PROPOSED RULEMAKING
[52 PA. CODE CH. 59]
[L-950109]
Obsolete Regulations
[26 Pa.B. 1370] The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (Commission) on December 14, 1995, adopted a proposed rulemaking regarding obsolete regulations in Chapter 59 (relating to gas service). The proposed amendments are to reflect changes in 11 sections in this chapter which will clarify, simplify and remove excessive and burdensome requirements from the Commission's gas service regulations. Sections will be eliminated which no longer serve a useful purpose and other sections will be modified to promote ease of application, as well as fairness. The contact persons are R. K. Smith, Assistant Counsel, Legal Division, Bureau of Transportation and Safety, (717) 783-3713, and Joseph A. Finnan, Bureau of Transportation and Safety, (717) 787-1063.
Executive Summary
By order entered May 23, 1995, the Commission issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Review and Rescind All Obsolete and Excessive Rules and Regulations. Comments were received from Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Gas Association and the Commission's Bureau of Transportation and Safety, and the Bureau of Conservation Economics Energy Planning which reflect the need to evaluate and update several sections contained in Chapter 59.
The proposed amendments reflect changes in 11 sections in Chapter 59, and the Commission believes these changes will clarify, simplify and remove excessive and burdensome requirements from the Commission's gas service regulations. Sections will be eliminated which no longer serve a useful purpose and other sections will be modified to promote ease of application as well as fairness.
Public Meeting held
December 14, 1995Commissioners present: John M. Quain, Chairperson, Statement follows; Lisa Crutchfield, Vice Chairperson; John Hanger, Dissenting in part--Statement follows; David W. Rolka; and Robert K. Bloom.
Order By the Commission:
By Order entered May 23, 1995, we issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking To Review And Rescind All Obsolete And Excessive Rules And Regulations at Docket No. L-950103. The advance notice was published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on June 3, 1995, 25 Pa.B. 2188, and a 60-day comment period was set.
We received comments from Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Gas Association and our own Bureaus of Transportation and Safety and CEEP which reflect the need to evaluate and update several sections contained in Chapter 59. We are setting forth proposed changes in 11 sections in Chapter 59, and we believe these changes will clarify, simplify and remove excessive and burdensome requirements from our gas service regulations.
Our review of the affected chapters was careful and meticulous. We are well aware of our duty to ensure the safety of utility service, and our proposed changes will not result in any lapse in our mandate. At the same time, this is not a complete list of regulations which have become obsolete. Due to the Federal legislation which preempted a portion of the Commission's jurisdiction in the motor carrier field, we are preparing another rulemaking to bring affected regulations up to date. Those included in the present rulemaking are those which are not affected by the Federal legislation but should be amended or deleted for other reasons.
What follows is a summary of the proposed changes.
§ 59.1. Definitions.
Definitions are added for the terms ''distribution line,'' ''gathering line,'' ''liquefied natural gas,'' ''LNG facility,'' ''pipeline,'' ''public utility service line,'' ''specified minimum yield strength'' and ''transmission line.'' The definition of ''main'' is updated. Utility system designations are deleted as obsolete.
§ 59.11. Accidents.
The definition of a reportable accident is changed to coincide as much as possible under the confines of 66 Pa.C.S. § 1508 with the definition of a reportable incident in 49 CFR Part 191.3.
§ 59.15. Measurement of gas at higher than standard service pressure.
The verification period in subsection (c) is enlarged from 2 to 5 years to reflect technological advances in meter equipment which has produced more reliable and accurate instruments to measure utility service.
§ 59.21. Meter tests.
Consistent with the change to § 59.15, this section provides that the period between inspections is lengthened from 2 to 5 years and the recordkeeping period is reduced from 10 to 5 years.
§ 59.26. Refusal to serve applicants or customers.
A subsection is added to specifically provide that a utility may suspend service anytime a hazardous condition is found.
§ 59.29. Gas pressure requirements for low-pressure distribution systems.
This section is modified to eliminate references to pressure districts and exceptions.
§ 59.33. Safety.
References to Federal standards are updated in this section.
§ 59.35. Increasing pressure in distribution facilities and transmission facilities.
Minor word changes are substituted for greater accuracy.
§ 59.38. Filing of major construction reports.
The monetary amount defining ''major construction'' is increased from $200,000 to $300,000 to account for inflation.
