NOTICES
PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC
UTILITY COMMISSION
Service of Notice of Motor Carrier Formal Complaints
[50 Pa.B. 1793]
[Saturday, March 21, 2020]Formal complaints have been issued by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Answers must be filed in accordance with 52 Pa. Code (relating to public utilities). Answers are due April 6, 2020, and must be made with the Secretary, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 400 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120, with a copy to the First Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
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Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission; Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement v. American Natural Supply, LLC; Docket No. C-2020-3016303 COMPLAINT
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (Commission) is a duly constituted agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania empowered to regulate public utilities within the Commonwealth. The Commission has delegated its authority to initiate proceedings which are prosecutory in nature to the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement and other bureaus with enforcement responsibilities. Pursuant to that delegated authority and Section 701 of the Public Utility Code, the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement hereby represents as follows:
1. That all authority issued to American Natural Supply, LLC, (respondent) is under suspension effective January 09, 2020 for failure to maintain evidence of insurance on file with this Commission.
2. That respondent maintains a principal place of business at 1200 Lebanon Rd., West Mifflin, PA 15122.
3. That respondent was issued a Certificate of Public Convenience by this Commission on October 13, 2017, at A-8920256.
4. That respondent has failed to maintain evidence of Cargo insurance on file with this Commission. The Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement's proposed civil penalty for this violation is $500.00 and cancellation of the Certificate of Public Convenience.
5. That respondent, by failing to maintain evidence of insurance on file with this Commission, violated 66 Pa.C.S. § 512, 52 Pa. Code § 32.2(c), and 52 Pa. Code § 32.11(a), § 32.12(a) or § 32.13(a).
Wherefore, unless respondent pays the penalty of $500.00 or files an answer in compliance with the attached notice and/or causes its insurer to file evidence of insurance with this Commission within twenty (20) days of the date of service of this Complaint, the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement will request that the Commission issue an Order which (1) cancels the Certificate of Public Convenience held by respondent at A-8920256 for failure to maintain evidence of current insurance on file with the Commission, (2) fines Respondent the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for the illegal activity described in this Complaint, (3) orders such other remedy as the Commission may deem to be appropriate, which may include the suspension of a vehicle registration and (4) imposes an additional fine on the respondent should cancellation occur.
Respectfully submitted,
David W. Loucks, Chief
Motor Carrier Enforcement
Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120VERIFICATION
I, David W. Loucks, Chief, Motor Carrier Enforcement, Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement, hereby state that the facts above set forth are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief and that I expect that the Bureau will be able to prove same at any hearing held in this matter. I understand that the statements herein are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.
Date: 01/21/2020
David W. Loucks, Chief
Motor Carrier Enforcement
Bureau of Investigation and Enforce-
mentNOTICE
A. You must file an Answer within 20 days of the date of service of this Complaint. The date of service is the mailing date as indicated at the top of the Secretarial Letter. See 52 Pa. Code § 1.56(a). The Answer must raise all factual and legal arguments that you wish to claim in your defense, include the docket number of this Complaint, and be verified. You may file your Answer by mailing an original to:
Rosemary Chiavetta, Secretary
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120Or, you may eFile your Answer using the Commission's website at www.puc.pa.gov. The link to eFiling is located under the Filing & Resources tab on the homepage. If your Answer is 250 pages or less, you are not required to file a paper copy. If your Answer exceeds 250 pages, you must file a paper copy with the Secretary's Bureau.
Additionally, a copy should either be mailed to:
Michael L. Swindler, Deputy Chief Prosecutor
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120Or, emailed to Mr. Swindler at: RA-PCCmplntResp@pa.gov
B. If you fail to answer this Complaint within 20 days, the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement will request that the Commission issue an Order imposing the penalty.
C. You may elect not to contest this Complaint by causing your insurer to file proper evidence of current insurance in accordance with the Commission's regulations and by paying the fine proposed in this Complaint by certified check or money order within twenty (20) days of the date of service of this Complaint. Accord certificates of insurance and faxed form Es and Hs are unacceptable as evidence of insurance.
