Pennsylvania HB 2236: An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in service and facilities, providing for alerting residential customers to potential water leaks.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2929
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2236
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY PUGH, RIVERA, PROBST, NEILSON, WARREN, PICKETT AND
GILLEN, FEBRUARY 20, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
UTILITIES, FEBRUARY 20, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in service and facilities, providing
for alerting residential customers to potential water leaks.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 66 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 1509.1. Alerting residential customers to potential water
leaks.
(a) Notification.--
(1) Upon a determination by a public utility through a
meter reading that a residential customer is experiencing
atypical water consumption, the public utility shall notify
the residential customer by telephone or email, if that
contact information is available.
(2) Notification under paragraph (1) must include:
(i) A statement alerting the residential customer
that the atypical water consumption may be a sign of a
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potential water leak stemming from the property of the
residential customer.
(ii) An estimate of the residential customer's
projected balance for the next two billing cycles,
assuming that the atypical water consumption trend
continues.
(iii) A brief questionnaire, subject to the
residential customer's consent, designed to assess
whether the residential customer has knowledge of changes
in the water consumption practices that may account for
the atypical water consumption on the property of the
residential customer.
(iv) Written or verbal guidance on best practices
for avoiding and identifying water leaks on residential
property.
(b) Site visits.--
(1) Upon a determination by a public utility that a
residential customer is unaware of recent changes in water
consumption practices that may account for the atypical water
consumption, and subject to the express consent of the
residential customer, the public utility shall offer to
perform a site visit to the property of the residential
customer.
(2) A site visit under this subsection:
(i) Shall consist of the inspection of the water
meter and connecting apparatus of the residential
customer and a visual inspection of the property of the
residential customer.
(ii) Shall not require physical disturbances of the
property of the residential customer, including
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excavation or alteration of physical structures.
(3) An employee executing a site visit under this
subsection shall:
(i) Document the site visit through photographic
documentation of inspected areas.
(ii) If possible, at the conclusion of the site
visit, secure the residential customer's signature
attesting to the performance of the site visit.
(c) Limitations.--
(1) A public utility and an employee of a public utility
shall not be held liable for failing to identify a water leak
within the property line or structure during a site visit
under subsection (b).
(2) An employee of a public utility may refuse to
execute a site visit if there are unsafe physical conditions,
actual denial of entry to the property or constructive denial
of entry to the property at the time of the site visit or
based on the public utility's records of past interactions
with the residential customer. The employee shall document
the refusal with specificity.
(3) A public utility may not consider a residential
customer's atypical water consumption for purposes that are
outside of those permitted by State law and regulation or
that are deemed necessary to comply with this section.
(d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Atypical water consumption." Irregular or abnormal water
consumption by a residential customer that exceeds the
residential customer's average monthly or billing period
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consumption over a 12-month period by at least 200% or $200. The
term does not include nonessential uses of water as defined
under 52 Pa. Code § 65.1 (relating to definitions).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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