Pennsylvania Code › Title 52 - PUBLIC UTILITIES › Part I - Public Utility Commission › Subpart C - Fixed Service Utilities › Chapter 56 - STANDARDS AND BILLING PRACTICES FOR RESIDENTIAL PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICE › Subchapter A - PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS FOR UTILITIES AND CUSTOMERS SUBJECT TO CHAPTER 14 OF THE PUBLIC UTILITY CODE › Section 56.2 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter,
						have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
						otherwise:
AMR-Automatic meter reading-
(i) Metering using technologies that
					 automatically read and collect data from metering devices and transfer that
					 data to a central database for billing and other purposes.
(ii) The term does not include remote meter
					 reading devices as defined by this section.
(iii) Meter readings by an AMR shall be
					 deemed actual readings for the purposes of this chapter.
Account balance
-The amount of current
						service which has been properly billed in addition to any accrued
						arrearages.
Applicant-
(i) A natural person at least 18 years of age
					 not currently receiving service who applies for residential service provided by
					 a public utility or any adult occupant whose name appears on the mortgage, deed
					 or lease of the property for which the residential public utility service is
					 requested.
(ii) The term does not
					 include a person who, within 30 days after service termination or
					 discontinuance of service, seeks to have service reconnected at the same
					 location or transferred to another location within the service territory of the
					 public utility.
Basic services-
(i) Services necessary for the physical
					 delivery of residential public utility service.
(ii) The term also includes default service
					 as defined in this section.
Billing month
-A period of not less than
						26 days and not more than 35 days except in the following circumstances:
(i) An initial bill for a new customer may be
					 less than 26 days or greater than 35 days. However, if an initial bill exceeds
					 60 days, the customer shall be given the opportunity to amortize the amount
					 over a period equal to the period covered by the initial bill without
					 penalty.
(ii) A final bill due to
					 discontinuance may be less than 26 days or greater than 35 days but may never
					 exceed 42 days. In cases involving termination, a final bill may be less than
					 26 days.
(iii) Bills for less than
					 26 days or more than 35 days shall be permitted if they result from a rebilling
					 initiated by the company or customer dispute to correct a billing
					 problem.
(iv) Bills for less than 26
					 days or more than 35 days shall be permitted if they result from a meter
					 reading route change initiated by the public utility. The public utility shall
					 informally contact the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Services at least 30
					 days prior to the rerouting and provide information as to when the billing will
					 occur, the number of customers affected and a general description of the
					 geographic area involved. If a bill resulting from a meter rerouting exceeds 60
					 days, the customer shall be given the opportunity to amortize the amount over a
					 period equal to the period covered by the bill without penalty.
(v) Bills for less than 26 days shall be
					 permitted when there is a change of the customer's electric generation or
					 natural gas supplier.
Billing period
-In the case of public
						utilities supplying gas, electric and steam heating service, the billing period
						must conform to the definition of "billing month." In the case of water and
						wastewater service, a billing period may be monthly, bimonthly or quarterly as
						provided in the tariff of the public utility. Customers shall be permitted to
						receive bills monthly and be notified of their rights thereto.
Class A water utility
-A water utility
						with annual revenues greater than $1 million.
Creditworthiness
-An assessment of an
						applicant's or customer's ability to meet bill payment obligations for utility
						service.
Customer-
(i) A natural person at least 18 years of age
					 in whose name a residential service account is listed and who is primarily
					 responsible for payment of bills rendered for the service or an adult occupant
					 whose name appears on the mortgage, deed or lease of the property for which the
					 residential public utility service is requested.
(ii) The term includes a person who, within
					 30 days after service termination or discontinuance of service, seeks to have
					 service reconnected at the same location or transferred to another location
					 within the service territory of the public utility.
Customer assistance program
-A plan or
						program sponsored by a public utility for the purpose of providing universal
						service and energy conservation, as defined in
						2202 or § 2803
						(relating to definitions), in which customers make monthly payments based on
						household income and household size and under which customers shall comply with
						certain responsibilities and restrictions to remain eligible for the
						program.
Cycle billing
-A system of billing
						employed by a public utility which results in the normal rendition of bills for
						public utility service to a group or portion of customers on different or
						specified days of one billing period.
Default service
-Electric generation
						supply service provided under a default service program to a retail electric
						customer not receiving service from an electric generation supplier.
Delinquent account
-Charges for public
						utility service which have not been paid in full by the due date stated on the
						bill or otherwise agreed upon; provided that an account may not be deemed
						delinquent if: prior to the due date, a payment arrangement with the public
						utility has been entered into by the customer, a timely filed notice of dispute
						is pending before the public utility, or, under time limits provided in this
						chapter, an informal or formal complaint is timely filed with and is pending
						before the Commission.