The proof of insurance must be filed with the:
Compliance Office, Bureau of Technical Utility
Services
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120Payment of the fine must be made to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and should be forwarded to:
Rosemary Chiavetta, Secretary
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120Your payment is an admission that you committed the alleged violation and an agreement to cease and desist from further violations. Upon receipt of the evidence of insurance from your insurer, and upon receipt of your payment, the Complaint proceeding shall be closed.
D. If you file an Answer which either admits or fails to deny the allegations of the Complaint, the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement will request the Commission to issue an Order imposing the penalty set forth in this Complaint.
E. If you file an Answer which contests the Complaint, the matter will be assigned to an Administrative Law Judge for hearing and decision. The Judge is not bound by the penalty set forth in the Complaint, and may impose additional and/or alternative penalties as appropriate.
F. If you are a corporation, you must be represented by legal counsel. 52 Pa. Code § 1.21.
Alternative formats of this material are available for persons with disabilities by contacting the Commission's ADA Coordinator at 717-787-8714. Do not call this number if you have questions as to why you received this complaint. For those questions you may call 717-783-3847.
NOTICE
A. You must file an Answer within 20 days of the date of service of this Complaint. The date of service is the mailing date as indicated at the top of the Secretarial Letter. See 52 Pa. Code § 1.56(a). The Answer must raise all factual and legal arguments that you wish to claim in your defense, include the docket number of this Complaint, and be verified. You may file your Answer by mailing an original to:
Rosemary Chiavetta, Secretary
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120Or, you may eFile your Answer using the Commission's website at www.puc.pa.gov. The link to eFiling is located under the Filing & Resources tab on the homepage. If your Answer is 250 pages or less, you are not required to file a paper copy. If your Answer exceeds 250 pages, you must file a paper copy with the Secretary's Bureau.
Additionally, a copy should either be mailed to:
Kourtney L. Myers, Prosecutor
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120Or, emailed to Ms. Myers at: komyers@pa.gov
B. If you fail to answer this Complaint within 20 days, the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement will request that the Commission issue an Order imposing the requested relief.
C. You may elect not to contest this Complaint by paying the past due assessment and civil penalty within 20 days. Send only a certified check or money order made payable to the ''Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,'' with the docket number indicated, and mailed to:
Rosemary Chiavetta, Secretary
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120D. If you file an Answer which either admits or fails to deny the allegations of the Complaint, the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement will request the Commission to issue an Order imposing the requested relief set forth in this Complaint.
E. If you file an Answer which contests the Complaint, the matter will be assigned to an Administrative Law Judge for hearing and decision. The Judge is not bound by the penalty set forth in the Complaint and may impose additional and/or alternative penalties as appropriate.
F. If you are a corporation, you must be represented by legal counsel. 52 Pa. Code § 1.21.
G. Alternative formats of this material are available for persons with disabilities by contacting the Commission's ADA Coordinator at 717-787-8714.
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Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission; Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement v. Lehigh Valley Transportation Services, Inc.; Docket No. C-2019-3013654 COMPLAINT
Now Comes the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (''I&E'') of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (''Commission''), by its prosecuting attorneys, and files this Complaint against Lehigh Valley Transportation Services, Inc. (''Respondent''), pursuant to Section 701 of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 701. In support of its Complaint, I&E respectfully represents the following:
Parties and Jurisdiction
1. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, with a mailing address of 400 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120, is a duly constituted agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania empowered to regulate public utilities within the Commonwealth pursuant to the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. §§ 101, et seq.
2. Complainant is the Commission's Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement and is the entity established by statute to prosecute complaints against public utilities pursuant to 66 Pa.C.S. § 308.2(a)(11). See also Implementation of Act 129 of 2008; Organization of Bureaus and Offices, Docket No. M-2008-2071852 (Order entered August 11, 2011) at 5 (transferring authority to prosecute assessment cases to I&E).
