I believe the exemption applies to employees of the utility. Sine Joe is offering consulting engineering services to someone within the state of Illinois, it would seem to me that they are violating the SE practice act of Illinois.
Here is a portion of the Illinois act. Note items 4 and 6 - both refer to [red]"employees"[/red]:
[blue](e) Nothing in this Act shall prevent:
(1) Employees, including project representatives, of
professional engineers lawfully practicing as sole owners, partnerships or corporations under this Act, from acting under the direct supervision of their employers.
(2) The employment of owner's representatives by the
owner during the constructing, adding to, or altering of a project, or any parts thereof, provided that such owner's representative shall not have the authority to deviate from the technical submissions without the prior approval of the professional engineer for the project.
(3) The practice of officers and employees of the
Government of the United States while engaged within this State in the practice of the profession of engineering for the Government.
(4) Services performed by employees of a business
organization engaged in utility, telecommunications, industrial, or manufacturing operations, or by employees of laboratory research affiliates of such business organization which are rendered in connection with the fabrication or production, sale, and installation of products, systems, or nonengineering services of the business organization or its affiliates.
(5) Inspection, maintenance and service work done by
employees of the State of Illinois, any political subdivision thereof or any municipality.
(6) The activities performed by those ordinarily
designated as chief engineer of plant operation, chief operating engineer, locomotive, stationary, marine, power plant or hoisting and portable engineers, electrical maintenance or service engineers, personnel employed in connection with construction, operation or maintenance of street lighting, traffic control signals, police and fire alarm systems, waterworks, steam, electric, and sewage treatment and disposal plants, or the services ordinarily performed by any worker regularly employed as a locomotive, stationary, marine, power plant, or hoisting and portable engineer or electrical maintenance or service engineer for any corporation, contractor or employer.
(7) The activities performed by a person ordinarily
designated as a supervising engineer or supervising electrical maintenance or service engineer who supervises the operation of, or who operates, machinery or equipment, or who supervises construction or the installation of equipment within a plant which is under such person's immediate supervision.
(8) The services, for private use, of contractors or
owners in the construction of engineering works or the installation of equipment.
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