PRINTER'S NO. 1104
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1077
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY MATZIE, MARSHALL, BOROWSKI, PISCIOTTANO, MADDEN,
HILL-EVANS, TAKAC, SANCHEZ, HADDOCK, FIEDLER, NEILSON AND
MALAGARI, MAY 2, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
UTILITIES, MAY 2, 2023
AN ACT
Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in responsible utility customer
protection, further providing for declaration of policy and
for definitions, repealing provisions relating to cash
deposits and household information requirements, providing
for security deposits, further providing for payment
arrangements, for termination of utility service, for
reconnection of service, for late payment charge waiver, for
complaints filed with commission and for public utility
duties, repealing provisions relating to reporting of
delinquent customers, further providing for reporting of
recipients of public assistance and for liens by city natural
gas distribution operations, providing for reporting to
commission and further providing for nonapplicability and for
expiration.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1402(4) of Title 66 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 1402. Declaration of policy.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
* * *
[(4) The General Assembly believes that it is
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appropriate to provide additional collection tools to city
natural gas distribution operations to recognize the
financial circumstances of the operations and protect their
ability to provide natural gas for the benefit of the
residents of the city.]
Section 2. The definitions of "change in income,"
"creditworthiness," "customer assistance program," "household
income," "medical certificate," "public utility" and
"significant change in circumstance" in section 1403 of Title 66
are amended to read:
§ 1403. 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:
* * *
"Change in income." A decrease in household income of [20%]
5% or more [if] of the customer's household income. [level
exceeds 200% of the Federal poverty level or a decrease in
household income of 10% or more if the customer's household
income level is 200% or less of the Federal poverty level.]
"Creditworthiness." An assessment of an applicant's [or
customer's] ability to meet bill payment obligations for utility
service.
* * *
"Customer assistance program." A plan or program sponsored
by a public utility for the purpose of providing universal
service and energy conservation, as defined by section 2202
(relating to definitions) or 2803 (relating to definitions), or
other assistance program offered by a public utility, including
a water distribution utility or wastewater utility, in which
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customers make monthly payments based on household income and
household size and under which customers must comply with
certain responsibilities and restrictions in order to remain
eligible for the program.
* * *
"Household income." The combined gross income of all adults
in a residential household who benefit from the public utility
service. The term shall include a verbal attestation of
household income provided by a customer or applicant to a public
utility for the purpose of an income-based or other requirement
under this chapter.
* * *
"Medical certificate." A written document, in a form
approved by the commission:
(1) certifying that a customer or member of the
customer's household is seriously ill or has been diagnosed
with a medical condition which requires the continuation of
service to treat the medical condition; and
(2) signed by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner
[or], physician's assistant, registered nurse or licensed
social worker.
* * *
"Public utility." Any electric distribution utility, natural
gas distribution utility, small natural gas distribution
utility, steam heat utility, wastewater utility or water
distribution utility in this Commonwealth that is within the
jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. The
term includes a municipal corporation furnishing public utility
service to a public utility consumer beyond the municipal
corporation's corporate limits in accordance with section 1501
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(relating to character of service and facilities).
"Significant change in circumstance." Any of the following
criteria [when verified by the public utility and] experienced
by customers with household income less than 300% of the Federal
poverty level:
(1) The onset of a chronic or acute illness [resulting
in a significant loss in the customer's household income].
(2) [Catastrophic damage] Damage to the customer's
residence resulting in a significant net cost to the
customer's household.
(3) Loss of the customer's residence.
(4) Increase in the customer's number of dependents in
the household.
(5) Any other circumstance to be considered in the
commission's discretion, including a change in employment
status, death, injury, divorce, separation or other
substantial hardship.
* * *
Section 3. Section 1404 of Title 66 is repealed:
[§ 1404. Cash deposits and household information requirements.
(a) General rule.--In addition to the right to collect a
deposit under any commission regulation or order, the commission
shall not prohibit a public utility from requiring a cash
deposit, payable during a 90-day period in accordance with
commission regulations, in an amount that is equal to one-sixth
of the applicant's estimated annual bill, at the time the public
utility determines a deposit is required, from the following:
(1) An applicant who previously received utility
distribution services and was a customer of the public
utility and whose service was terminated for any of the
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following reasons:
(i) Nonpayment of an undisputed delinquent account.