3. Complainant is represented by:
Kourtney L. Myers
Prosecutor
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120
717.705.4366
komyers@pa.govChristopher M. Andreoli
Prosecutor
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120
717.783.3458
chandreoli@pa.govMichael L. Swindler
Deputy Chief Prosecutor
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 171204. Respondent is Lehigh Valley Transportation Services, Inc. and maintains its principal place of business at 1801 West Market Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018, Attention: Steven Hummel.
5. Respondent is a ''public utility'' as that term is defined at 66 Pa.C.S. § 102, as it is engaged in transporting passengers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for compensation.
6. The Commission issued Respondent a Certificate of Public Convenience on or about February 21, 2007, at A-00123047, for limousine, airport transfer, and taxi authority.
7. Section 501(a) of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 501(a), authorizes and obligates the Commission to execute and enforce the provisions of the Public Utility Code.
8. Section 701 of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 701, authorizes the Commission to, inter alia, hear and determine complaints against public utilities for a violation of any law or regulation that the Commission has jurisdiction to administer.
9. Section 3301 of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 3301, authorizes the Commission to impose civil penalties on any public utility, or any other person or corporation subject to the Commission's authority, for violation(s) of the Public Utility Code and/or Commission regulations. Section 3301(a)-(b) of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 3301(a)-(b), allows for the imposition of a separate civil penalty for each violation and each day's continuance of such violation(s).
10. Respondent, in transporting passengers as a common carrier for compensation, is subject to the power and authority of this Commission pursuant to Section 501(c) of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 501(c), which requires a public utility to comply with Commission regulations.
11. Pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Commonwealth statutes and regulations, the Commission has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this complaint and the actions of Respondent related thereto.
Factual Background
12. On or about February 21, 2017, the Commission mailed to Respondent an assessment report for Respondent to report its gross intrastate operating revenues for the 2016 calendar year.
13. The assessment report was accompanied by instructions, which notified Respondent that the report was to be completed and returned to the Commission on or before March 31, 2017. A copy of the assessment report and instructions is attached as Exhibit 1.
14. Respondent failed to file an assessment report stating its 2016 calendar year revenues.
15. On or about September 5, 2017, the Commission mailed to Respondent, by certified mail, an assessment invoice for the July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 Fiscal Year (''2017-2018 Fiscal Year'') that was based, in part, on Respondent's estimated revenues for the 2016 calendar year. Respondent's assessment was $10,802. A copy of the assessment invoice is attached as Exhibit 2.
16. Accompanying the assessment invoice was a notice of assessment that informed Respondent that it was obligated to pay the amount listed on the assessment invoice within thirty (30) days or file objections within fifteen (15) days. A copy of the notice of assessment is attached as Exhibit 3.
17. On September 7, 2017, Respondent provided an electronic signature to the United States Postal Service for the certified mailing, which indicated that it received the assessment invoice and notice of assessment for the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year. A copy of the electronic signature for the certified mailing is attached as Exhibit 4.
18. The Commission received no objections from Respondent to the assessment amount set forth in the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year Assessment Invoice.
19. Respondent failed to pay its 2017-2018 Fiscal Year Assessment invoice of $10,802.
20. On or about November 9, 2017, the Commission's Bureau of Administration (''ADM'') sent Respondent a letter warning Respondent that if it did not pay its 2017-2018 Fiscal Year Assessment within 30 days of receipt of the letter, then ADM would refer the matter to I&E for prosecution.
21. Respondent did not pay its outstanding assessment.
22. On or about January 19, 2018, I&E sent Respondent a letter warning Respondent that if it did not pay its 2017-2018 Fiscal Year Assessment within 30 days of receipt of the letter, then I&E would file a Formal Complaint against Respondent seeking payment of the outstanding assessment and a civil penalty and revocation of Respondent's Certificate and vehicle registration(s) with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
23. Respondent did not pay its outstanding assessment.
24. The total outstanding assessment balance for Respondent related to the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year is $10,802.
