In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to better protect Pennsylvanians from rising utility costs. Many water and wastewater providers in my district offer customer assistance programs, which is an important step toward affordability. However, more must be done to ensure that families across the Commonwealth can access these programs.

In my district, a significant number of residents meet the income requirements for discounted rates and hardship grants. Unfortunately, many renters are excluded from receiving this assistance simply because their utility bills are included in their rent. Current program rules require individuals to be the primary account holder to qualify, and in most cases, the landlord—not the tenant—holds the account. As a result, some of the households most in need are unable to benefit from existing programs.

My legislation is simple: it will require utilities that offer customer assistance programs to extend eligibility to income-qualified renters, regardless of whether the utility account is in the renter’s or landlord’s name.

It’s time to remove unnecessary barriers and ensure that all Pennsylvanians—especially those who need it most—can access vital utility assistance. I invite you to join me in supporting this meaningful legislation.