PRINTER'S NO. 3627
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2920
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY RABB, KENYATTA, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, BROOKS,
D. WILLIAMS, PARKER, MADDEN, SIMS AND CONKLIN,
NOVEMBER 9, 2022
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, NOVEMBER 9, 2022
AN ACT
Amending Titles 53 (Municipalities Generally) and 66 (Public
Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in
municipal authorities, providing for utility reconnection
fees; and, in responsible utility customer protection,
further providing for termination of utility service and for
reconnection of service.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 5624. Utility reconnection fees.
(a) Fee.--An authority or municipality may only charge a
reconnection fee for a utility or service reconnection within
the authority's or municipality's jurisdiction if the customer's
household income is greater than 300% of the Federal poverty
level.
(b) Exception.--A customer may not be required to pay a
reconnection fee or an overdue balance prior to reconnection of
a utility or service under the authority's or municipality's
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jurisdiction if:
(1) The customer's household income is no greater than
300% of the Federal poverty level.
(2) The customer and authority or municipality have
entered into a repayment plan agreement to bring any
arrearages current. All repayment plans must be based on the
household income of the customer. Arrearage repayments shall
not exceed 5% of the household monthly income of the
customer.
(c) Summer termination.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of this chapter, an authority or municipality that provides
electricity may not terminate a customer's electricity between
June 1 and September 30 of each year if the customer's household
income is no greater than 300% of the Federal poverty level.
Section 2. Section 1406(a) introductory paragraph of Title
66 is amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection
to read:
§ 1406. Termination of utility service.
(a) Authorized termination.--[A] Except as provided for
under subsection (e.1), a public utility may notify a customer
and terminate service provided to a customer after notice as
provided in subsection (b) for any of the following actions by
the customer:
* * *
(e.1) Summer termination.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of this chapter, a utility that provides electricity
may not terminate a customer's electricity between June 1 and
September 30 of each year if the customer's household income is
no greater than 300% of the Federal poverty level.
* * *
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Section 3. Section 1407(c)(2) of Title 66 is amended and the
subsection is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
§ 1407. Reconnection of service.
* * *
(c) Payment to restore service.--
* * *
(2) [A] Except as provided for under paragraph (2.1), a
public utility may require[:
(i) Full] full payment of any outstanding balance
incurred together with any reconnection fees by the
customer or applicant prior to reconnection of service if
the customer or applicant has an income exceeding 300% of
the Federal poverty level or has defaulted on two or more
payment arrangements. If a customer or applicant with
household income exceeding 300% of the Federal poverty
level experiences a life event, the customer shall be
permitted a period of not more than [three] nine months
to pay the outstanding balance required for reconnection.
For purposes of this subparagraph, a life event is:
[(A)] (i) A job loss that extended beyond nine
months.
[(B)] (ii) A serious illness that extended
beyond nine months.
[(C)] (iii) Death of the primary wage earner.
[(ii) Full payment of any reconnection fees together
with repayment over 12 months of any outstanding balance
incurred by the customer or applicant if the customer or
applicant has an income exceeding 150% of the Federal
poverty level but not greater than 300% of the Federal
poverty level.
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(iii) Full payment of any reconnection fees together
with payment over 24 months of any outstanding balance
incurred by the customer or applicant if the customer or
applicant has an income not exceeding 150% of the Federal
poverty level. A customer or applicant of a city natural
gas distribution operation whose household income does
not exceed 135% of the Federal poverty level shall be
reinstated pursuant to this subsection only if the
customer or applicant enrolls in the customer assistance
program of the city natural gas distribution operation
except that this requirement shall not apply if the
financial benefits to such customer or applicant are
greater if served outside of that assistance program.]
(2.1) A customer or applicant with an income no greater
than 300% of the Federal poverty level shall not be required
to pay an outstanding balance in full or reconnection fee
prior to the restoration of service. A public utility shall
enter into a repayment plan with the customer or applicant
for any arrearages. All repayment plans must be based on the
household income of the customer or applicant. Arrearage
repayments shall not exceed 5% of the household monthly
income of the customer.
* * *
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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