§ 59.41. Classification of gas public utilities.
This section proposes to adopt the Federal classification system to simplify the matter for gas companies.
§ 59.42. Systems of accounts.
Language substituted provides for changes to coincide with the general instructions in 18 CFR Part 201, which will ease the administrative burden of maintaining accounts. This is consistent with the Commission's prior adoption of the Uniform System of Accounts.
§ 59.62. Gas sales ban.
As suggested by the Pennsylvania Gas Association, the gas sales ban regulations are no longer necessary in today's gas market and, accordingly, we are proposing that these regulations be rescinded as obsolete.
In proposing these changes, we believe that our efficiency as a regulatory agency will be enhanced. We are eliminating those sections which no longer serve a useful purpose and we are modifying others to promote the ease of application as well as fairness. We encourage those affected by these changes to file comments.
Accordingly, under sections 501, 504, 505, 506, 1301 and 1501 of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. §§ 501, 504, 505, 506, 1301 and 1501, and the Commonwealth Documents Law (45 P. S. § 1201 et seq.), and the regulations promulgated thereunder, we shall institute a rulemaking proceeding to accomplish the objectives described in the body of this order. Therefore,
It is Ordered that:
1. A rulemaking proceeding is hereby instituted at this docket.
2. The Commission's regulations are hereby proposed to be amended with changes to §§ 59.1, 59.11, 59.15, 59.21, 59.26, 59.29, 59.33, 59.35, 59.38, 59.41 and 59.42, and the rescission of § 59.62.
3. The Secretary shall submit this order and Annex A to the Office of Attorney General for approval as to legality.
4. The Secretary shall submit this order and Annex A to the Governor's Budget Office for review of fiscal impact.
5. The Secretary shall submit this order and Annex A for informal review by the designated standing commit-tees of both houses of the General Assembly, and for informal review and approval by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC).
6. The Secretary shall deposit this order and Annex A with the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Interested persons may submit written comments, an original and 10 copies, to John G. Alford, Secretary, Commission, and shall have 30 days from the date this order is published to submit comments.
7. A copy of this order shall be served upon all persons who submitted comments in this rulemaking proceeding.
JOHN G. ALFORD,
SecretaryRegulatory Review
Under section 5(a) of the Regulatory Review Act (71 P. S. § 745.5(a)), the Commission submitted a copy of these proposed amendments on March 15, 1996, to IRRC and to the Chairpersons of the House Committee on Consumer Affairs and the Senate Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. In addition to submitting the amendments, the Commission has provided IRRC and the Committees with a copy of a detailed Regulatory Analysis Form prepared by the Commission in compliance with Executive Order 1996-1. A copy of this material is available to the public upon request.
If the Committees have objections to any portion of the proposed amendments, they will notify the Commission within 20 days of the close of the public comment period. If IRRC has objections to any portion of the proposed amendments, it will notify the Commission within 30 days after the close of the public comment period. The notification shall specify the regulatory review criteria which have not been met by that portion. The Regulatory Review Act specifies detailed procedures for review, prior to final publication of the regulations, by the Commission, the General Assembly and the Governor of any objections raised.
Statement of Chairperson John M. Quain
Before us today are two significant rulemakings that, when combined, will delete or rescind 62 obsolete and redundant sections of our regulations and revise another 43 sections. Furthermore, when this Commission again meets on January 11, 1996, we will consider another 58 sections pertaining to Chapters 63, 64 and 56 for possible rescission or revision.
I wish to express my appreciation to all of the staff of the various bureaus, and those public commentators who contributed to this massive undertaking.
Statement of Commissioner John Hanger
Before us for consideration is the Law Bureau's recommendation and Motion of Chairperson John M. Quain regarding regulations appearing in 52 Pa. Code Chapter 59.
While supporting most of the recommendations, the following section should not be modified:
Section 59.11. Accidents. The Bureau of Transportation and Safety correctly recommended that these reporting requirements be retained since the reporting require- ments of 49 CFR Part 191.3 do not include telephonic notice to state agencies and only require that written reports be submitted to the states ''if the regulations ofthat agency require submission of such reports.'' For this reason, § 59.11 should not be modified.
Fiscal Note: 57-164. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.
