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 L - PROVISIONS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH A PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDER OR A COURT ORDER ISSUED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN THIS COMMONWEALTH WHICH PROVIDES CLEAR EVIDENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE › Section 56.252 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
The following words and terms, when used in this
						subchapter and Subchapters M-V, 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.
Applicant-
(i) A person at least 18 years of age who
					 applies for residential public utility service.
(ii) The term does not include a person who,
					 within 60 days after termination or discontinuance of service, seeks to
					 transfer service within the service territory of the same public utility or to
					 reinstate service at the same address.
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 in instances when there is a change of the customer's electric
					 generation or natural gas supplier.
Billing period
-In the case of 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.
Customer
-A 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. The term includes a
						person who, within 60 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
						66 Pa.C.S. §
												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 agreement 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
						§
											56.312 (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.
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 a 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.
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
-A city
						natural gas distribution operation or entity that provides natural gas
						distribution services and may provide natural gas supply services and other
						services.
Natural gas supply services
-
(i) The sale or arrangement of the sale of
					 natural gas to retail gas customers and services that may be unbundled by the
					 Commission under
					 66 Pa.C.S. §
												2203(3) (relating to
					 standards for restructuring of natural gas utility industry).
(ii) The term does not include natural gas
					 distribution service.
Nonbasic services
-Optional recurring
						services which are distinctly separate and clearly not required for the
						physical delivery of public utility service or default service.
Nurse practitioner
-An individual
						licensed in this Commonwealth by the State Board of Nursing as a certified
						registered nurse practitioner under 49 Pa. Code Chapter 21, Subchapter C
						(relating to certified registered nurse practitioners).
Occupant
-A natural person who resides in
						the premises to which public utility service is provided.
Payment agreement
-A mutually
						satisfactory written agreement whereby a customer or applicant who admits
						liability for billed service is permitted to amortize or pay the unpaid balance
						of the account in one or more payments over a reasonable period of time.
Person
-An individual, partnership,
						corporation, association, including any lessee, assignee, trustee, receiver,
						executor, administrator and other successors in interest.
Physician
-An individual licensed in this
						Commonwealth to practice medicine and surgery under 49 Pa. Code Chapter 17,
						Subchapter A (relating to licensure of medical doctors) or an individual
						licensed in this Commonwealth to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery
						under 49 Pa. Code Chapter 25, Subchapter A (relating to general
						provisions).
Physician assistant
-An individual
						licensed by the State Board of Medicine in this Commonwealth as a physician
						assistant under 49 Pa. Code, Chapter 18, Subchapter D (relating to physician
						assistants) or an individual licensed by the State Board of Osteopathic
						Medicine in this Commonwealth as a physician assistant under 49 Pa. Code
						Chapter 25, Subchapter C (relating to physician assistant provisions).
Premises
or
affected
						premises
-Unless otherwise indicated, the residence of the
						occupant.
Public utility
-An electric distribution
						utility, natural gas distribution utility, small natural gas distribution
						utility, steam heat utility, wastewater utility or water distribution utility
						in this Commonwealth that is within the jurisdiction of the Commission.
Remote reading device-
(i) A device which by electrical impulse or
					 otherwise transmits readings from a meter, usually located within a residence,
					 to a more accessible location outside of a residence.
(ii) The term does not include the following:
(A) AMR devices as defined in this
					 section.
(B) Devices that permit
					 direct interrogation of the meter.