Violations
COUNT 1
25. That Respondent failed to report its gross intrastate operating revenues for the 2016 calendar year in that it did not file an assessment report for that year. If proven, this is a violation of Section 510(b) of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 510(b). The Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement's proposed civil penalty for this violation is $500.1 This civil penalty, consistent with past Commission decisions,2 is based on Respondent's acceptable history of compliance with the Public Utility Code and Commission's regulations,3 the amount of Respondent's outstanding assessment balance related to the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year, and the need to deter future violations of the Public Utility Code and the Commission's regulations pursuant to 52 Pa. Code § 69.1201.4
COUNT 2
26. That Respondent failed to satisfy its 2017-2018 Fiscal Year Assessment in that it did not pay the amount due within thirty (30) days of receipt of the invoice. If proven, this is a violation of Section 510(c) of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 510(c). The Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement's proposed civil penalty for this violation is 15% of the outstanding assessment balance or $1,620.5 This civil penalty, consistent with past Commission decisions,6 is based on Respondent's acceptable history of compliance with the Public Utility Code and Commission's regulations,7 the amount of Respondent's outstanding assessment balance related to the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year, and the need to deter future violations of the Public Utility Code and the Commission's regulations pursuant to 52 Pa. Code § 69.1201.
Wherefore, for all the foregoing reasons, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission's Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement respectfully requests that:
(a) Respondent be ordered to pay a total of $12,922 which consists of its outstanding assessment balance of $10,802 and a total civil penalty of $2,120 for the above described violations. Said payment should be made by certified check or money order, made payable to the ''Commonwealth of Pennsylvania'' with the docket number of this proceeding listed, and mailed to the Secretary's Bureau of the Commission;
(b) Respondent be directed to file assessment reports on a going-forward basis; and
(c) If payment of the assessment and civil penalty is not made, the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement requests that:
(1) the Commission issue an Order to cancel the Certificate of Public Convenience issued to Respondent;
(2) this matter be referred to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General for appropriate action; and
(3) the Commission certify automobile registrations to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for suspension or revocation.
Respectfully submitted,
Kourtney L. Myers
Prosecutor
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120
717.705.4366
komyers@pa.govDate: October 18, 2019
VERIFICATION
I, Amy Zuvich, Chief of Finance and Assessments, Bureau of Administration, Finance and Assessment Section, hereby state that the facts above set forth are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief and that I expect the Bureau will be able to prove the same at any hearing held in this matter. I understand that the statements herein are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.
Date: October 18, 2019
Amy Zuvich, Chief of Finance and Assessments
Finance and Assessment Section
Bureau of Administration
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Exhibit 1
Exhibit 2
Exhibit 3
Exhibit 4 NOTICE
A. You must file an Answer within 20 days of the date of service of this Complaint. The date of service is the mailing date as indicated at the top of the Secretarial Letter. See 52 Pa. Code § 1.56(a). The Answer must raise all factual and legal arguments that you wish to claim in your defense, include the docket number of this Complaint, and be verified. You may file your Answer by mailing an original to:
Rosemary Chiavetta, Secretary
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120Or, you may eFile your Answer using the Commission's website at www.puc.pa.gov. The link to eFiling is located under the Filing & Resources tab on the homepage. If your Answer is 250 pages or less, you are not required to file a paper copy. If your Answer exceeds 250 pages, you must file a paper copy with the Secretary's Bureau.
Additionally, a copy should either be mailed to:
Kourtney L. Myers, Prosecutor
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120Or, emailed to Ms. Myers at: komyers@pa.gov
B. If you fail to answer this Complaint within 20 days, the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement will request that the Commission issue an Order imposing the requested relief.
C. You may elect not to contest this Complaint by paying the past due assessment and civil penalty within 20 days. Send only a certified check or money order made payable to the ''Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,'' with the docket number indicated, and mail to:
Rosemary Chiavetta, Secretary
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120D. If you file an Answer which either admits or fails to deny the allegations of the Complaint, the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement will request the Commission to issue an Order imposing the requested relief set forth in this Complaint.