Annex A
TITLE 52. PUBLIC UTILITIES
PART I. PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION
Subpart C. FIXED UTILITY SERVICES
CHAPTER 59. GAS SERVICE
GENERAL PROVISIONS § 59.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * * * * Distribution line--A pipeline other than a gathering or transmission line.
* * * * * Gathering line--A pipeline that transports gas from a current production facility to a transmission line or main.
* * * * * LNG--Liquified Natural Gas--A natural gas or synthetic gas having methane (CH4) as its major constituent which has been changed to a liquid or semisolid.
LNG facility--A pipeline facility that is used for liquefying or solidifying natural gas or synthetic gas or transferring, storing or vaporizing liquefied natural gas.
* * * * * Main--[The pipe of a public utility system, excluding service connection located in a public highway, street, alley or private right-of-way, and used to transport gas] A distribution line that serves as a common source of supply for more than one service line.
* * * * * Pipeline--All parts of those physical facilities through which gas moves in transportation, including pipe, valves and other appurtenance attached to pipe, compressor units, metering stations, regulator stations, delivery stations, holders and fabricated assemblies.
* * * * * Public utility service line--The pipe and appurtenances of the public utility which connect any main with either the point of connection of a service line of the customer if the line is provided by the customer in accordance with the rules and regulations of the public utility, or the meter of the public utility if the utility owns all the pipe and appurtenances between its main and meter.
* * * * * SMYS--Specified minimum yield strength--One of the following:
(i) For steel pipe manufactured in accordance with a listed specification, the yield strength specified as a minimum in that specification.
(ii) For steel pipe manufactured in accordance with an unknown or unlisted specification, the yield strength determined in accordance with 49 CFR 192.107(b) (relating to yield strength).
* * * * * Service line--[The pipe and appurtenances of the public utility which connect any main with either the point of connection of a service line of the customer if such line is provided by the customer in accordance with the rules and regulations of the public utility, or the meter of the public utility if the utility owns all the pipe and appurtenances between its main and meter.] A distribution line that transports gas from a common source of supply to a customer meter or the connection to a customer's piping, whichever is further downstream, or the connection to a customer's piping if there is no customer meter. A customer meter is the meter that measures the transfer of gas from an operator to a consumer.
* * * * * Transmission line--A pipeline, other than a gathering line that does one of the following:
(i) Transports gas from a gathering line or storage facility to a distribution center or storage facility.
(ii) Operates at a hoop stress of 20% or more of SMYS.
(iii) Transports gas within a storage field.
[Utility system designations--Utility systems include both of the following:
(i) Distribution system--That portion of a public utility system used for the primary purpose of delivering gas to the ultimate consumers.
(ii) Transmission system--That portion of a public utility system installed for the primary purpose of transmitting gas from a source or sources of supply to one or more distribution centers or to one or more large volume customers or a pipe installed to interconnect sources of supply.]
SERVICE AND FACILITIES § 59.11. Accidents.
* * * * * (b) Reportable accidents. Reportable accidents are those involving utility facilities or operations which result in one or more of the following circumstances:
(1) [The death of a person.
(2) Injury to an employe on duty sufficient to incapacitate him from performing his ordinary duties for a period longer than 3 days.
(3) Injury to a person other than an employe on duty sufficient to incapacitate the injured person from following his customary vocation, or mode of life, for a period of more than 1 day.
(4) An occurrence of an unusual nature, whether or not death or injury of a person results, which may result in a prolonged and serious interruption of normal service.]
An event that involves a release of gas from a pipeline or of LNG or gas from an LNG facility and one of the following:
(i) A death or personal injury.
(ii) Estimated property damage, including cost of gas lost, of the operator or others, or both, of $50,000 or more.
(2) An event that results in an emergency shutdown of an LNG facility.
(3) An event that is significant, in the judgment of the operator, even though it did not meet the criteria of paragraph (1) or (2).
* * * * * § 59.15. Measurement of gas at higher than standard service pressure.
