PRINTER'S NO. 4795
No. 3024 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY LEACH, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FLAHERTY, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GRUCELA, JAMES, KOTIK, McGEEHAN, PARKER, B. SMITH, STURLA, THOMAS, VITALI, WALKO AND YOUNGBLOOD, OCTOBER 17, 2006
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, OCTOBER 17, 2006
AN ACT 1 Establishing a lending program in Commonwealth libraries for 2 electricity meters; creating a grant; and making an 3 appropriation. 4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 5 hereby enacts as follows: 6 Section 1. Short title. 7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Electricity 8 Meter Lending Program Act. 9 Section 2. Purpose. 10 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows: 11 (1) There is an increasing need for the deployment of 12 innovative technologies that help Pennsylvania citizens to 13 shift or reduce their power consumption and costs. 14 (2) It is the intent of this act to expand electricity 15 meter use and provide an expense-free and effortless way for 16 residents to discover the amount of electricity used by plug- 17 in appliances throughout the home.
1 (3) It is the intent of this act to encourage consumers 2 to become more informed energy users and make decisions that 3 will reduce energy consumption, as well as encourage citizens 4 to consider newer high-efficiency appliances. 5 Section 3. Definitions. 6 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall 7 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the 8 context clearly indicates otherwise: 9 "Electricity meter." An electronic device that measures the 10 amount of electrical energy of a household appliance in kilowatt 11 hours. 12 "Grant." A grant issued under the Electricity Meter Lending 13 Program established under this act. 14 "Library." A local public library that receives funding from 15 the Commonwealth. 16 "Office." The Office of Commonwealth Libraries within the 17 Department of Education of the Commonwealth. 18 "Program." The Electricity Meter Lending Program established 19 under this act. 20 Section 4. Electricity Meter Lending Program. 21 (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the 22 Electricity Meter Lending Program within the Office of 23 Commonwealth Libraries. The purpose of the program is to provide 24 grants to libraries to provide electricity meters to lend to the 25 public. 26 (b) Eligibility.--A library that receives funding from the 27 Commonwealth is eligible to apply for a grant for funds to 28 purchase electricity meters and lend the electricity meters to 29 the public. A municipality in which a library is located may 30 also apply for a grant for the library. The office, in its 20060H3024B4795 - 2 -
1 discretion, shall determine the amount of the grant allocated to 2 a library. The office shall consider the population of the 3 library's service area and may establish additional criteria for 4 awarding the grants. 5 (c) Requirements.--A library receiving a grant shall use the 6 funds to purchase electricity meters and comply with the 7 provisions of section 5. The office shall monitor and verify 8 fulfillment of all of the requirements under this act. 9 Section 5. Electricity meter lending. 10 (a) Electricity meter lending.--A library receiving a grant 11 shall offer electricity meters for loan to the public. 12 (b) Program materials.--The office shall provide and a 13 library receiving a grant shall make available to the public all 14 of the following materials: 15 (1) Simple operating instructions for electricity 16 meters. 17 (2) Information on how to calculate the cost of using 18 any appliance based on the reading on the device. 19 (3) Energy conservation information. 20 (c) Training.--At least one employee of a library receiving 21 a grant shall be knowledgeable about the electricity meter. A 22 public utility providing electric service in the municipality 23 where the library is located shall offer training to library 24 employees in the use of electricity meters. 25 (d) Procedures.--A library shall establish procedures for 26 the lending of electricity meters to the public. 27 Section 6. Administration. 28 (a) Enforcement.--The office shall enforce repayment of a 29 grant for a library that does not comply with the provisions of 30 this act, to include use of all lawful collection procedures and 20060H3024B4795 - 3 -
1 the use of private collection agencies. 2 (b) Appeals.--The provisions of this act shall be subject to 3 2 Pa.C.S. Ch. 5 Subch. A (relating to practice and procedure of 4 Commonwealth agencies). 5 Section 7. Rules and regulations. 6 The office may promulgate rules and regulations to administer 7 and enforce this act. 8 Section 8. Appropriation. 9 The sum of $30,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary, 10 is hereby appropriated to the Office of Commonwealth Libraries 11 within the Department of Education for the fiscal year July 1, 12 2007, to June 30, 2008, to carry out the provisions of this act. 13 Section 9. Effective date. 14 This act shall take effect in 60 days. I25L24JAM/20060H3024B4795 - 4 -