PRINTER'S NO. 3886
No. 2594 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY SOLOBAY, BENNINGHOFF, BIANCUCCI, GEIST, GRUCELA,
HERSHEY, KULA, MAHONEY, MARSHALL, MELIO, MOUL, MUNDY, MYERS,
PYLE, STAIRS, THOMAS, J. WHITE, WOJNAROSKI AND YOUNGBLOOD,
JUNE 10, 2008
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, JUNE 10, 2008
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, further providing for definitions;
3 and, in service and facilities, further providing for
4 ownership and maintenance of natural gas and artificial gas
5 service lines.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. The definitions of "customer's service line" and
9 "service line" in section 102 of Title 66 of the Pennsylvania
10 Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
11 § 102. Definitions.
12 Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
13 provisions of this part which are applicable to specific
14 provisions of this part, the following words and phrases when
15 used in this part shall have, unless the context clearly
16 indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:
17 * * *
18 ["Customer's service line." The pipe and appurtenances owned
1 by the customer extending from the service connection of the gas
2 utility to the inlet of the meter serving the customer.]
3 * * *
4 "Service line." The pipe and all appurtenances [of the gas
5 utility which connect any main with either the point of
6 connection of a customer's service line or the meter of the
7 public utility if the utility owns all the pipe and
8 appurtenances between its main and meter.] extending from the
9 main line of the natural gas distribution company to the inlet
10 of the meter serving the customer.
11 * * *
12 Section 2. Section 1510 of Title 66 is amended to read:
13 § 1510. [Ownership and maintenance of natural and artificial]
14 Natural gas service lines.
15 [When connecting the premises of the customer with the gas
16 utility distribution mains, the public utility shall furnish,
17 install and maintain the service line or connection according to
18 the rules and regulations of the filed tariff. A public utility
19 shall not be authorized or required to acquire or assume
20 ownership of any customer's service line. A public utility shall
21 not be authorized or required to acquire or assume ownership of
22 any pipe or appurtenances installed after the effective date of
23 this section between its main and the meter unless the utility
24 would have been authorized or required to do so according to the
25 rules and regulations of its filed tariff if the pipe or
26 appurtenances had been installed on or before the effective date
27 of this section. Maintenance of service lines shall be the
28 responsibility of the owner of the service line.]
29 (a) Duty to furnish, install, operate and maintain.--When
30 initially connecting the premises of the customer with the main
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1 line of the natural gas distribution company as defined by
2 section 2202 (relating to definitions) the natural gas
3 distribution company shall furnish and install the service line.
4 After the initial installation, the natural gas distribution
5 company shall own and be responsible for operating and
6 maintaining the service line.
7 (b) Assumption of financial responsibility.--For a service
8 line in use on the effective date of this subsection, a natural
9 gas distribution company shall be required to assume financial
10 responsibility and the operating and maintenance obligations for
11 all such service lines, without regard to the date of
12 installation of the service line.
13 (c) Replacement.--Upon replacement of any service line by a
14 natural gas distribution company, a natural gas distribution
15 company shall own and be responsible for operating and
16 maintaining such facilities.
17 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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