* * * * * (c) Fixed pressure factor measurement. If the gas metering pressure can be maintained at a constant level so that it will not vary by more than plus or minus 1.0% of the absolute metering pressure, the quantity of gas corrected for pressure for billing purposes may be determined by multiplying the uncorrected volume by the factor of Metering Pressure Plus Atmospheric Pressure Divided by Base Pressure or by a special index with gearing to perform this calculation. The special index shall meet the specifications of ANSI Standard B109.1, § 6.2 (1986) or ANSI Standard B109.1, § 6.9 (1986). The ability of the regulator to maintain the constant pressure shall be verified at or prior to installation. Verification will be established by the use of a verified pressure-indicating gauge (accuracy: ANSI B40.1 Grade 3A), or a pressure-recording gauge, at both high and low flow conditions. When customer load is measured with a meter with a rated capacity of [1500] 1,500 cubic feet per hour or less, with metering pressure less than 3 psig, the performance of the regulator shall be verified in accordance with the test schedule of the downstream meter, established under § 59.21 (relating to meter tests). When customer load is measured with a meter with a capacity of over [1500] 1,500 cubic feet per hour or metering pressure of 3 psig or more, the performance of the regulator shall be verified at least every [2] 5 years.
* * * * * § 59.21. Meter tests.
(a) Test schedule for other than Class A, B and C meters. Each public utility shall make and record tests of orifice, rotary displacement and turbine type service meters as follows:
* * * * * (2) Rotary displacement meters shall be tested and calibrated at the factory in accordance with recognized and accepted practices and shall be correct to within 1.0% when passing gas at their rated capacities. A record of the test shall be made available to and retained by the utility for the life of the meter. At least once every 10 years, a differential-rate test shall be made and the results checked against the original test recorded at the time of installation. At least every [2] 5 years, the meter shal l be inspected to observe the condition of the meter bearings--noise, vibration, and the like--and the level and condition of the oil in the reservoirs. An observed problem shall be promptly corrected. A record of the results of these [2] 5-year tests shall be maintained by the utility for [a period of 10] 5 years. In lieu of a differential-rate test, a test method approved by the Commission may be used.
* * * * * § 59.26. Refusal to serve applicants or customers.
(a) A public utility may initially decline to serve an applicant if, in the judgment of the utility, any of the following conditions [is] are present:
* * * * * (b) A public utility may decline to serve an existing customer if, in the judgment of the utility, a hazardous condition exists regarding the piping or gas equipment of the customer.
§ 59.29. Gas pressure requirements for low-pressure distribution systems.
(a) [Pressure districts. Each public utility shall divide the territory served by it into pressure districts and shall specify for each district or for the territory as a whole (which shall then be regarded as a single district) the maximum pressure to be maintained within that district.
(b)] Maximum pressure. The maximum pressure specified for a [district] low pressure system may not be greater than a pressure which will not cause the unsafe operation of connected and properly adjusted gas utilization equipment or 14 inches of water column (8.1 ounces), whichever is less, at the outlet of the service meter of a low pressure customer.
[(c)] (b) ***
[(d)] (c) Changing pressure. A public utility may change the distribution pressure for any [district] system, but if [any such] a change is made, all appliances of a customer located within the [district] system shall, if necessary, be readjusted by and at the expense of the utility. The utility shall notify the Commission whenever [district] system pressure changes are made which require adjustment of appliances of the customer.
[(e) Exceptions. Exceptions to the gas pressure requirements of this section may be made as follows:
(1) Higher maximum pressures may be allowed by the Commission in exceptional cases following the presentation of factual data showing that adequate service cannot be supplied with existing facilities at the maximum pressure established in this section, and that it is impracticable to make the necessary changes immediately. In these cases the public utility shall formulate a plan for eliminating the higher pressure conditions as soon as practicable and economically possible.
(2) A public utility supplying gas will not be deemed to have violated the provisions of this section if it is shown that variations from the pressures are due to either of the following:
(i) The use of gas by the customer in violation of contract or rules of the public utility or the Commission.
(ii) Infrequent fluctuations of short duration due to unavoidable conditions of operation.]
[(f)] (d) Pressure gauges. A public utility shall maintain and operate on the outlet side of the [district] system regulator station, at least one recording gas pressure gauge of suitable range. If more than one regulator station is used to serve a single pressure [district] system, recording pressure gauges need not be installed for each regulator station. A sufficient number of recording pressure gauges shall be installed and operated in each distribution system to furnish a continuous record of the pressure prevailing in all parts of the system.
§ 59.33. Safety.
* * * * * (b) Safety code. Unless otherwise authorized by the Commission, the minimum safety standards for all gas transmission and distribution facilities in this Commonwealth shall be those issued under the [Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 (] pipeline safety laws found at 49 U.S.C.A. §§ [§ 1671--1684)] 60101--60503 and as [set forth] implemented in 49 CFR Parts 191, 192 [and], 193 and 199, including all subsequent amendments thereto which have been reviewed by the Commission and ratified by an order published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin or alternatively served on all jurisdictional gas utilities. The date the Commission's order is entered, or in the case of publication the date of publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, shall serve as the effective date of the amendments.
* * * * * § 59.35. Increasing pressure in distribution facilities and transmission facilities.
A significant increase in the normal operating pressure of a distribution or transmission [system] pipeline shall be made in accordance with 49 CFR Part 192, Subpart K (relating to uprating) as of May 1, 1986, and subsequent amendments thereto which have been ratified by the Commission under § 59.33 (relating to safety). A leak survey of mains and services shall be made prior to increasing the pressure initially and also following each incremental increase in pressure. Structures abutting or adjacent to the gas mains shall be inspected to [conform] confirm the utility's records as to the presence or absence of a gas service line on each property.
§ 59.38. Filing of major construction reports.
A public utility shall notify the Commission of proposed major construction, reconstruction or maintenance of plant at least 30 days prior to the commencement of work. Major construction, reconstruction or maintenance is defined for this reporting as a single project involving an expenditure in excess of $[200,000] 300,000 or 10% of the cost of the utility's plant in service, whichever is less, production well drilling to be excluded. This notification of proposed construction shall include the following: description and location (city, township, county) of pro-posed work; type of facility (distribution main, transmission pipeline, compressor station, and the like); estimated starting date; estimated completion date; design pressure; estimated cost; name and address of reporting gas company; name, address and telephone number of person to be contacted regarding the project; and notification to the Commission of the completion date.
ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS § 59.41. Classification of gas public utilities.
For accounting and reporting purposes, gas public utilities are classified as follows:
(1) [Class A. Public Utilities having annual gas operating revenues of $2,500,000 or more.
(2) Class B. Public utilities having annual gas operating revenues of $1,000,000 or more but less than $2,500,000.
(3) Class C. Public utilities having annual gas operating revenues of $100,000 or more but less than $1,000,000.
(4) Class D. Public utilities having annual gas operating revenues of $25,000 or more but less than $100,000.
(5) Class E. Public utilities having annual gas operating revenues of less than $25,000.]
Major. Public utilities having annual gas operating revenues of $1 million or more.
(2) Nonmajor. Public utilities having annual gas operating revenues of less than $1 million.
§ 59.42. Systems of accounts.
(a) [Each Class A and Class B gas public utility shall kept its accounts in conformity with the ''Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed for Natural Gas Companies (Class A and Class B)'' by the Federal Power Commission (18 CFR Part 201).
(b) Each Class C gas public utility shall keep its accounts in conformity with the ''Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed for Natural Gas Companies (Class C)'' by the Federal Power Commission (18 CFR Part 204).
(c) Each Class D gas public utility shall keep its accounts in conformity with the ''Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed for Natural Gas Companies (Class D)'' by the Federal Power Commission (18 CFR Part 204).
(d) Each Class E gas public utility, in the absence of a prescribed system of accounts for Class E gas utilities, shall keep the accounts as will be adequately informative for reasonable and foreseeable regulatory purposes.
(e) The provisions of this section apply to manufactured gas public utilities.]
Each major gas public utility shall keep its accounts in conformity with the ''Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed for Natural Gas Companies (Major)'' by the Federal Energy Regulatory Com- mission (18 CFR Part 201) (relating to Uniform System of Accounts prescribed for natural gas companies subject to the provisions of the Natural Gas Act).
(b) Each nonmajor gas public utility shall keep its accounts in conformity with the ''Uniform Sys-tem of Accounts Prescribed for Natural Gas Companies (Nonmajor)'' by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (18 CFR Part 201).
(c) A gas public utility with annual gas operating revenue of less than $25,000 shall keep the accounts as will be adequately informative for reasonable and foreseeable regulatory purposes.
(d) This section applies to manufactured gas public utilities.
REPORTING AND CURTAILMENT OF SERVICE § 59.62. [Gas sales ban] (Reserved).