(ii) Failure to complete payment of a deposit,
provide a guarantee or establish credit.
(iii) Failure to permit access to meters, service
connections or other property of the public utility for
the purpose of replacement, maintenance, repair or meter
reading.
(iv) Unauthorized use of the utility service
delivered on or about the affected dwelling.
(v) Failure to comply with the material terms of a
settlement or payment arrangement.
(vi) Fraud or material misrepresentation of identity
for the purpose of obtaining utility service.
(vii) Tampering with meters, including, but not
limited to, bypassing a meter or removal of an automatic
meter reading device or other public utility equipment.
(viii) Violating tariff provisions on file with the
commission so as to endanger the safety of a person or
the integrity of the delivery system of the public
utility.
(2) Any applicant or customer who is unable to establish
creditworthiness to the satisfaction of the public utility
through the use of a generally accepted credit scoring
methodology, as provided in a commission-approved tariff, and
which employs standards for using the methodology that fall
within the range of general industry practice.
(3) A customer who fails to comply with a material term
or condition of a settlement or payment arrangement.
(a.1) Cash deposit prohibition.--Notwithstanding subsection
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(a), no public utility may require a customer or applicant that
is confirmed to be eligible for a customer assistance program to
provide a cash deposit.
(b) Third-party guarantor.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to preclude an applicant from furnishing a third-party
guarantor in lieu of a cash deposit. The guaranty shall be in
writing and shall state the terms of the guaranty. The guarantor
shall be responsible for all missed payments owed to the public
utility.
(c) Deposit hold period.--
(1) A public utility may hold a deposit until a timely
payment history is established.
(2) A timely payment history is established when a
customer has paid in full and on time for twelve consecutive
months.
(3) At the end of the deposit holding period as
established in paragraph (1), the public utility shall deduct
the outstanding balance from the deposit and return or credit
any positive difference to the customer.
(4) If service is terminated before the end of the
deposit holding period as established in paragraph (1), the
public utility shall deduct the outstanding balance from the
deposit and return any positive difference to the customer
within 60 days of the termination.
(5) If a customer becomes delinquent before the end of
the deposit holding period as established in paragraph (1),
the public utility may deduct the outstanding balance from
the deposit.
(6) The public utility shall accrue interest on the
deposit until it is returned or credited.
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(i) Interest shall be computed at the simple annual
interest rate determined by the Secretary of Revenue for
interest on the underpayment of tax under section 806 of
the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The
Fiscal Code.
(ii) The interest rate in effect when deposit is
required to be paid shall remain in effect until the
later of:
(A) the date the deposit is refunded or
credited; or
(B) December 31.
(iii) On January 1 of each year, the new interest
rate for that year will apply to the deposit.
(d) Adult occupants.--Prior to providing utility service, a
public utility may require the applicant to provide the names of
each adult occupant residing at the location and proof of their
identity.
(e) Failure to pay full amount of cash deposit.--A public
utility shall not be required to provide service if the
applicant or customer fails to pay the full amount of the cash
deposit within the time period under subsection (a).
(f) City natural gas distribution operation; additional
deposit rules for city natural gas distribution operations.--
Except for applicants who are subject to a deposit under
subsection (a), a city natural gas distribution operation may
require a deposit from the applicant as follows:
(1) If an applicant has household income above 300% of
the Federal poverty level, one-sixth of the applicant's
estimated annual bill paid in full at the time the city
natural gas distribution operation determines a deposit is
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required; or
(2) If an applicant has household income no greater than
300% of the Federal poverty level, one-twelfth of the
applicant's estimated annual bill paid in full at the time
the city natural gas distribution operation determines a
deposit is required. Applicants who enroll into the Customer
Assistance Program made available by the city natural gas
distribution operation are not subject to this paragraph.
(g) Estimated annual bill.--When used in this section, an
estimated annual bill shall be calculated on the basis of the
annual bill to the dwelling at which service is being requested
for the prior 12 months or, if unavailable, a similar dwelling
in close proximity.
(h) Time for paying deposits upon reconnection.--Applicants
and customers required to pay a deposit upon reconnection under
subsection (a)(1) shall have up to 90 days to pay the deposit in
accordance with commission regulations.]