E. If you file an Answer which contests the Complaint, the matter will be assigned to an Administrative Law Judge for hearing and decision. The Judge is not bound by the penalty set forth in the Complaint and may impose additional and/or alternative penalties as appropriate.
F. If you are a corporation, you must be represented by legal counsel. 52 Pa. Code § 1.21.
G. Alternative formats of this material are available for persons with disabilities by contacting the Commission's ADA Coordinator at 717-787-8714.
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Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission; Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement v. Celebrity Limousine Service, Inc.; Docket No. C-2019-3012560 COMPLAINT
Now Comes the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (''I&E'') of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (''Commission''), by its prosecuting attorneys, and files this Complaint against Celebrity Limousine Service, Inc. (''Respondent''), pursuant to Section 701 of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 701. In support of its Complaint, I&E respectfully represents the following:
Parties and Jurisdiction
1. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, with a mailing address of 400 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120, is a duly constituted agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania empowered to regulate public utilities within the Commonwealth pursuant to the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. §§ 101, et seq.
2. Complainant is the Commission's Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement and is the entity established by statute to prosecute complaints against public utilities pursuant to 66 Pa.C.S. § 308.2(a)(11). See also Implementation of Act 129 of 2008; Organization of Bureaus and Offices, Docket No. M-2008-2071852 (Order entered August 11, 2011) at 5 (transferring authority to prosecute assessment cases to I&E).
3. Complainant is represented by:
Kourtney L. Myers
Prosecutor
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120
717.705.4366
komyers@pa.govChristopher M. Andreoli
Prosecutor
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120
717.783.3458
chandreoli@pa.govMichael L. Swindler
Deputy Chief Prosecutor
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 171204. Respondent is Celebrity Limousine Service, Inc. and maintains its principal place of business at 2521 Yellow Springs Road, Suite 3, Malvern, PA 19355, Attention: Dennis B. Adams.
5. Respondent is a ''public utility'' as that term is defined at 66 Pa.C.S. § 102, as it is engaged in transporting passengers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for compensation.
6. The Commission issued Respondent a Certificate of Public Convenience (''Certificate'') on or about May 27, 1992, at A-00110054, for limousine, group and party 15 or less, and group and party 16 or greater authority and on or about July 29, 2011, at A-2011-2237624, for group and party 28 or greater authority.
7. Section 501(a) of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 501(a), authorizes and obligates the Commission to execute and enforce the provisions of the Public Utility Code.
8. Section 701 of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 701, authorizes the Commission to, inter alia, hear and determine complaints against public utilities for a violation of any law or regulation that the Commission has jurisdiction to administer.
9. Section 3301 of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 3301, authorizes the Commission to impose civil penalties on any public utility, or any other person or corporation subject to the Commission's authority, for violation(s) of the Public Utility Code and/or Commission regulations. Section 3301(a)-(b) of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 3301(a)-(b), allows for the imposition of a separate civil penalty for each violation and each day's continuance of such violation(s).
10. Respondent, in transporting passengers as a common carrier for compensation is subject to the power and authority of this Commission pursuant to Section 501(c) of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 501(c), which requires a public utility to comply with Commission regulations.
11. Pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Commonwealth statutes and regulations, the Commission has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this complaint and the actions of Respondent related thereto.
Factual Background
PRIOR ASSESSMENT-RELATED COMPLAINTS
12. On January 26 2017, I&E filed a Complaint against Respondent at Docket No. C-2017-2585810, alleging that Respondent violated Section 510(c) of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 510(c), by failing to satisfy its assessment for the July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 Fiscal Year (''2015-2016 Fiscal Year'') in the amount of $27,803. In addition to payment of the outstanding assessment, I&E sought payment of a civil penalty in the amount of $6,951.
13. On March 10, 2017, I&E filed a Certificate of Satisfaction pursuant to 52 Pa. Code § 5.24, noting that Respondent satisfied its outstanding assessment for the 2015-2016 Fiscal Year and the agreed-upon civil penalty of $4,170 at Docket No. C-2017-2585810.
