Bill Text: PA SB577 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Further providing for payment agreements.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-18 - Referred to CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE [SB577 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-SB577-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 586
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 577 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY FERLO, FONTANA, STACK, KASUNIC, M. WHITE, BREWSTER AND WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 18, 2011
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, FEBRUARY 18, 2011
AN ACT
Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, further providing for payment
agreements.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1405 of Title 66 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 1405. Payment agreements.
(a) General rule.--The commission is authorized to
investigate complaints regarding payment disputes between a
public utility, applicants and customers. The commission is
authorized to establish payment agreements between a public
utility, customers and applicants within the limits established
by this chapter.
(b) Length of payment agreements.--The length of time for a
customer to resolve an unpaid balance on an account that is
subject to a payment agreement that is investigated by the
commission and is entered into by a public utility and a
customer shall not extend beyond:
(1) Five years for customers with a gross monthly
household income level not exceeding 150% of the Federal
poverty level.
(2) Two years for customers with a gross monthly
household income level exceeding 150% and not more than 250%
of the Federal poverty level.
(3) One year for customers with a gross monthly
household income level exceeding 250% of the Federal poverty
level and not more than 300% of the Federal poverty level.
(4) Six months for customers with a gross monthly
household income level exceeding 300% of the Federal poverty
level.
(c) Customer assistance programs.--Customer assistance
program rates shall be timely paid and shall not be the subject
of payment agreements negotiated or approved by the commission.
(d) Number of payment agreements.--Absent a change in income
or other significant change in circumstances, the commission
shall not establish or order a public utility to establish a
second or subsequent payment agreement if a customer has
defaulted on [a previous] an initial payment agreement ordered
or established by the commission. A public utility may, at its
discretion, enter into a second or subsequent payment agreement
with a customer.
(e) Extension of payment agreements.--If the customer
defaults on a payment agreement established under subsections
(a) and (b) as a result of a significant change in circumstance,
the commission may reinstate the payment agreement and extend
the remaining term for an initial period of six months. The
initial extension period may be extended for an additional six
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months for good cause shown.
(f) Failure to comply with payment agreement.--Failure of a
customer to comply with the terms of a payment agreement shall
be grounds for a public utility to terminate the customer's
service. Pending the outcome of a complaint filed with the
commission, a customer shall be obligated to pay that portion of
the bill which is not in dispute and subsequent bills which are
not in dispute.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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