§ 56.57. Interest rate. The mechanism for determining the interest rate applied to security deposits is being changed to align with the change at Section 1404(c)(6). § 56.82. Timing of Termination. Section 1406(d) now only allows a utility to terminate service (for the grounds found at 1406(a) (relating to authorized termination)) Monday through Thursday. We propose revising § 56.82 to align with this new restriction. § 56.91. General notice provisions and contents of termination notice. We are revising the information directed to customers on written 10-day termination notices in paragraph (b)(11) to include notice to customers that, pursuant to Section 1417, the special protections available for victims under a protection from abuse order are now also available to those customers with a court order providing clear evidence of domestic violence and issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in this Commonwealth. § 56.93. Personal contact. We are revising this section to provide for the optional use of electronic messaging for providing three-day personal notice of termination, per Section 1406(b). We invite comment on the privacy protections and customer consent practices that should be required in the context of electronic messaging. See 66 Pa. C.S. § 1406(b)(1)(ii)(C) and (D). § 56.94. Procedures immediately prior to termination. We are revising paragraph (3), addressing procedures for handling dishonored payments in the context of the termination process, to align with Section 1406(h) (relating to termination of utility service) that termination of service may proceed if a
requirements. All medical certifications must be written. Therefore, the initial oral certification with a 7-day window to verify in writing is no longer valid. 52 Pa. Code § 56.113 (relating to medical certifications). We also noted that this interpretation does not change the current regulation at 52 Pa. Code § 56.112 which provides for a three-day postponement of termination pending receipt of a medical certificate. As for the contents of a medical certificate at Section 56.113, several parties identified a major concern– specifically the requirements in Section 56.113(3) and (4) which require the medical certificate to include the “nature and anticipated length of the affliction” and the “specific reason for which the service is required.” Some parties pointed out that this requires the medical professional to divulge information about the patient’s medical condition to the utility – contrary to the privacy and confidentiality of personal medical information that patients have come to expect. The Commission agreed that the “nature” of the affliction found at 52 Pa. Code § 56.113(3) and the specific reason for which service is required found at 52 Pa. Code § 56.113(4) were no longer appropriate nor are they needed. Accordingly, we propose eliminating the “nature” of the affliction and “the specific reason for which service is required” as part of this regulation. However, we do not see the “length of the affliction” at 52 Pa. Code § 56.113 (3) in this same subsection as being contrary to patient expectations of privacy; in fact, the utility needs to know this information so as to determine the duration of the medical certificate. See 52 Pa. Code § 56.114. Some parties have suggested that the medical professional’s license number be included as a required element on a medical certificate. We invite parties to comment on this possibility. We also invite parties to comment on any other medical certificate issues they think need to be addressed. For example, some parties have previously asked the Commission to clarify or revise the payment obligations of customers while protected by a medical certificate. See 52 Pa Code § 56.116. Some parties have asked that the obligation to pay include not only current bills, but also payment towards the arrears. We
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