PRINTER'S NO. 3422
No. 2394 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY MELIO, BELARDI, BELFANTI, BEYER, CALTAGIRONE,
COHEN, DeWEESE, DIVEN, FABRIZIO, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEORGE,
GOODMAN, GRUCELA, JOSEPHS, LEACH, LEDERER, MANDERINO,
PISTELLA, SIPTROTH, TANGRETTI, THOMAS AND YOUNGBLOOD,
JANUARY 26, 2006
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, JANUARY 26, 2006
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, further providing for reconnection of
3 service.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 1407 of Title 66 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
8 § 1407. Reconnection of service.
9 (a) Fee.--A public utility may require a reconnection fee
10 based upon the public utility's cost as approved by the
11 commission prior to reconnection of service following lawful
12 termination of the service.
13 (b) Timing.--When service to a dwelling has been terminated
14 and provided the applicant has met all applicable conditions,
15 the public utility shall reconnect service as follows:
16 (1) Within 24 hours for erroneous terminations or upon
17 receipt by the public utility of a valid medical
1 certification.
2 (2) Within 24 hours for terminations occurring after
3 November 30 and before April 1.
4 (3) Within three days for erroneous terminations
5 requiring street or sidewalk digging.
6 (4) Within [three days] 36 hours from April 1 to
7 November 30 for proper terminations.
8 (5) Within [seven] three days for proper terminations
9 requiring street or sidewalk digging.
10 (c) Payment to restore service.--
11 (1) A public utility shall provide for and inform the
12 applicant or customer of a location where the customer can
13 make payment to restore service.
14 (2) A public utility may require:
15 (i) Full payment of any outstanding balance incurred
16 together with any reconnection fees by the customer or
17 applicant prior to reconnection of service if the
18 customer or applicant has an income exceeding 300% of the
19 Federal poverty level or has defaulted on two or more
20 payment agreements. If a customer or applicant with
21 household income exceeding 300% of the Federal poverty
22 level experiences a life event, the customer shall be
23 permitted a period of not more than three months to pay
24 the outstanding balance required for reconnection. For
25 purposes of this subparagraph, a life event is:
26 (A) A job loss that extended beyond nine months.
27 (B) A serious illness that extended beyond nine
28 months.
29 (C) Death of the primary wage earner.
30 (ii) Full payment of any reconnection fees together
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1 with repayment over 12 months of any outstanding balance
2 incurred by the customer or applicant if the customer or
3 applicant has an income exceeding 150% of the Federal
4 poverty level but not greater than 300% of the Federal
5 poverty level.
6 (iii) Full payment of any reconnection fees together
7 with payment over 24 months of any outstanding balance
8 incurred by the customer or applicant if the customer or
9 applicant has an income not exceeding 150% of the Federal
10 poverty level. A customer or applicant of a city natural
11 gas distribution operation whose household income does
12 not exceed 135% of the Federal poverty level shall be
13 reinstated pursuant to this subsection only if the
14 customer or applicant enrolls in the customer assistance
15 program of the city natural gas distribution operation
16 except that this requirement shall not apply if the
17 financial benefits to such customer or applicant are
18 greater if served outside of that assistance program.
19 (d) Payment of outstanding balance at premises.--A public
20 utility may also require the payment of any outstanding balance
21 or portion of an outstanding balance if the applicant resided at
22 the property for which service is requested during the time the
23 outstanding balance accrued and for the time the applicant
24 resided there.
25 (e) Approval.--A public utility may establish that an
26 applicant previously resided at a property for which residential
27 service is requested through the use of mortgage, deed or lease
28 information, a commercially available consumer credit reporting
29 service or other methods approved as valid by the commission.
30 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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