Section 4. Title 66 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 1404.1. Security deposits.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or commission
regulation, a public utility may not require a cash deposit as a
condition for applicants or customers to obtain or continue
public utility service.
Section 5. Sections 1405(b) introductory paragraph, (c), (d)
and (e), 1406(b)(1)(i) and (ii) and (2), (d), (e), (f) and (g)
and 1407(a) and (c)(2) of Title 66 are amended and the sections
are amended by adding subsections to read:
§ 1405. Payment arrangements.
* * *
(b) Length of payment arrangements.--[The] Except as
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provided under subsection (b.1), the length of time for a
customer to resolve an unpaid balance on an account that is
subject to a payment arrangement that is investigated by the
commission and is entered into by a public utility and a
customer shall not extend beyond:
* * *
(b.1) Alternative payment arrangement.--If a customer's
monthly payment would exceed 20% of the customer's average
monthly bill based on the length of the payment arrangement
under subsection (b), the commission may extend the applicable
length of the payment arrangement not to exceed two times the
length of the payment arrangement the customer would otherwise
be entitled to under subsection (b).
[(c) Customer assistance programs.--Customer assistance
program rates shall be timely paid and shall not be the subject
of payment arrangements negotiated or approved by the
commission.]
(d) Number of payment arrangements.--[Absent a change in
income, the commission shall not] The commission shall establish
or order a public utility to establish a second [or subsequent]
payment arrangement if a customer has defaulted on a previous
payment arrangement established by a commission order or
decision. The commission may establish or order a public utility
to establish subsequent payment arrangements if the customer
experienced a change in income or a significant change in
circumstance. A public utility may, at its discretion, enter
into [a second or subsequent payment arrangement] additional
payment arrangements with a customer.
(e) Extension of payment arrangements.--If the customer
defaults on a payment arrangement established under subsections
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(a) and (b) as a result of a significant change in circumstance,
the commission may reinstate the payment arrangement and extend
the remaining term for a period not to exceed the payment
arrangement period established under subsection (b.1) if not
already previously extended under subsection (b.1) or, if
previously extended under subsection (b.1), an initial period of
six months. The initial extension period may be extended for an
additional six months for good cause shown.
* * *
§ 1406. Termination of utility service.
* * *
(b) Notice of termination of service.--
(1) Prior to terminating service under subsection (a), a
public utility:
(i) Shall provide written notice of the termination
to the customer at least [ten] 20 days prior to the date
of the proposed termination. The termination notice shall
remain effective for 60 days. The public utility shall
provide the written notice via first class mail to the
customer, and by electronic means if the customer
affirmatively consents to receive electronic notice of
termination. Electronic notice of termination shall mean
by either email, text or both if both are provided to the
utility with appropriate consent.
(ii) Shall attempt to contact the customer or
occupant to provide notice of the proposed termination at
least three days prior to the scheduled termination,
using one or more of the following methods:
(A) in person;
(B) by telephone. Phone contact shall be deemed
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complete upon attempted calls on two separate days to
the residence between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
if the calls were made at various times each day. The
public utility shall annually update customer contact
information and preferences for telephone
notification under this clause; or
(C) by e-mail, text message or other electronic
messaging format consistent with the commission's
privacy guidelines and approved by commission order.
The public utility shall annually update customer
contact information and preferences for electronic
notification under this clause.
[(D)] In the case of electronic notification
only, the customer must affirmatively consent to be
contacted using a specific electronic messaging
format for purpose of termination.
* * *
(2) [The] Absent special circumstances, the public
utility shall not be required by the commission to take any
additional actions prior to termination.
* * *
(d) Timing of termination.--Notwithstanding the provisions
of section 1503 (relating to discontinuance of service), a
public utility may terminate service for the reasons set forth
in subsection (a) from Monday through Thursday as long as the
public utility can accept payment to restore service on the
following day and can restore service consistent with section
1407 (relating to reconnection of service). A public utility may
not terminate service on a Friday, a Federal or State holiday or
the business day immediately preceding a Federal or State
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holiday .
