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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 16, 2024 11:16 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Judith L. Schwank and Sen. John I. Kane, Sen. Carolyn T. Comitta, Sen. Timothy P. Kearney, Sen. Katie J. Muth |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Sunset of Act 12 of 2016 |
| The passage of Act 12 in 2016 allowed private companies to acquire financially distressed municipally owned water and wastewater systems for fair, albeit inflated, market value. What was once billed as an effort to aid our struggling municipal water authorities has rapidly evolved into a flurry of profit-driven acquisitions. Unfortunately, it is too often the consumers who lose in this process and are saddled with unsustainable and unreasonable rate increases. Currently, the PUC is deep in the throes of public input hearings on yet another rate increase request. This process, which has seemingly become a biennial occurrence, has made it abundantly clear that the General Assembly needs to protect Pennsylvania consumers and address the unintended consequences of Act 12 of 2016. Our constituents, those directly impacted by these rates, have made their voices heard. It is our job to ensure they have stress-free access to a vital natural resource, not higher bills with less reliability. We are proud to introduce this legislation to enact a sunset of Act 12 of 2016, and we hope that you will join us in co-sponsoring this measure to provide a much-needed review and potential end to the vicious cycle of privatizing municipal water systems and unsustainable rising costs for consumers. |