52 Pa. Code § 56.421 - Payment and timing
When service to a dwelling has been terminated, the public utility shall reconnect service within 24 hours after receiving one of the following:
(1) Full payment of an
outstanding charge plus the reconnection fee specified in the public utility's
tariff on file with the Commission. Outstanding charges and the reconnection
fee may be amortized over a reasonable period of time. Factors to be taken into
account include, but are not limited to:
(i)
The size of the unpaid balance.
(ii) The ability of the customer to
pay.
(iii) The payment history of
the customer.
(iv) The length of
time over which the bill accumulated.
(2) Payment of amounts currently due
according to a payment agreement, plus a reasonable reconnection fee, which may
be a part of the payment agreement. The public utility may apply the procedure
in paragraph (1), if the payment history indicates that the customer has
defaulted on at least two payment agreements, an informal complaint decision or
a formal complaint order. For purposes of this section, neither an amortization
of a make-up bill under §
56.264 (relating to previously
unbilled public utility service) or the definition of "billing month" in §
56.252 (relating to definitions)
nor a payment agreement that has been paid in full by the customer, are to be
considered defaults. Budget billing plans and amortization of budget plan
reconciliation amounts under §
56.262(8)
(relating to meter reading; estimated billing; customer readings) may not be
considered defaults for the purposes of this section.
(3) Adequate assurances that any unauthorized
use or practice will cease, plus full payment of the reasonable reconnection
fee of the public utility, which may be subject to a payment agreement and
compliance or adequate assurance of compliance with an applicable provision for
the establishment of credit or the posting of deposits or guarantees.
(4) Service shall be restored within 24 hours
for erroneous terminations or upon receipt by the public utility of a valid
medical certification. Erroneous terminations include instances when the
grounds for termination were removed by the customer paying the amount needed
to avoid termination prior to the termination of the service.
(5) Service shall be restored within 24 hours
for terminations and reconnections occurring after November 30 and before April
1.
(6) A customer or applicant of a
city natural gas distribution operation whose household income does not exceed
135% of the Federal poverty level shall be reinstated under this section only
if the customer or applicant enrolls in the customer assistance program of the
city natural gas distribution operation. This requirement may not apply if the
financial benefits to the customer or applicant are greater if served outside
of that assistance program.
(7) A
public utility shall provide for and inform the applicant or customer of a
location where the customer may make payment to restore service. A public
utility shall inform the applicant or customer that conditions for restoration
of service may differ if someone in the household is a victim 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, or is seriously ill or affected by a medical condition which
will be aggravated without public utility service.
Notes
The provisions of this § 56.421 amended under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 501, 1301, 1401-1419, 1501 and 1509.
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