Discontinuance of service
-The cessation
						of service with the consent of the customer and otherwise in accordance with
						56.72
						(relating to discontinuance of service).
Dispute
-A grievance of an applicant,
						customer or occupant about a public utility's application of a provision
						covered by this chapter, including, but not limited to, subjects such as credit
						determinations, deposit requirements, the accuracy of meter readings or bill
						amounts or the proper party to be charged. If, at the conclusion of an initial
						contact or, when applicable, a follow-up response, the applicant, customer or
						occupant indicates satisfaction with the resulting resolution or explanation of
						the subject of the grievance, the contact will not be considered a
						dispute.
Dwelling
-A house, apartment, mobile home
						or single meter multiunit structure being supplied with residential
						service.
Electric distribution utility
-An entity
						providing facilities for the jurisdictional transmission and distribution of
						electricity to retail customers, except building or facility owners or
						operators that manage the internal distribution system serving the building or
						facility and that supply electric power and other related electric power
						services to occupants of the building or facility.
Electronic billing
-The electronic
						delivery and presentation of bills and related information sent by a public
						utility to its customers using a system administered by the public utility or a
						system the public utility is responsible for maintaining.
Electronic notification of payment
-A
						notification generated by an electronic payment system upon receipt of a
						payment from a customer using an electronic billing and payment system
						administered by the public utility or a system the public utility is
						responsible for maintaining.
The notification must inform the customer of successful
						receipt and amount of payment and the date and time the payment was
						received.
Electronic remittance of payment
-The
						electronic receipt of payment from customers to a public utility using a system
						administered by the public utility or a system the public utility is
						responsible for maintaining.
Emergency
-An unforeseen combination of
						circumstances requiring temporary discontinuance of service to effect repairs
						or maintenance or to eliminate an imminent threat to life, health, safety or
						property.
Federal poverty level
-The poverty
						guidelines updated periodically in the
Federal Register
by the
						United States Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of
						section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1981 (
						42 U.S.C.A. §
												9902(2) ).
Formal complaint
-A complaint filed
						before the Commission requesting a legal proceeding before a Commission
						administrative law judge or a mediation under the management of a Commission
						administrative law judge.
Household income
-The combined gross
						income of all adults in a residential household who benefit from the public
						utility service.
Informal complaint
-A complaint with the
						Commission submitted by a customer that does not involve a legal proceeding
						before a Commission administrative law judge or a mediation under the
						management of a Commission administrative law judge.
Initial inquiry
-A concern or question of
						an applicant, customer or occupant about a public utility's application of a
						provision covered by this chapter, including, but not limited to, subjects such
						as credit determinations, deposit requirements, the accuracy of meter readings
						or bill amounts or the proper party to be charged. If a public utility, with
						the consent of the applicant, customer or occupant, offers to review pertinent
						records and call back the applicant, customer or occupant within 3 business
						days with a response, the contact will be considered an initial inquiry pending
						a determination of satisfaction by the applicant, customer or occupant with the
						company's response. If the company cannot reach the customer to convey the
						information obtained through a review of company records, a letter shall be
						sent which summarizes the information and informs the customer to contact the
						company within 5 business days if the customer disagrees with the company
						position, or has additional questions or concerns about the matter.
Medical certificate
-A written document,
						in a form approved by the Commission, and consistent with section 56.113,
						that:
(i) Certifies that a customer or
					 member of the customer's household is seriously ill or has been diagnosed with
					 a medical condition which requires the continuation of service to treat the
					 medical condition.
(ii) Is signed by
					 a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
Natural gas distribution service
-The
						delivery of natural gas to retail gas customers utilizing the jurisdictional
						facilities of a natural gas distribution utility.
Natural gas distribution utility
-
(i) A city natural gas distribution operation
					 or entity that provides natural gas distribution services and may provide
					 natural gas supply services and other services.
(ii) The term does not include the following:
(A) A public utility providing natural gas
					 distribution services subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission that has
					 annual gas operating revenues of less than $6 million per year, except when the
					 public utility voluntarily petitions the Commission to be included within this
					 definition or when the public utility seeks to provide natural gas supply
					 services to retail gas customers outside its service territory.
(B) A public utility providing natural gas
					 distribution services subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission that is not
					 connected to an interstate gas pipeline by means of a direct connection or an
					 indirect connection through the distribution system of another natural gas
					 public utility or through a natural gas gathering system.