The utility company shall notify all tenants of buildings with 3 or more residential apartments of the proposed termination of utility service. This notice shall contain the following information: (1) the specific date, no sooner than 10 days after the notice is rendered, that utility service is subject to termination; (2) a statement of the tenants’ statutory right either (A) to pay the utility company the amount due and owing by the landlord and to deduct the amount paid to the utility company from the rent due on the rental agreement or (B) to petition the court for appointment of a receiver to collect the rents due for use and occupancy of the building and remit a portion to the utility company for payment of utility bills; (3) the dollar amount of the utility bills due and owing on the date such notice is given and the average monthly utility bill; and (4) the name and telephone number of any legal services agency within the utility company’s service area where the tenants may obtain free legal assistance. Any notice provided to tenants of a building under this Act shall be of a conspicuous size, on red paper, and in at least 14 point bold face type, except that the words “notice of (utility service) termination” shall be in 36 point bold face type if the notice is posted, and shall state:
        It is unlawful for the landlord or his or her agent
    
to alter, deface, tamper with, or remove this notice. A landlord or his or her agent who violates this provision is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

Attorney's Note

Under the Illinois Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class C misdemeanorup to 30 daysup to $1,500
For details, see § Ill. Comp. Stat. 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-65

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Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 765 ILCS 735/3

  • State: when applied to different parts of the United States, may be construed to include the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" may be construed to include the said district and territories. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.14