Subchapter A. DISCONTINUATION OF SERVICE
Sec.
55.1. Definitions.
55.2. Personal contact before utility service discontinued.
55.3. Content of notice.
55.4. Third-party notification program.
55.5. Reporting requirements.
55.6. Effective date.
Cross References This subchapter cited in 52 Pa. Code § 55.115 (relating to coordination with other regulations).
§ 55.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Emergency—An unforeseen combination of circumstances requiring temporary discontinuances of service in order to effect repairs or maintenance, or to eliminate an imminent threat to life, health, safety or property.
Personal contact—Personal contact means any of the following:(i) Contacting the customer in person or by telephone.
(ii) Contacting in writing another person whom the customer has designated to receive a copy of any notice of disconnection, other than a member or employe of the Commission.
(iii) If the customer has not made a designation, contacting in writing a community interest group or other entity, including local police departments, which previously agreed to receive a copy of the notice of disconnection and to attempt to contact the customer.
(iv) If the customer has not made a designation and a community interest group or other entity has not previously agreed to receive a copy of the notice of disconnection, contacting in writing the Commission’s Harrisburg office.
Public utility—Persons or corporations now or hereafter owning or operating in this Commonwealth, equipment or facilities for any of the following:(i) Producing, generating, transmitting, distributing or furnishing natural or artificial gas, electricity or steam for the production of light, heat or power to or for the public for compensation.
(ii) Diverting, developing, pumping, impounding, distributing or furnishing water to or for the public for compensation.
(iii) Transporting or conveying natural or artificial gas, crude oil, gasoline or petroleum products, materials for refrigeration, or oxygen or nitrogen or other fluid substance, by pipe line or conduit, for the public for compensation.
(iv) Wastewater collection, treatment or disposal for the public for compensation.
Authority The provisions of this § 55.1 amended under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 501.
Source The provisions of this § 55.1 adopted January 30, 1976, effective January 31, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 162; amended October 29, 1976, effective October 30, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 2739; amended February 13, 1998, effective February 14, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 801. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (220809) to (220810).
Cross References This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 55.115 (relating to coordination with other regulations).
§ 55.2. Personal contact before utility service discontinued.
(a) A public utility service, as defined in this chapter, which is not subject to the requirements of Chapter 56 (relating to standards and billing practices for residential utility service), shall conform with the following:
(1) Except when required to prevent or alleviate an emergency or upon request of a customer, a public utility may not discontinue service without making personal contact with the customer at least 3 days prior to the discontinuance, in addition to providing other notice of discontinuance specified by the properly filed tariff of the public utility or as otherwise required by the Commission.
(2) The form of service termination found in subsection (b) shall be used.
(b) The following is the form of service termination notice:
SERVICE TERMINATION NOTICE*
(Name and address of Utility)
(Date)
(Customer’s name)
(Customer’s Billing Address)
(Phone Number)
(Account Number)
Dear Customer:
Under rules established by the Public Utility Commission we are notifying you that we intend to terminate (type) service to the premises at (address of location where service is to be discontinued) on or after (time) on (date) . This action is being taken because your bill is (time period) overdue in the amount of $
.** You may avoid discontinuance of service by CALLING SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT (TELEPHONE NUMBER) OR VISITING OUR OFFICE AT (ADDRESS) to make payment arrangements.** YOU SHOULD ALSO CONTACT US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY BILLED OR YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION. AFTER YOU HAVE DISCUSSED WITH US YOUR BILLING OR PAYMENT PROBLEM, IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR PAYMENT OF YOUR ACCOUNT, YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO CALL THE PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION AT THIS NUMBER— (telephone number of appropriate regional office of the Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Services)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE. THE COMMISSION WILL HAVE STAFF AVAILABLE TO ATTEMPT TO MEDIATE YOUR BILLING PROBLEM IN ORDER TO AVOID TERMINATION.Sincerely yours, * Type not to be smaller than 10 point. ** If termination is for a reason other than overdue bill (i.e. tampering with Company equipment) insert applicable reason and the action a ratepayer can take to avoid disconnection.
Authority The provisions of this § 55.2 issued under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 501 and 1501.
Source The provisions of this § 55.2 adopted January 30, 1976, effective January 31, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 162; amended October 29, 1976, effective October 30, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 2739; amended April 29, 1977, effective April 30, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 1174; amended October 14, 1977, effective September 3, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 3037; amended June 18, 1982, effective June 19, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 1862. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (37319) to (37320).
Cross References This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 55.115 (relating to coordination with other regulations).
§ 55.3. Content of notice.
If personal contact is made under the requirements of this chapter, the person, group, agency or other entity which is contacted shall be advised of the following:
(1) The name, address and if known the telephone number, of the customer whose service is to be discontinued; the address of the location where service is to be discontinued.
(2) The date and time after which service may be discontinued.
(3) The reason for the proposed discontinuance of service.
(4) The action that can be taken to avoid discontinuance.
(5) The address and telephone number of the utility where billing adjustments may be made, bills paid or information obtained.
(6) The address and telephone number of the nearest regional office and of the Harrisburg office of the Commission, where complaints may be filed seeking a stay of discontinuance, or where further information obtained.
Source The provisions of this § 55.3 adopted January 30, 1976, effective January 31, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 162; amended October 29, 1976, effective October 30, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 2739.
Cross References This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 55.115 (relating to coordination with other regulations).
§ 55.4. Third-party notification program.
A utility shall institute and maintain a program in accordance with the following:
(1) To allow customers to designate third parties to receive copies of notices of discontinuance of service for a customer or group of customers.
(2) To advise customers of the availability of a third party notification program and to encourage their use thereof.
(3) To solicit community interest groups and police to accept third party notices in order to assist in preventing unnecessary disconnections and protecting the public health and safety.
Source The provisions of this § 55.4 adopted January 30, 1976, effective January 31, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 162; amended October 29, 1976, effective October 30, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 2739.
§ 55.5. Reporting requirements.
Within 15 days after the end of each quarter, an electric, gas and steam heat utility shall file with the Commission a report containing the following information for that quarter:
(1) Total number of accounts, categorized by classification as commercial or industrial.
(2) Number of overdue accounts, categorized as follows:
(i) By amount overdue—$250 or less, $251—$500, $501—$1000, $1001—$2000, $2001—$4000, and more than $4000.
(ii) By time overdue—30 days or less, 31—60 days, 61—90 days, 91—120 days, and more than 120 days.
(3) Total amount overdue.
(4) Number of terminations completed, categorized as follows:
(i) By amount overdue—$250 or less, $251—$500, $501—$1000, $1001—$2000, $2001—$4000, and more than $4000.
(ii) By time overdue—30 days or less, 31—60 days, 61—90 days, 91—120 days, and more than 120 days.
(iii) By the first three digits of each account’s zip code.
Source The provisions of this § 55.5 adopted January 30, 1976, effective January 31, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 162; amended October 29, 1976, effective October 30, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 2739; amended December 24, 1976, effective December 25, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 3152; amended November 16, 1979, effective November 17, 1979, 9 Pa.B. 3797. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (37322) to (37324).
Cross References This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 55.6 (relating to effective date).
§ 55.6. Effective date.
(a) This chapter is effective immediately, except that § 55.5 (relating to reporting requirements) is not effective until January 15, 1977, for the month ending December 31, 1976.
(b) The information required by § 55.5 shall be submitted in a manner prescribed by, or on forms prepared by the Commission.
Source The provisions of this § 55.6 adopted January 30, 1976, effective January 31, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 162; amended October 29, 1976, effective October 30, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 2739.
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