(e) Winter termination prohibited.--
(1) Unless otherwise authorized by the commission, after
November 30 and before April 1, [an electric distribution
utility or natural gas distribution] a public utility shall
not terminate service to customers with household incomes at
or below 250% of the Federal poverty level except for
customers whose actions conform to subsection (c)(1). [The
commission shall not prohibit an electric distribution
utility or natural gas distribution utility from terminating
service in accordance with this section to customers with
household incomes exceeding 250% of the Federal poverty
level.
(2) In addition to the winter termination authority set
forth in paragraph (1), a city natural gas distribution
operation may terminate service to a customer whose household
income exceeds 150% of the Federal poverty level but does not
exceed 250% of the Federal poverty level, and starting
January 1, has not paid at least 50% of his charges for each
of the prior two months unless the customer has done one of
the following:
(i) Has proven in accordance with commission rules
that his household contains one or more persons who are
65 years of age or over.
(ii) Has proven in accordance with commission rules
that his household contains one or more persons 12 years
of age or younger.
(iii) Has obtained a medical certification in
accordance with commission rules.
(iv) Has paid to the city natural gas distribution
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operation an amount representing at least 15% of the
customer's monthly household income for each of the last
two months.
(3) At the time that the notice of termination required
by subsection (b)(1)(i) is provided to the customer, the city
natural gas distribution operation shall provide notice to
the commission. The commission shall not stay the termination
of service unless the commission finds that the customer
meets the criteria in paragraph (2)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv).]
(e.1) Summer termination prohibited.--Unless otherwise
authorized by the commission, after June 30 and before September
1, a public utility may not terminate service to a customer with
a household income at or below 250% of the Federal poverty level
except for customers whose actions conform to subsection (c)(1).
(f) Medical certification.--A public utility shall not
terminate service to a premises when a customer has submitted a
medical certificate to the public utility. The customer shall
obtain a medical certificate verifying the condition and shall
promptly forward it to the public utility. The medical
certification procedure shall be implemented in accordance with
commission regulations. The following shall apply:
(1) If, prior to termination of service, a public
utility employee is informed that an occupant is seriously
ill or has a medical condition and that the customer is
seeking a medical certificate, termination of service may not
occur for at least seven days. If a medical certificate is
not produced within that seven-day period, the public utility
may resume the termination process at the point where the
process was suspended.
(2) A public utility may not terminate s ervice for at
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least 90 days from the date of submission of a medical
certificate or six months from the date of submission where a
medical certificate indicates a long-term or chronic illness.
(3) A public utility may not limit the number of medical
certificates that a licensed medical or social service
provider is permitted to issue under this subsection.
(g) Qualification for LIHEAP or other utility assistance.--A
notice of termination to a customer of a public utility shall be
sufficient proof of a crisis for a customer with the requisite
income level to receive a LIHEAP Crisis Grant or other utility
assistance from the Department of [Public Welfare] Human
Services or its designee as soon as practicable after the date
of the notice. Termination of service is not necessary to
demonstrate sufficient proof of crisis.
* * *
(i) Language access.--
(1) A public utility shall provide a written notice of
termination under this section in, at a minimum, English and
Spanish.
(2) A public utility shall include all of following with
a written notice of termination under this section:
(i) In each of the top five languages spoken in the
public utility's service territory, excluding English and
Spanish, a statement in substantially the following form:
This is a notice that your utility services will
be terminated.
(ii) A telephone number to call for further
information about the notice of termination.
(3) A public utility shall post a fully translated copy
of a written notice of termination under this section and a
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description of the public utility's termination process in
English, Spanish and the top five additional languages spoken
in the public utility's service territory in a conspicuous
location on its publicly accessible Internet website.
§ 1407. Reconnection of service.
[(a) Fee.--A public utility may require a reconnection fee
based upon the public utility's cost as approved by the
commission prior to reconnection of service following lawful
termination of the service.]
(a.1) Fee prohibition.--A public utility may not require a
customer or applicant with an income at or below 300% of the
Federal poverty level to provide a reconnection fee. A public
utility shall inform a customer or applicant of the prohibition
on reconnection fees specified under this subsection at the time
a reconnection fee is assessed.
* * *
(c) Payment to restore service.--
* * *
(2) A public utility may require:
(i) Full payment of any outstanding balance incurred
[together with any reconnection fees] by the customer,
who is not covered under subparagraph (iv), 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 or applicant
shall be permitted a period of not more than [three] six
months to pay the outstanding balance required for
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reconnection. For purposes of this subparagraph, a life
event is:
(A) A job loss that extended beyond nine months.
