PRINTER'S NO. 583
No. 524 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY GEIST, D. R. WRIGHT, HAYES, BOWSER, FARGO,
STEWART, HERMAN, MERRY, PETRARCA, G. M. SNYDER, McVERRY,
SEMMEL, REINARD, LLOYD, DORR, RYBAK, LASHINGER, AFFLERBACH,
ROBBINS, OLASZ AND DAWIDA, FEBRUARY 27, 1985
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 27, 1985
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of May 2, 1945 (P.L.382, No.164), entitled "An
2 act providing for the incorporation as bodies corporate and
3 politic of "Authorities" for municipalities, counties and
4 townships; prescribing the rights, powers and duties of such
5 Authorities heretofore or hereafter incorporated; authorizing
6 such Authorities to acquire, construct, improve, maintain and
7 operate projects, and to borrow money and issue bonds
8 therefor; providing for the payment of such bonds, and
9 prescribing the rights of the holders thereof; conferring the
10 right of eminent domain on such Authorities; authorizing such
11 Authorities to enter into contracts with and to accept grants
12 from the Federal Government or any agency thereof; and
13 conferring exclusive jurisdiction on certain courts over
14 rates," making provision for public water service recipients
15 to tap into public water service for the purpose of providing
16 a sufficient water supply for the operation of residential
17 groundwater heat pumps.
18 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
19 hereby enacts as follows:
20 Section 1. Section 2 of the act of May 2, 1945 (P.L.382,
21 No.164), known as the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945, is
22 amended by adding definitions to read:
23 Section 2. Definitions.--The following terms whenever used
24 or referred to in this act shall have the following meanings,
1 except in those instances where the context clearly indicates
2 otherwise:
3 * * *
4 (n) The term "residential groundwater heat pump" shall mean
5 a mechanical system designed to utilize the natural heat of the
6 earth by extracting the heat energy in groundwater to provide
7 residential heating, and by extracting the heat from the air and
8 dissipating it into the groundwater to provide residential
9 cooling, including, but not limited to, such components as
10 water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, refrigerant-to-air heat
11 exchanger, refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger and refrigerant
12 compressor.
13 (o) The term "groundwater" shall mean water from aquifers,
14 lakes, wells and any other occurrences of water in and under the
15 ground, whether percolating or otherwise, located on the
16 residential property and water from privately distributed or
17 municipally distributed water systems.
18 Section 2. Section 4B of the act is amended by adding a
19 clause to read:
20 Section 4. Purposes and Powers; General.--* * *
21 B. Every Authority is hereby granted, and shall have and may
22 exercise all powers necessary or convenient for the carrying out
23 of the aforesaid purposes, including but without limiting the
24 generality of the foregoing, the following rights and powers:
25 * * *
26 (t.1) Every Authority incorporated under this act for the
27 purpose of acquiring, holding, maintaining, operating and owning
28 waterworks, water supply works and water distribution systems
29 may permit the tapping of a water pipeline for the purpose of
30 providing a sufficient water supply for the operation of
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1 residential groundwater heat pumps utilizing a closed-loop
2 system.
3 Every Authority shall charge a one-time tapping fee, not to
4 exceed the normal tap fee for the cost of water service,
5 whenever the owner of any such groundwater heat pump connects
6 such heat pump with a water pipeline. The one-time tapping fee
7 shall constitute the total extent of the charges and fees and
8 there shall be no other extraordinary charges and fees.
9 Accordingly, the Authority shall not fix, charge or collect any
10 rates or other charges for the supply of water to the
11 groundwater heat pump system.
12 The Authority shall have the unconditional right at any
13 reasonable time to inspect the groundwater heat pump connections
14 to the water system to insure the exclusive use of the public
15 water for supply to the groundwater heat pump system.
16 * * *
17 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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