Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 38, September 21, 2024
(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. The amount
of this fee must be specified in the public utility's tariff on file with the
Commission.
(b)
Timing. When service to a dwelling has been terminated, the
public utility shall reconnect service as follows:
(1)
Customers.
(i) Within 24 hours for erroneous
terminations or upon receipt by the public utility of a valid medical
certification. Erroneous terminations include instances when the grounds for
termination were removed by the customer paying the amount needed to avoid
termination prior to the termination of the service.
(ii) Within 24 hours for terminations and
reconnections occurring after November 30 and before April 1.
(iii) Within 3 calendar days for erroneous
terminations requiring street or sidewalk digging.
(iv) Within 3 calendar days from April 1 to
November 30 for proper terminations.
(v) Within 7 calendar days for proper
terminations requiring street or sidewalk digging.
(2)
Applicants. When the
applicant has met all applicable conditions:
(i) Within 24 hours for erroneous
terminations or upon receipt by the public utility of a valid medical
certification. The public utility is not required to modify or eliminate the
payment required to restore service if a medical certificate is presented.
Erroneous terminations include instances when the grounds for termination were
removed by the customer paying the amount needed to avoid termination prior to
the termination of the service.
(ii) Within 24 hours for terminations and
reconnections occurring after November 30 and before April 1.
(iii) Within 3 calendar days for erroneous
terminations requiring street or sidewalk digging.
(iv) Within 3 calendar days from April 1 to
November 30 for proper terminations.
(v) Within 7 calendar days for proper
terminations requiring street or sidewalk digging.
(c)
Payment to restore
service.
(1) A public utility shall
provide for and inform the applicant or customer of a location where the
customer can make payment to restore service. A public utility shall inform the
applicant or customer that conditions for restoration of service may differ if
someone in the household is a victim of domestic violence with a protection
from abuse order or a court order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction
in this Commonwealth which provides clear evidence of domestic violence. A
public utility shall also inform the applicant or customer that the timing and
conditions for restoration of service may differ if someone in the household is
seriously ill or affected by a medical condition which will be aggravated
without public utility service.
(2)
A public utility may require:
(i) 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. For purposes of this section,
neither a payment arrangement intended to amortize a make-up bill under §
56.14 (relating to previously
unbilled public utility service) or the definition of "billing month" in §
56.2 (relating to definitions),
nor a payment arrangement that has been paid in full by the customer, are to be
considered a default. Budget billing plans and amortization of budget plan
reconciliation amounts under §
56.12(8)
(relating to meter reading; estimated billing; customer readings) may not be
considered a default for the purposes of this section.
(ii) 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 3 months to
pay the outstanding balance required for reconnection. For purposes of this
subparagraph, a life event is:
(A) A job loss
that extends beyond 9 months.
(B) A
serious illness that extends beyond 9 months.
(C) Death of the primary wage
earner.
(iii) 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. The initial payment required
toward the outstanding balance as a condition of restoration cannot exceed 1/12
of the outstanding balance.
(iv)
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. The
initial payment required toward the outstanding balance as a condition of
restoration cannot exceed 1/24 of the outstanding balance. 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 under
this subsection only if the customer or applicant enrolls in the customer
assistance program of the city natural gas distribution operation. This
requirement may not apply if the financial benefits to the customer or
applicant are greater if served outside of that assistance
program.
(d)
Payment of outstanding balance at premises as a condition to restore
service. A public utility may require the payment of any outstanding
balance or portion of an outstanding balance if the applicant or customer
resided at the property for which service is requested during the time the
outstanding balance accrued and for the time the applicant or customer resided
there, not exceeding 4 years prior to the date of requesting that service be
restored. The 4-year limit does not apply in instances of fraud and
theft.
(e)
Approval. A public utility may establish that an applicant or
customer previously resided at a property for which residential service is
requested through the use of mortgage, deed or lease information, a
commercially available consumer credit reporting service or other methods
approved as valid by the Commission. Public utilities shall include in their
tariffs filed with the Commission the methods, other than those specifically
mentioned in this subsection, used to determine liability for outstanding
balances.
(f)
Dishonorable
tender of payment for reconnection of service. A public utility may
immediately terminate service if a payment for reconnection of service is
subsequently dishonored, revoked, canceled or otherwise not authorized and
which has not been cured or otherwise paid in full within 3 business days of
the public utility's dishonored payment notice to the customer under §
56.93(a)
(relating to personal contact).
The provisions of this §56.191 amended under the
Public Utility Code,
66 Pa.C.S. §
§
331,
501, 504-506,
1301,
1305, 1401-1419, 1501-1504
and
1509.
This section cited in 52 Pa. Code §
56.35 (relating to payment of
outstanding balance); 52 Pa. Code §
56.41 (relating to general rule);
56 Pa. Code §
56.82 (relating to timing of
termination); 52 Pa. Code §
56.111 (relating to general
provision); 52 Pa. Code §
56.115 (relating to restoration of
service); 52 Pa. Code §
56.142 (relating to time for
filing an informal compliant); 52 Pa. Code §
56.192 (personnel available to
restore service); and 52 Pa. Code §
57.257 (relating to disputes
concerning advanced metering).