(B) A serious illness that extended beyond nine
months.
(C) Death of the primary wage earner.
(ii) [Full payment of any reconnection fees together
with repayment] Repayment over 12 months of any
outstanding balance incurred by the customer, who is not
covered under subparagraph (iv), 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.
(iii) [Full payment of any reconnection fees
together with payment] Repayment over 24 months of any
outstanding balance incurred by the customer, who is not
covered under subparagraph (iv), 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.]
(iv) The payment of an outstanding balance in
accordance with terms of a payment arrangement
established under section 1405 (relating to p ayment
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arrangements) if the customer has not previously entered
into a payment arrangement established under section
1405.
* * *
Section 6. Sections 1409, 1410(1) and 1410.1 of Title 66 are
amended to read:
§ 1409. Late payment charge waiver.
A public utility shall waive late payment charges on any
customer accounts if the charges were improperly assessed. The
commission [may] shall order a waiver of any late payment
charges levied by a public utility as a result of a delinquent
account for customers with a gross monthly household income not
exceeding [150%] 300% of the Federal poverty level.
§ 1410. Complaints filed with commission.
The following apply:
(1) The commission shall accept formal and informal
complaints only from customers or applicants who affirm that
they have first [contacted] attempted to contact the public
utility for the purpose of resolving the problem about which
the customer wishes to file a complaint. If the customer has
not [contacted] attempted to contact the public utility, the
commission shall direct the customer to the public utility.
* * *
§ 1410.1. Public utility duties.
(a) Screening.--A public utility shall screen a customer or
applicant to determine if the customer or applicant's household
income is at or below 300% of the Federal poverty level at the
time service is established and on an annual basis thereafter.
The public utility shall attempt to update the income
information under this subsection at least once per year.
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(b) Payments.--When a customer or applicant contacts a
public utility to make a payment agreement as required by
section 1410 (relating to complaints filed with commission),
when t he public utility has information that the customer or
applicant is or was payment troubled or when the public utility
receives information that the household income of the customer
or applicant may qualify the customer or applicant for a
universal service and energy conservation program, the public
utility shall:
(1) Provide information about the public utility's
universal service programs, including a customer assistance
program[.] in, at a minimum, English and Spanish.
(1.1) Assess whether the customer or applicant is
eligible for the public utility's universal service and
conservation programs prior to negotiating a payment
arrangement.
(2) Refer [the] a potentially eligible customer or
applicant to the universal service program administrator of
the public utility to determine eligibility for a program and
to apply for enrollment in a program. The program
administrator or another representative of the public utility
shall be able to communicate with the customer or applicant
in , at a minimum, English and Spanish for the purpose of this
paragraph.
(3) Have an affirmative responsibility to attempt to
collect payment on an overdue account. The utility shall
report to the commission annually residential customer
accounts which have accumulated $10,000 or more in arrearages
and shall demonstrate what efforts are being taken to collect
the arrearages. Failure to make reasonable attempts to
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collect payments on overdue accounts with arrearages in
excess of $10,000 may result in civil fines or other
appropriate sanctions by the commission.
(4) Report to the commission on an annual basis the
number of medical certificates and renewals submitted and
accepted in the service territory.
Section 7. Section 1412 of Title 66 is repealed:
[§ 1412. Reporting of delinquent customers.
A city natural gas distribution operation shall report to the
Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority established
pursuant to the act of June 5, 1991 (P.L.9, No.6), known as the
Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority Act for
Cities of the First Class, an assisted city or corporate entity
of an assisted city, as those terms are defined in the
Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority Act, that
has not paid in full for charges for service by the due dates
stated on the bill or otherwise agreed upon.]
Section 8. Sections 1413 and 1414(b) and (c) of Title 66 are
amended to read:
§ 1413. Reporting of recipients of public assistance.
The Department of [Public Welfare] Human Services shall
[annually provide a city natural gas distribution operation with
the] make available to each public utility with a signed LIHEAP
agreement or other utility assistance vendor agreement a
listing of recipients of LIHEAP or other public assistance [in a
city of the first class. A city natural gas distribution
operation], including other utility assistance administered by
the Department of Human Services, that has income guidelines not
exceeding 150% of the Federal poverty level . A public utility
shall not use the listing for anything but qualification and
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continued eligibility for a customer assistance program or
[LIHEAP] other utility assistance program administered by the
utility.
