PRINTER'S NO. 1795
No. 1486 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, DECEMBER 9, 1991
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, DECEMBER 9, 1991
AN ACT 1 Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania 2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for construction of sewer or 3 water system extensions. 4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 5 hereby enacts as follows: 6 Section 1. Title 66 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated 7 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read: 8 § 1512. Construction of sewer or water system extensions. 9 (a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in 10 subsection (g), where a sewer or water system is to be extended 11 at the expense of the owner or owners of properties or where the 12 public utility otherwise would construct the line extensions or 13 connections, (other than water meter installation), the property 14 owner or owners shall have the right to construct the extension 15 or install the connection himself or themselves or through a 16 subcontractor approved by the public utility, which approval 17 shall not be unreasonably withheld. 18 (b) Estimate of costs.--Cost estimate proposals provided by
1 a contractor or subcontractor shall include the cost of any 2 extension of service lines from the main to the curb and the 3 cost of all materials. 4 (c) Construction specifications.--Construction by the 5 property owner or owners shall be in accordance with an 6 agreement for the extension of the public utility's system and 7 in compliance with plans and specifications provided by or 8 approved by the public utility and shall be undertaken only 9 pursuant to the regulations, requirements, rules and standards 10 of the public utility, applicable to the construction, which 11 rules and regulations shall be consistent with this section. The 12 construction shall be subject to inspection by an inspector 13 employed by the public utility authorized to approve the 14 construction. 15 (d) Limitation on construction.--A public utility may 16 require the construction of only such facilities as may be 17 necessary to supply service to the property owner or owners. 18 (e) Deposit for costs.-- 19 (1) When a main is to be extended at the expense of the 20 owner or owners of properties, the property owner or owners 21 may be required to deposit with the public utility, in 22 advance of construction, the public utility's estimated 23 reasonable and necessary cost of reviewing plans, 24 construction inspections and administrative, legal and 25 engineering services. 26 (2) The public utility may prescribe that the property 27 owner or owners shall reimburse the public utility for 28 reasonable and necessary expenses incurred as a result of the 29 extension. 30 (f) Dedication of facilities.--Upon completion of 19910S1486B1795 - 2 -
1 construction, the property owner or owners shall dedicate, and 2 the public utility shall accept, the extension of the public 3 utility's system, provided dedication of facilities and the 4 installation complies with the plans, specifications, 5 regulations of the public utility and the agreement. A public 6 utility may provide in its regulations for facilities 7 constructed at the expense of the owner or owners of properties 8 which the public utility will accept as a part of its system. 9 (g) Construction by public utility.--The public utility 10 shall have the right, at its option, to perform the construction 11 itself only if the public utility provides the extension or 12 customer facilities at a lower cost and within the same time 13 table specified or proposed by the property owner or owners or 14 his or their approved subcontractor. 15 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately. L4L66WMB/19910S1486B1795 - 3 -