Pennsylvania SB 154: An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Public Utility Code, providing for responsible utility customer protection.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 104
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 154
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BOSCOLA, FONTANA AND PENNYCUICK, JANUARY 23, 2025
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
JANUARY 23, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in Public Utility Code, providing for
responsible utility customer protection.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Part I of Title 66 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 14
RESPONSIBLE UTILITY CUSTOMER PROTECTION
Sec.
1401. Scope of chapter.
1402. Declaration of policy.
1403. Definitions.
1404. Cash deposits and household information requirements.
1405. Payment arrangements.
1406. Termination of utility service.
1407. Reconnection of service.
1408. Surcharges for uncollectible expenses prohibited.
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1409. Late payment charge waiver.
1410. Complaints filed with commission.
1410.1. Public utility duties.
1411. Automatic meter readings.
1412. Reporting of delinquent customers.
1413. Reporting of recipients of public assistance.
1414. Liens by city natural gas distribution operations.
1415. Reporting to General Assembly and Governor.
1416. Notice.
1417. Nonapplicability.
1418. Construction.
1419. Expiration.
§ 1401. Scope of chapter.
This chapter relates to protecting responsible customers of
public utilities.
§ 1402. Declaration of policy.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Formal service rules were first adopted by the
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in 1978 with the
stated goal of enforcing uniform, fair and equitable
residential public utility service standards governing
eligibility criteria, credit and deposit practices, account
billing, termination and restoration of service procedures
and customer complaint procedures. These rules have not
successfully managed the issue of bill payment. Increasing
amounts of unpaid bills now threaten paying customers with
higher rates due to other customers' delinquencies.
(2) The General Assembly believes that it is now time to
revisit these rules and provide protections against rate
increases for timely paying customers resulting from other
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customers' delinquencies. The General Assembly seeks to
achieve greater equity by eliminating opportunities for
customers capable of paying to avoid the timely payment of
public utility bills.
(3) Through this chapter, the General Assembly seeks to
provide public utilities with an equitable means to reduce
their uncollectible accounts by modifying the procedures for
delinquent account collections and by increasing timely
collections. At the same time, the General Assembly seeks to
ensure that service remains available to all customers on
reasonable terms and conditions.
(4) The General Assembly believes that it is appropriate
to provide additional collection tools to city natural gas
distribution operations to recognize the financial
circumstances of the operations and protect their ability to
provide natural gas for the benefit of the residents of the
city.
(5) The General Assembly believes that it is appropriate
to recognize the applicability of this chapter to a water and
sewer authority in a city of the second class.
§ 1403. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Applicant." A natural person at least 18 years of age or an
emancipated minor not currently receiving service who applies
for residential service provided by a public utility or any
adult occupant whose name appears on the mortgage, deed or
lease , as identified in section 202 of the act of April 6, 1951
(P.L.69, No.20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951,
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of the property for which the residential public utility service
is requested. The term does not include a person who, within 30
days after service termination or discontinuance of service,
seeks to have service reconnected at the same location or
transferred to another location within the service territory of
the public utility.
" Change in income. " A decrease in household income of 20% or
more if the customer's household income level exceeds 200% of
the Federal poverty level or a decrease in household income of
10% or more if the customer's household income level is 200% or
less of the Federal poverty level.
"City natural gas distribution operation." As defined in
section 102 (relating to definitions).
"Creditworthiness." An assessment of an applicant's or
customer's ability to meet bill payment obligations for utility
service.
"Customer." A natural person at least 18 yea