§ 1414. Liens by city natural gas distribution operations.
* * *
[(b) Residential field visit charge.--A city natural gas
distribution operation is authorized to charge a minimum fee of
$10 for each instance in which its representative is required to
visit the residence of a customer in the process of attempting
to complete required service termination steps.
(c) Refusal of service.--The commission shall permit a city
natural gas distribution operation to refuse to provide service
to an applicant if the applicant has a pending lien or civil
judgment by the city natural gas distribution operation
outstanding against the applicant or against property owned in
whole or in part by the applicant unless the applicant enters
into a payment arrangement for the payment of the amount
associated with the lien or judgment that remains outstanding at
the time of the application.]
Section 9. Title 66 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 1415.1. Reporting to commission.
(a) Reports.-- Within 30 days after the end of each calendar
year, a public utility shall submit a publicly accessible report
to the commission containing the following information, at a
minimum, on a monthly basis as of the last day of each month,
disaggregated by confirmed low-income status, census tract, zip
code, race or ethnicity and customer class:
(1) The number of accepted applications for service.
(2) The number of rejected applications for service.
(3) The number of customers.
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(4) The number of customers terminated for nonpayment.
(5) The number of customers in arrears.
(6) The number of customers whose service was
reconnected following a termination due to nonpayment.
(7) The number of accepted medical certificates.
(8) The number of rejected medical certificates.
(9) The number of customers protected from termination
as a result of seasonal, whether winter or summer, protection
from termination.
(10) The number of customers assessed late fees and the
total dollar amount of the assessed late fees.
(11) The number of customers assessed reconnection fees
and the total dollar amount of the assessed reconnection
fees.
(12) The number of customers in arrears with active
payment arrangements.
(13) The total dollar amount and average amount of
arrears in active payment arrangements.
(14) The number of customers that defaulted from payment
arrangements and the amount of arrears associated with the
defaulted arrangements.
(15) The number of customers in arrears without active
payment arrangements.
(16) The total dollar amount and average amount of
arrears without active payment arrangements.
(17) The total number of 10-day termination notices
mailed to customers.
(b) Standards.--The commission shall establish uniform
standards for the reporting of information by a public utility
under subsection (a). In establishing the uniform standards
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under this subsection, the commission shall seek to maximize the
accuracy, precision and comparability of the information
reported by each public utility under subsection (a).
(c) Public availability.--The commission shall make a report
submitted by a public utility under subsection (a) available on
the commission's publicly accessible Internet website within 30
days of the receipt of the report.
(d) Universal service and collections performance report.--
The commission shall compile the information provided by each
public utility under subsection (a) and include the information
in the commission's annual universal service and collections
performance report. The commission shall also include the
following information in the commission's annual universal
service and collections performance report:
(1) A plain language summary of the information reported
by each public utility under subsection (a) for the reporting
year, including significant trends or changes concerning
reported information.
(2) The commission's assessment of the impact of trends
or changes in the information reported under subsection (a)
for the reporting year.
(3) The commission's assessment of whether additional
information is prudent to understand and address issues
related to affordability and accessibility or trends or
changes presented in the information reported under
subsection (a).
(e) Personally identifiable information.--The information
disclosed under this section and any order or regulation by the
commission implementing the provisions of this section may not
include the personally identifiable information of a customer.
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(f) Technical assistance .-- In accordance with the
commission's standards and based on the funds available to the
commission, the commission shall provide technical assistance to
public utilities to develop and implement the information
collection requirements under this section.
Section 10. Sections 1417 and 1419 of Title 66 are amended
to read:
§ 1417. Nonapplicability.
This chapter shall not apply to victims under a protection
from abuse order as provided by 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to
protection from abuse), a written certification from a domestic
violence counselor/advocate as defined in 23 Pa.C.S. § 6102
(relating to definitions) or a court order issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction [in this Commonwealth], which provides
clear evidence of domestic violence against the applicant or
customer.
§ 1419. Expiration.
This chapter shall expire December 31, [2024] 2034.
Section 11. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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