SB 677 — An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in rates and distribution systems, further providing for valuation of acquired water and wastewater systems.

PRINTER'S NO.   676

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 677
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY SCHWANK, FONTANA, VOGEL, KANE AND KEARNEY,
        APRIL 28, 2025

     REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
        APRIL 28, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in rates and distribution systems,
 3      further providing for valuation of acquired water and
 4      wastewater systems.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.    Section 1329 of Title 66 of the Pennsylvania
 8   Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding subsections to read:
 9   § 1329.    Valuation of acquired water and wastewater systems.
10      * * *
11      (d.1)    Binding ratepayer referendum.--A municipality shall
12   hold a public hearing explaining to what entity the municipality
13   is selling the public utility, the sum of the public utility
14   sale, any impact on water and wastewater rates and related
15   services and any requirements under this section. In addition to
16   the public hearing under this subsection, the municipality
17   shall, for a period of 60 days prior to the sale of the public
18   utility, conduct the following:
 1          (1)   Mail a referendum ballot to each ratepayer, at the
 2      address and electronic mail address of an account on file
 3      with the public utility, providing the ratepayer with notice
 4      of the sale, the ratepayer response deadline, the acquiring
 5      investor-owned utility, the sale price and the guidelines of
 6      a ratemaking rate base under this section.
 7          (2)   Display notice of the proposed sale, the ratepayer
 8      response deadline, the acquiring investor-owned utility, the
 9      sale price and the guidelines of a ratemaking rate base under
10      this section on the municipality's publicly accessible
11      Internet website, newspaper and any public mailers, if
12      applicable.
13      (d.2)   Referendum approval.--A public utility may not be
14   acquired under this section unless a majority of the ratepayers
15   under subsection (d.1) approve the acquisition within 60 days of
16   the sale under subsection (d.1).
17      * * *
18      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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