§ 56.272. Accrual of late payment charges.
(a) Every public utility subject to this chapter is prohibited from levying or assessing a late charge or penalty on any overdue public utility bill, as defined in § 56.271 (relating to payment), in an amount which exceeds 1.5% interest per month on the overdue balance of the bill. These charges are to be calculated on the overdue portions of the bill only. The interest rate, when annualized, may not exceed 18% simple interest per annum.
(b) An additional charge or fixed fee designed to recover the cost of a subsequent rebilling may not be charged by a regulated public utility.
(c) Late payment charges may not be imposed on disputed estimated bills, unless the estimated bill was required because public utility personnel were willfully denied access to the affected premises to obtain an actual meter reading.
(d) A public utility may waive late payment charges on any customer accounts.
Authority The provisions of this § 56.272 amended under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 501, 1301, 1401—1419, 1501 and 1509.
Source The provisions of this § 56.272 amended May 31, 2019, effective June 1, 2019, 49 Pa.B. 2815. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (359032).
Cross References This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 56.265 (relating to billing information); and 52 Pa. Code § 56.411 (relating to duties of parties: disputing party’s duty to pay undisputed portion of bills; public utility’s duty to pay interest whenever over payment found).
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