Springfield.

• Lifeline and Low-Income Customers: A Report and Recommendation, Energy Consumer Information Program, Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies, Springfield, 16 pp.

A lifeline rate structure — assuring residential users a minimum amount of energy for basic essentials at a special low rate — makes sense, according to this report, only if the low-income users are also low-volume users. Further demographic studies need to be conducted to help policymakers resolve this issue.

Items listed under State Documents have been received by the Documents Unit, Illinois State Library, Springfield, and are usually available from public libraries in the state through interlibrary loan.           Anna J. Merritt

November 1981 | Illinois Issues | 11