One bill will protect utility customers of Pittsburgh Water, and the other focuses on an independent energy office.
On Monday, the Pennsylvania State Senate passed a bill that renews an expired package of utility customer protections related to shutoffs, customer illnesses, and other challenges. The bill was sponsored by Senator Lisa Boscola, and specifically mentions that it applies to “a city of the second class”, and Pittsburgh is the only one in the state in that category.
The legislation aims to safeguard those who struggle to pay their utility bills, especially during the winter months. Originally enacted in 2004, Chapter 14 prohibited utility companies from shutting off services between December 1 and March 31 for customers behind on payments and required utilities to establish income-based payment plans. It also provided other key consumer protections, such as requiring multiple notices before service disconnections and allowing medical waivers for households in need.
Some advocates argue that the law has had unintended consequences. While it strengthened protections for consumers, it also limited the Public Utility Commission’s ability to design tailored payment plans for those facing utility shutoffs. The law allowed utility companies to require security deposits from delinquent customers and to charge additional fees, like reconnection charges, for those who had fallen behind on payments.
Senator Boscola said the package passed in 2004, called the Responsible Utility Customer Protection Act, gave help “to the ones that really needed it the most.” She said the package “balanced the needs of utilities and customers” in its handling of termination of service and other sensitive situations. The 2004 package expired at the end of last year.
The vote to approve Senator Boscola’s bill was 41 to 7, with most Democrats joining all Republicans in support of the bill. Democratic Senators Katie Muth, Lindsey Williams, Nikil Saval, Vincent Hughes, Tim Kearney, John Kane, and Carolyn Comitta voted against the measure.
Additionally, the Senate passed a bill to create the Independent Energy Office.
Conversations surrounding energy are expected to continue with increasing demand and diminishing supply creating a spike in electricity bills. Sponsored by Senator Gene Law, he said having an office free of partisan influence would move energy policy in the state forward in a “responsible, informed and strategic way.”
The office would provide information to lawmakers on all types of energy, including coal and renewable energy. The bill passed with a vote of 27 to 21, with all Republicans except Senator Dawn Keefer voting in support. All Democrats except Senator Marty Flynn voted in opposition.
Both bills are now in motion in the House chamber for consideration.
