1Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, further providing for cash deposits
3and household information requirements.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1. Section 1404(a) of Title 66 of the Pennsylvania
7Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

8§ 1404. Cash deposits and household information requirements.

9(a) General rule.--In addition to the right to collect a
10deposit under any commission regulation or order, the commission
11shall not prohibit a public utility, prior to or as a condition
12of providing utility service, from requiring a cash deposit in
13an amount that is equal to [one-sixth] one-twelfth of the
14applicant's estimated annual bill, except for a city natural gas 
15distribution operation which may require a cash deposit in an 
16amount that is equal to one-sixth of the applicant's estimated 
17annual bill, at the time the public utility determines a deposit
18is required, from the following:

1(1) An applicant who previously received utility
2distribution services and was a customer of the public
3utility and whose service was terminated for any of the
4following reasons:

5(i) Nonpayment of an undisputed delinquent account.

6(ii) Failure to complete payment of a deposit,
7provide a guarantee or establish credit.

8(iii) Failure to permit access to meters, service
9connections or other property of the public utility for
10the purpose of replacement, maintenance, repair or meter
11reading.

12(iv) Unauthorized use of the utility service
13delivered on or about the affected dwelling.

14(v) Failure to comply with the material terms of a
15settlement or payment agreement.

16(vi) Fraud or material misrepresentation of identity
17for the purpose of obtaining utility service.

18(vii) Tampering with meters, including, but not
19limited to, bypassing a meter or removal of an automatic
20meter reading device or other public utility equipment.

21(viii) Violating tariff provisions on file with the
22commission so as to endanger the safety of a person or
23the integrity of the delivery system of the public
24utility.

25(2) Any applicant or customer who is unable to establish
26creditworthiness to the satisfaction of the public utility
27through the use of a generally accepted credit scoring
28methodology which employs standards for using the methodology
29that fall within the range of general industry practice.

30(3) A customer who fails to comply with a material term

1or condition of a settlement or payment agreement.

2* * *

3Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.