HB 1112 — An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in restructuring of electric utility industry, further providing for definitions and for duties of electric distribution companies and providing for duties of public utilities.

PRINTER'S NO.   1234

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1112
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY E. NELSON, B. MILLER, JAMES, COOK, DIAMOND,
        PICKETT, GILLEN, BANTA, SCIALABBA, FINK, ROWE, RADER AND
        LABS, APRIL 3, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
        UTILITIES, APRIL 3, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in restructuring of electric utility
 3      industry, further providing for definitions and for duties of
 4      electric distribution companies and providing for duties of
 5      public utilities.
 6      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 7   hereby enacts as follows:
 8      Section 1.    Section 2803 of Title 66 of the Pennsylvania
 9   Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:
10   § 2803.    Definitions.
11      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
12   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13   context clearly indicates otherwise:
14      * * *
15      "Electromechanical analog meter."    A meter attached by a
16   public utility to the wiring of a customer's building or
17   residence for the purpose of measuring the amount of electricity
18   consumed by the customer or to supply pipes for the purpose of
 1   measuring the amount of natural gas or water consumed by the
 2   customer that meets all of the following criteria:
 3          (1)   The meter has no wireless or power line data
 4      transmission capabilities.
 5          (2)   The meter has no wireless or power line reception
 6      capabilities.
 7          (3)   The meter contains no switched-mode power supply.
 8          (4)   If the meter is attached to the wiring of a
 9      customer's building or residence, the meter contains surge
10      protection.
11      * * *
12      "Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program."   A federally
13   funded program that provides financial assistance in the form of
14   cash and crisis grants to low-income households for home energy
15   bills and is administered by the Department of Human Services.
16      "Natural gas distribution service."   As defined in section
17   2202 (relating to definitions).
18      "Natural gas distribution utility."   A city natural gas
19   distribution operation or entity that provides natural gas
20   distribution services and may provide natural gas supply
21   services and other services. The term does not include either of
22   the following:
23          (1)   A public utility providing natural gas distribution
24      services subject to the jurisdiction of the commission that
25      has annual gas operating revenues of less than $6,000,000 per
26      year, except where the public utility voluntarily petitions
27      the commission to be included within this definition or where
28      the public utility seeks to provide natural gas supply
29      services to retail gas customers outside its service
30      territory.

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 1             (2)   A public utility providing natural gas distribution
 2      services subject to the jurisdiction of the commission that
 3      is not connected to an interstate gas pipeline by means of a
 4      direct connection or an indirect connection through the
 5      distribution system of another natural gas public utility or
 6      through a natural gas gathering system.
 7      "Natural gas supply services."           As defined in section 2202.
 8      * * *
 9      "Water distribution utility."            An entity owning or operating
10   equipment or facilities for diverting, developing, pumping,
11   impounding, distributing or furnishing water to or for the
12   public for compensation.
13      Section 2.         Section 2807(f)(2) of Title 66 is amended and the
14   section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
15   § 2807.    Duties of electric distribution companies.
16      * * *
17      (f)    Smart meter technology and time of use rates.--
18             * * *
19             (2)   [Electric] Except as provided under subsection
20      (f.1), electric distribution companies shall furnish smart
21      meter technology as follows:
22                   (i)    Upon request from a customer that agrees to pay
23             the cost of the smart meter at the time of the request.
24                   (ii)    In new building construction.
25                   (iii)    In accordance with a depreciation schedule not
26             to exceed 15 years.
27             * * *
28      (f.1)    Electromechanical analog meters.--Notwithstanding the
29   provisions of subsection (f), a customer may elect to have an
30   electromechanical analog meter for use on the customer's

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 1   property instead of a smart meter at any time with all
 2   consequent actual costs to be recovered from the customer as
 3   approved by the commission. The following shall apply:
 4          (1)    A customer may select an electromechanical analog
 5      meter by providing a notice to the electric distribution
 6      company of the customer's selection. Upon request by the
 7      customer, the electric distribution company shall provide a
 8      form for the customer to make a selection under this
 9      subsection by certified mail or electronically through the
10      electric distribution company's publicly accessible Internet
11      website.
12          (2)    If an electric distribution company has previously
13      installed smart meter technology on a customer's property,
14      the electric distribution company may charge the customer for
15      the installation of an electromechanical analog meter and the
16      actual costs incurred to provide service through the
17      electromechanical analog meter as approved by the commission
18      on a full and current basis. The following apply to billing:
19                 (i)    The cost of the installation must be amortized
20          over the next 12 months of billing unless the customer
21          chooses to pay early.
22                 (ii)   Any monthly costs associated with the use of
23          the electromechanical analog meter must be billed
24          monthly.
25          (3)    An electric distribution company may not assess any
26      other additional fees, monthly or otherwise, to a customer
27      who has paid for the installation of an electromechanical
28      analog meter under paragraph (2).
29          (4)    A customer who qualifies for a customer assistance
30      program, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or

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 1      other assistance with financial hardship in accordance with a
 2      public utility's guidelines shall qualify for assistance in
 3      paying for the installation of an electromechanical analog
 4      meter under paragraph (2).
 5            (5)    An electric distribution company shall complete the
 6      installation of an electromechanical analog meter within a
 7      reasonable time period, but no later than 60 days after the
 8      customer's request to switch to an electromechanical analog
 9      meter under paragraph (1).
10      * * *
11      Section 3.      Title 66 is amended by adding a section to read:
12   § 2807.1.      Duties of public utilities.
13      (a)   Usage reporting.--A public utility shall provide a
14   customer with easily accessible methods to report energy usage
15   on a monthly basis, including by phone, certified mail and
16   online reporting.
17      (b)   Meter switching.--No less than once annually, a public
18   utility shall inform a customer of the option to switch the
19   customer's current meter to an electromechanical analog meter.
20      (c)   Natural gas distribution utilities.--A natural gas
21   distribution utility shall provide a customer with the option of
22   a usage-measuring meter that does not transmit or receive
23   wirelessly in accordance with the same requirements applicable
24   to an electromechanical analog meter under section 2807(f.1)
25   (relating to duties of electric distribution companies).
26      (d)   Water distribution utilities.--A water distribution
27   utility shall provide a customer with the option of a usage-
28   measuring meter that does not transmit or receive wirelessly in
29   accordance with the same requirements applicable to an
30   electromechanical analog meter under section 2807(f.1).

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1     Section 4.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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