14. On November 17, 2017, I&E filed a Complaint against Respondent at Docket No. C-2017-2634220, alleging that Respondent violated Section 510(c) of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 510(c), by failing to satisfy its assessment for the July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 Fiscal Year (''2016-2017 Fiscal Year'') in the amount of $20,477. In addition to payment of the outstanding assessment, I&E sought payment of a civil penalty in the amount of $5,119.
15. On January 4, 2018, I&E filed a Certificate of Satisfaction pursuant to 52 Pa. Code § 5.24, noting that Respondent satisfied its outstanding assessment for the 2015-2016 Fiscal Year and the agreed-upon civil penalty of $4,000 at Docket No. C-2017-2634220.
2017-2018 FISCAL YEAR
16. On or about September 5, 2017, the Commission mailed to Respondent, by certified mail, an assessment invoice for the July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 Fiscal Year (''2017-2018 Fiscal Year'') that was based, in part, on revenues for the 2016 calendar year that Respondent reported to the Commission in its 2016 Assessment Report. Respondent's assessment was $20,096. A copy of the assessment invoice is attached as Exhibit 1.
17. Accompanying the assessment invoice was a notice of assessment that informed Respondent that it was obligated to pay the amount listed on the assessment invoice within thirty (30) days or file objections within fifteen (15) days. A copy of the notice of assessment is attached as Exhibit 2.
18. On September 7, 2017, Respondent provided an electronic signature to the United States Postal Service for the certified mailing, which indicated that it received the assessment invoice and notice of assessment for the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year. A copy of the electronic signature for the certified mailing is attached as Exhibit 3.
19. The Commission received no objections from Respondent to the assessment amount set forth in the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year Assessment Invoice.
20. On or about November 9, 2017, the Commission's Bureau of Administration (''ADM'') sent Respondent a letter warning Respondent that if it did not pay its 2017-2018 Fiscal Year Assessment within thirty (30) days of receipt of the letter, then ADM would refer the matter to I&E for prosecution.
21. Respondent did not pay its outstanding assessment.
22. On or about January 19, 2018, I&E sent Respondent a letter warning Respondent that if it did not pay its 2017-2018 Fiscal Year Assessment within thirty (30) days of receipt of the letter, then I&E would file a Formal Complaint against Respondent seeking payment of the outstanding assessment and a civil penalty and revocation of Respondent's Certificate and vehicle registration(s) with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
23. Respondent failed to pay its 2017-2018 Fiscal Year Assessment Invoice of $20,096.
24. The total outstanding assessment balance for Respondent related to the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year is $20,096.
Violation
25. That Respondent failed to satisfy its 2017-2018 Fiscal Year Assessment in that it did not pay the amount due within thirty (30) days of receipt of the invoice. If proven, this is a violation of Section 510(c) of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 510(c). The Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement's proposed civil penalty for this violation is 25% of the outstanding assessment balance or $5,024.8 This civil penalty, consistent with past Commission decisions,9 is based on Respondent's unacceptable history of compliance with the Public Utility Code and Commission's regulations,10 the amount of Respondent's outstanding assessment balance related to the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year, and the need to deter future violations of the Public Utility Code and the Commission's regulations pursuant to 52 Pa. Code § 69.1201.11
Wherefore, for all the foregoing reasons, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission's Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement respectfully requests that:
(a) Respondent be ordered to pay a total of $25,120, which consists of its outstanding assessment balance of $20,096 and a total civil penalty of $5,024 for the above described violation. Said payment should be made by certified check or money order, made payable to the ''Commonwealth of Pennsylvania'' with the docket number of this proceeding listed, and mailed to the Secretary's Bureau of the Commission;
(b) If payment of the assessment and civil penalty is not made, the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement requests that:
(1) the Commission issue an Order to cancel the Certificate of Public Convenience issued to Respondent;
(2) this matter be referred to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General for appropriate action; and
(3) the Commission certify automobile registrations to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for suspension or revocation.