[(a) No jurisdictional gas distributor shall enter into a contract for serving any gas-burning equipment except under any of the following circumstances:
(1) In the case of major distributors, the most recent reports submitted under § 59.61 (relating to periodic reporting requirements for major gas utilities) show, in each period covered by the reports, that the equipment can be supplied without causing annual or peak-day deliveries to exceed annual or peak-day supplies; and, in the case of distributors not reporting under § 59.61, actual and projected supply exceeds actual and projected requirements.
(2) The contract for service expressly provides that the service may be curtailed, interrupted or terminated upon 24 hours notice.
(3) The gas-burning equipment is a replacement of similar equipment installed prior to February 16, 1972 and is of the same or lesser rated capacity.
(b) [Reserved].
(c) Despite the restrictions of subsection (a) a distributor may make new gas sales to applicants for one- and two-family residential service, although only to the extent that the number of residential accounts remains no greater than the number receiving service or under commitment to receive service at the date that distributor first became subject to sales ban provisions of this section. Jurisdictional natural gas distribution utilities making the new residential sales shall do so in order of priority established by a utility-complied waiting list. Each distributor shall keep an annual record of residential replacement sales and shall report the information to the Commission by May 15 of each year.
(d) Despite the prohibition contained in subsection (a) restricting the establishment of new service during periods of supply deficiency, additional meters may be permitted at existing accounts if the total volume of gas served at the location does not increase by virtue of installing additional meters, the utility does not thereby institute service to new or larger capacity gas-burning equipment in violation of subsection (a)(3) and splitting of the subject account does not result in avoidance of curtailment or reduction of the curtailment base of the utility. The charges under the tariff of the utility incident to installing additional meters shall be assumed by the customer requesting splitting of service. An increase in the total number of meters resulting from the splitting of service shall be reflected as an increase in the number of authorized accounts of the utility, which accounts shall be permitted to be adjusted upward corresponding to the increase in the number of meters.
(e) Each jurisdictional utility having suspended new sales under subsection (a) shall petition the Commission for express approval prior to commencement of sales to new gas customers--to include the expansion of service or new service to an existing customer. New or expanded sales shall be permitted to all customer classes as defined in § 69.21 (relating to priority of service); except that for Priorities 5 and 6 customers, equivalent alternative fuel capacity installed within 1 year of commencement of service is to be required by the utility as a precondition to new or expanded service. A petition to resume new sales must be in full compliance with provisions of this section and shall contain supporting data including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Updated PUC Forms 1 and 2 for the current year and the 3 forward years as required at § 59.67 (relating to formats).
(2) A 10-year supply/demand projection indicating sources of all presently available and new supplies which the utility estimates will become available.
(3) A detailed statement of energy efficiency standards which the utility proposes to require, if any, for entitlement to new or expanded service, to be included in the rules and regulations of its tariff.
(4) Projections for the current year and 3 forward years, by priority classification under § 69.21 of the number of new customers and associated consumption in each priority class to be served.
(5) A brief economic impact statement discuss- ing the effects of new or expanded sales, includ- ing any effect on unemployment, the demand for alternate fuels and local economic conditions, the estimated cost of future gas supply, and the effects of increased gas prices on various classes of customers and industries within the utility's service area.
(6) Other information as the Commission may, by this title or by special order, require.
(f) When a major jurisdictional gas distribution utility subject to the sales-ban provisions of this section determines in the ordinary course of its business that a customer has connected a gas appliance in violation of this section, the utility shall promptly notify the customer and the Commission, in writing, of a violation. If the customer does not remove the unauthorized gas equipment within 30 days after a notice is served on the customer, the utility shall disconnect gas service until the equipment is removed; however, in the case of residential customers, termination after expiration of the 30-day period shall be Chapter 56, Subchapter E (relating to termination of service), and no disconnections may be required or permitted during the winter heating season, Novem- ber 1 through March 31. New customers shall be notified in writing of the restrictions against and implications of unauthorized attachments at the time of application for service and shall be informed of the fact that written application to the utility is re-quired any time the addition of new or larger-capacity gas burning equipment is contemplated.
(g) A report (Form 4, Parts A and B) on new customer attachments and associated volumes shall be submitted prior to the end of the month follow-ing the termination of each quarter in accordance with the instructions specified on the forms.
(h) [Reserved].]
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 96-481. Filed for public inspection March 29, 1996, 9:00 a.m.]
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