PRINTER'S NO. 1543
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1174
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY STEFANO, LAUGHLIN, ROTHMAN AND VOGEL,
APRIL 22, 2024
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
APRIL 22, 2024
AN ACT
Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in rates and distribution systems,
providing for waiver of laws, regulations and policies under
commission's jurisdiction.
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 section to read:
ยง 1331 . Waiver of laws, regulations and policies under
commission's jurisdiction.
(a) Authorization.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, a public utility may petition to the commission for a
waiver to any provision of this title, other laws of this
Commonwealth under the commission's jurisdiction or regulations
or policy statements of the commission if the waiver enables the
public utility to reduce its ratepayer impact and operate in a
more effective, efficient or economical manner.
(b) Petition.--In order to receive a waiver under this
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section, a public utility shall petition the commission in a
form and manner determined by the commission. The public utility
shall include all of the following information in the petition:
(1) The specific provisions to waive, the need for the
waiver and the length of time the waiver will be in place.
(2) Supporting data to explain the benefit of obtaining
the waiver and the estimated cost savings to the public
utility and avoided costs to the ratepayers. If the petition
for a waiver is part of an approved rate case, an explanation
for how the estimated cost savings will be utilized to reduce
future costs incurred by ratepayers.
(3) An evaluation procedure to determine the
effectiveness of the waiver or the program that will be
instituted due to the waiver.
(4) A statement indicating how safety and reliability
standards will be maintained or exceeded by the public
utility if the petition is approved by the commission.
(5) Other information related to the petition as
requested by the commission.
(c) Review and order.--
(1) The commission, after notice and hearing, shall
enter an order granting or denying the petition within 60
days of the filing date or within 150 days of the filing date
if a protest is timely filed. If the commission fails to
enter an order within the time period specified under this
paragraph, the petition shall be deemed granted.
(2) In making its determination, the commission shall
limit its consideration to the financial impact of the
particular rate class indicated in the petition.
(d) Annual report.--The commission shall prepare an annual
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report listing each request for a waiver and the commission's
determination to grant or deny each petition for a waiver under
this section. The commission shall submit the annual report to
the chair and minority chair of the Consumer Protection and
Professional Licensure Committee of the Senate and the chair and
minority chair of the Consumer Protection, Technology and
Utilities Committee of the House of Representatives and post the
annual report on the commission's publicly accessible Internet
website.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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