Utility consumer protection bill heads for contention in the House

(The Center Square) – Protecting vulnerable utility customers from winter shut-offs with reasonable payment plans appeals across both sides of the aisle in Pennsylvania.

When it comes to reauthorizing the 20-year-old law that makes it possible, however, agreement is harder to find.

The Senate voted 41-7 on Monday in favor of the Responsible Utility Customer Protection Act, also known as Chapter 14. It was first enacted in 2004 to give public utilities tools to manage uncollected bills while safeguarding delinquent customers through winter shut-off moratoriums and payment arrangements.

The law was last reauthorized in 2014, but the authority it granted lapsed at the end of 2024. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is temporarily maintaining the law’s protections until the General Assembly acts this legislative session.

The split vote in the Senate, where a handful of Democrats said the reauthorization doesn’t go far enough, will likely echo in the lower chamber where the party has control of the legislative calendar.

“This framework is vital to stabilizing utility costs for hard-working families and seniors on fixed incomes,” said Boscola of Chapter 14. “With skyrocketing energy prices and mounting unpaid utility bills, the need for action is more urgent than ever.”

The House ignored a similar bill Boscola introduced in 2023, with critics claiming it would have kept what they call the most “punitive” aspects of Chapter 14, such as bill repayment plans they deem to be unaffordable, and late fees and reconnection fees they find excessive.

Chris Comisac contributed to this report.