Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery), Majority Chair of the House Consumer Affairs Committee, held two public hearings this week on legislation he is sponsoring that would expand, and make permanent, the consumer protections provided in the Pennsylvania Public Utility Code.

In 2004, the Public Utility Code was amended to incorporate Chapter 14, known as the Responsible Utility Customer Protection Act. The act changed rules governing gas, electric or water companies to protect responsible bill-paying customers from rate increases attributable to other customers who, despite the means to do so, choose not to pay their bills.  This includes those who steal utility service, tamper with utility meters or otherwise fraudulently obtain service.

“The changes to the Public Utility Code, nearly 10 years ago, have proven to be good policies that are safeguarding the financial interests of responsible ratepayers,” said Rep. Godshall.  “However, the new rules are scheduled to expire at the end of next year. I am sponsoring House Bill 1047, which would make those changes permanent.”

The rules included in Chapter 14 include security deposits for new customers, reconnection or termination of utility service, customer payment arrangements, and the filing of complaints by consumers against a water, gas or electric utility company. Without Rep. Godshall’s legislation, these consumer protections will expire at midnight on December 31, 2014.

Another bill by Rep. Godshall would expand the scope of Chapter 14 to include wastewater companies on the list of utilities that fall under the rules. House Bill 939 defines a wastewater utility as an entity that owns or operates equipment or facilities for the collection, treatment or disposal of the public’s sewage and is compensated for such services.

“Under current law, there are no provisions for wastewater utilities,” said Rep. Godshall.  “House Bill 939 would put wastewater companies on the list of public utilities and extend the consumer protections contained in Chapter 14 to those customers.”

4/29/2013