The failure to reauthorize the Responsibile Utility Customer Protection Act, also referred to as "Chapter 14" of the Public Utility Code, during the 2023-24 Legislative Session has left Pennsylvania utility customers vulnerable as we head into the winter season.

While the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has committed to implementing temporary measures to uphold key programs like the Winter Shut-Off Moratorium and Medical Certificate protections, these stopgap actions may fall short of providing the comprehensive safeguards that customers need and expect.

In the previous session, I collaborated closely with consumer advocacy groups and utility providers, striking a careful balance between assisting customers facing financial hardship and shielding paying customers from the financial burden of covering unpaid utility bills. This effort resulted in a bipartisan proposal (SB1017 of 2023) that was unanimously approved by the Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee and passed the full Senate with a strong 42Y:8N vote.

Unfortunately, despite broad bipartisan support, the House failed to act on this critical legislation before the session ended on November 30, 2024, leaving essential consumer protections in limbo.

To address this urgent issue, I will reintroduce the bipartisan bill that successfully passed the Senate in May 2024. My objective is to collaborate with both Senate and House colleagues to develop a strengthened version of the Responsible Utility Customer Protection Act—one that not only reinforces critical consumer protections but also prevents unsustainable rate increases that disproportionately impact seniors and working families.
 
I encourage you to join me in co-sponsoring this critical legislation so we can safeguard Pennsylvania utility customers from undue hardship this winter and beyond.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0104: