Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 38, September 21, 2024
(a) Prior to a termination of service, the
public utility shall mail or deliver written notice to the customer at least 10
days prior to the date of the proposed termination. In the event of a user
without contract as defined in §
56.252 (relating to definitions),
the public utility shall comply with §
§
56.333-56.337, but does not need to
provide notice 10 days prior to termination.
(b) A notice of termination must include, in
conspicuous print, clearly and fully the following information when applicable:
(1) The reason for the proposed
termination.
(2) An itemized
statement of amounts currently due, including any required deposit.
(3) A statement that a reconnection fee will
be required to have service restored after it has been terminated if a
reconnection fee is a part of the tariff of the public utility on file with the
Commission. The statement must include the maximum possible dollar amount of
the reconnection fee that may apply.
(4) The date on or after which service will
be terminated unless one of the following occurs:
(i) Payment in full is received.
(ii) The grounds for termination are
otherwise eliminated.
(iii) A
payment agreement is established.
(iv) Enrollment is made in a customer
assistance program or its equivalent, if the customer is eligible for the
program.
(v) A dispute is filed
with the public utility or the Commission.
(vi) Payment in full of amounts past due on
the most recent payment agreement is received.
(5) A statement that the customer should
immediately contact the public utility to attempt to resolve the matter. The
statement must include the address and telephone number where questions may be
asked, how payment agreements may be negotiated and entered into with the
public utility, and where applications can be found and submitted for
enrollment into the public utility's universal service programs, if these
programs are offered by the public utility.
(6) The following statement: "If you have
questions or need more information, contact us as soon as possible at (public
utility phone number). After you talk to us, if you are not satisfied, you may
file a complaint with the Public Utility Commission. The Public Utility
Commission may delay the shut off if you file the complaint before the shut off
date. To contact them, call (800) 692-7380 or write to the Pennsylvania Public
Utility Commission, P.O. Box 3265, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
17105-3265."
(7) A medical
certificate notice in compliance with the form in Appendix A (relating to
medical emergency notice) except that, for the purpose of §
56.336 (relating to
post-termination notice), the notice must comply with the form in Appendix B
(relating to medical emergency notice).
(8) If the public utility has universal
service programs, information indicating that special assistance programs may
be available and how to contact the public utility for information and
enrollment, and that enrollment in the program may be a method of avoiding the
termination of service.
(9)
Information indicating that special protections are available for victims under
a protection from abuse order or who have a court order issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction in this Commonwealth which provides clear evidence of
domestic violence and how to contact the public utility to obtain more
information on these protections.
(10) Information indicating that special
protections are available for tenants if the landlord is responsible for paying
the public utility bill and how to contact the public utility to obtain more
information on these protections.
(11) Information indicating that if service
is shut off, the customer may be required to pay more than the amount listed on
the notice to have service turned back on.
(12) Information indicating that if service
is shut off, the customer shall contact the public utility after payment has
been made to arrange reconnection of the service.
(13) Information in Spanish directing
Spanish-speaking customers to the numbers to call for information and
translation assistance. Similar information shall be included in other
languages when census data indicates that 5% or more of the residents of the
public utility's service territory are using that language.
(14) Contact information for customers with
disabilities that need assistance.
The provisions of this §56.331 amended under the
Public Utility Code,
66 Pa.C.S. §
§
501,
1301, 1401-1419,
1501 and
1509.
This section cited in 52 Pa. Code §
56.261 (relating to billing
frequency); 52 Pa. Code §
56.266 (relating to transfer of
accounts); 52 Pa. Code §
56.336 (relating to
post-termination notice); 52 Pa. Code §
56.340 (relating to winter
termination procedures); 52 Pa. Code §
56.357 (relating to termination
upon expiration of medical certification); 52 Pa. Code §
56.358 (relating to right of
public utility to petition the Commission); and 52 Pa. Code §
56.393 (relating to termination
pending resolution of the dispute).
