PRINTER'S NO. 3291
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2693
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY MATZIE, MARSHALL, PISCIOTTANO, T. DAVIS, KINSEY,
FREEMAN, GUENST, HILL-EVANS, SCHLOSSBERG, McNEILL, MADDEN,
SANCHEZ AND HOWARD, JUNE 21, 2022
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, JUNE 21, 2022
AN ACT
Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions, providing
for retail electric and gas customer assistance and
establishing the Retail Electric and Gas Customer Assistance
Program; and making an appropriation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 66 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 34
RETAIL ELECTRIC AND GAS CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE
Sec.
3401. Definitions.
3402. Establishment of program.
3403. Application.
3404. Award of financial assistance.
3405. Appropriation.
3406. Compliance.
3407. Reports.
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3408. Rules and regulations.
§ 3401. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"COVID-19." The novel coronavirus as identified in the
proclamation of disaster emergency issued by the Governor on
March 6, 2020, published at 50 Pa.B. 1644 (March 21, 2020), and
any renewal of the state of disaster emergency.
"Program." The Retail Electric and Gas Customer Assistance
Program established under section 3402 (relating to
establishment of program).
"Retail electric customer." As defined in section 2803
(relating to definitions).
"Retail gas customer." As defined in section 2202 (relating
to definitions).
§ 3402. Establishment of program.
T he Retail Electric and Gas Customer Assistance Program is
established within the commission to provide financial
assistance to retail electric customers and retail gas customers
of entities regulated by the commission with accounts in
arrears, after January 1, 2020, as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic.
§ 3403. Application.
(a) Development and posting of application form.--The
commission shall develop a form to be used by a retail electric
customer or retail gas customer to apply for financial
assistance under the program. The form shall be posted on the
commission's publicly accessible Internet website.
(b) Required information.--A retail electric customer or
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retail gas customer applying for financial assistance under the
program shall provide the following information:
(1) The name, address, telephone number and other
contact information for the retail electric customer or
retail gas customer.
(2) The name, address, telephone number and other
contact information of the entity providing the electricity
or natural gas to the retail electric customer or retail gas
customer.
(3) The amount that the retail electric customer or
retail gas customer is in arrears with the entity providing
the electricity or natural gas, after January 1, 2020, as a
result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(4) The amount of financial assistance requested by the
retail electric customer or retail gas customer.
(5) Any other information deemed necessary by the
commission.
§ 3404. Award of financial assistance.
(a) Review and determination.--The commission shall review
completed applications for financial assistance under the
program and determine whether to award financial assistance to a
retail electric customer or retail gas customer and, if so, the
amount of the financial assistance.
(b) Notification.--The commission shall notify each retail
electric customer and retail gas customer that applied for
financial assistance under the program of the determination
under this section. If financial assistance is denied in whole
or in part, the commission shall provide the retail electric
customer or retail gas customer with the reason for the denial.
(c) Limitation.--Financial assistance shall be awarded on a
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first-come, first-served basis.
§ 3405. Appropriation.
The sum of $500,000,000 shall be transferred, from money
received by the Commonwealth under Title IX, Subtitle M, section
9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2,
135 Stat. 4) and deposited into the COVID-19 Response Restricted
Account, to the General Fund and shall be appropriated to the
commission for the purpose of providing financial assistance
under the program.
§ 3406. Compliance.
To determine compliance with this chapter, the commission may
require that each retail electric customer or retail gas
customer that receives financial assistance under the program
submit any relevant records or other information regarding the
purposes for which the financial assistance is awarded.
§ 3407. Reports.
(a) Requirement.-- By September 1 following the effective
date of this section, and each September 1 thereafter, and u ntil
all appropriated money for the program has been totally
expended, t he commission shall prepare a report regarding the
operation of the program for the immediately preceding fiscal
year.
(b) Contents.--Each annual report under subsection (a) shall
include all of the following information:
(1) The number of retail electric customers and retail
gas customers that applied for financial assistance during
the preceding fiscal year.
(2) The number of retail electric customers and retail
gas customers that were awarded financial assistance during
the preceding fiscal year.
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(3) The amount of financial assistance awarded under the
program to retail electric customers and retail gas customers
during the preceding fiscal year.
(4) The number of retail electric customers and retail
gas customers that were denied, in whole or in part,
financial assistance during the preceding fiscal year, along
with the reasons for the denials.
(5) The amount of appropriated money for the program
that has not yet been expended.
(6) Situations of noncompliance with the requirements of
the program.
(7) Any recommendations regarding the administration of
the program.
(c) Posting and submittal.-- Each report under this section
shall be posted on the publicly accessible Internet website of
the commission and submitted to the following:
(1) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee of
the Senate.
(2) T he chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Consumer Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives.
§ 3408. Rules and regulations.
The commission may adopt or promulgate any rule or regulation
necessary to implement the program.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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