EMERGENCY PROVISIONS
§ 56.111. General provision.
A public utility may not terminate service, or refuse to restore service, to a premises when a licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner has certified that the customer or an applicant seeking restoration of service under § 56.191 (relating to payment and timing) or a member of the customer’s or applicant’s household is seriously ill or afflicted with a medical condition that will be aggravated by cessation of service. The customer shall obtain a letter from a licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner verifying the condition and promptly forward it to the public utility. The determination of whether a medical condition qualifies for the purposes of this section resides entirely with the physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant and not with the public utility. A public utility may not impose any qualification standards for medical certificates other than those specified in this section.
Authority The provisions of this § 56.111 amended under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 501, 1301, 1401—1419, 1501 and 1509.
Source The provisions of this § 56.111 adopted June 16, 1978, effective June 17, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 1655; amended October 7, 2011, effective October 8, 2011, 41 Pa.B. 5473; amended May 31, 2019, effective June 1, 2019, 49 Pa.B. 2815. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (358987) to (358988).
Notes of Decisions Landlord’s Failure to Pay
Emergency provisions found at 52 Pa. Code § § 56.111—56.118 do apply to tenants where service is to be or has been terminated due to the landlord’s failure to pay his bill, and take precedence over the more general Landlord-Tenant provisions of 66 Pa.C.S. § § 1521—1533 (relating to discontinuance of service to lease premises) and the accompanying regulations at 52 Pa. Code § § 56.121—56.126. Tenant Action Group v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 514 A.2d 1003 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1986).
Nonchronic Illness
Emergency medical provisions, which provide for medical certifications to prevent termination of gas service, apply to long-term and short-term nonchronic illnesses. Jackson v. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 522 A.2d 1187 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1987); appeal denied 536 A.2d 1335 (Pa. 1987).
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