Respectfully submitted,
Kourtney L. Myers
Prosecutor
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120
717.705.4366
komyers@pa.govDate: August 29, 2019
VERIFICATION
I, Amy Zuvich, Chief of Finance and Assessments, Bureau of Administration, Finance and Assessment Section, hereby state that the facts above set forth are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief and that I expect the Bureau will be able to prove the same at any hearing held in this matter. I understand that the statements herein are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.
Date: August 29, 2019
Amy Zuvich, Chief of Finance and Assessments
Finance and Assessment Section
Bureau of Administration
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Exhibit 1
Exhibit 2
Exhibit 3 ROSEMARY CHIAVETTA,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 20-439. Filed for public inspection March 20, 2020, 9:00 a.m.] _______
1 I&E anticipates that this level of penalty will provide a sufficient deterrent against future violations by Respondent.
2 See Pa. Pub. Util. Comm'n v. Juan Genet Enter., LLC t/a Safe Destinations, Docket No. C-2014-2450660 (Order entered August 3, 2017); Pa. Pub. Util. Comm'n v. Leo Movers & Storage, Inc., Docket No. C-2015-2494528 (Order entered August 3, 2017); Pa. Pub. Util. Comm'n v. Hoffman Landscaping & Trucking, LLP, Docket No. C-2015-2495061 (Order entered September 21, 2017); Pa. Pub. Util. Comm'n v. Deer Haven, LLP, Docket No. C-2015-2498095 (Order entered October 26, 2017); Pa. Pub. Util. Comm'n v. Reach for the Stars Limousine Serv. Inc., Docket No. C-2015-2499276 (Order entered October 26, 2017).
3 A review of the Commission's records for a period of three (3) years prior to the date of the filing of this Complaint demonstrates that Respondent has an acceptable compliance history with the Commission.
4 The Commission promulgated a Policy Statement at 52 Pa. Code § 69.1201 as a guideline that sets forth ten factors that are to be considered when evaluating whether and to what extent a civil penalty for violating a Commission order, regulation, or statute is warranted. Among these factors are the compliance history of the regulated entity that committed the violation, the amount of the civil penalty necessary to deter future violations, and past Commission decisions in similar situations. 52 Pa. Code §§ 69.1201(c)(6), (8), and (9).
5 I&E anticipates that this level of penalty will provide a sufficient deterrent against future violations by Respondent.
6 See supra note 2.
7 See supra note 3.
8 I&E anticipates that this level of penalty will provide a sufficient deterrent against future violations by Respondent.
9 See Pa. Pub. Util. Comm'n v. Juan Genet Enter., LLC t/a Safe Destinations, Docket No. C-2014-2450660 (Order entered August 3, 2017); Pa. Pub. Util. Comm'n v. Leo Movers & Storage, Inc., Docket No. C-2015-2494528 (Order entered August 3, 2017); Pa. Pub. Util. Comm'n v. Hoffman Landscaping & Trucking, LLP, Docket No. C-2015-2495061 (Order entered September 21, 2017); Pa. Pub. Util. Comm'n v. Deer Haven, LLP, Docket No. C-2015-2498095 (Order entered October 26, 2017); Pa. Pub. Util. Comm'n v. Reach for the Stars Limousine Serv. Inc., Docket No. C-2015-2499276 (Order entered October 26, 2017).
10 A review of the Commission's records for a period of three (3) years prior to the date of the filing of this Complaint demonstrates that Respondent has an unacceptable compliance history with the Commission as Respondent failed to timely pay its 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Assessments to the Commission. See supra ¶¶ 12—15.
11 The Commission promulgated a Policy Statement at 52 Pa. Code § 69.1201 as a guideline that sets forth ten factors that are to be considered when evaluating whether and to what extent a civil penalty for violating a Commission order, regulation, or statute is warranted. Among these factors are the compliance history of the regulated entity that committed the violation, the amount of the civil penalty necessary to deter future violations, and past Commission decisions in similar situations. 52 Pa. Code §§ 69.1201(c)(6), (8), and (9).
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