Ciresi introduces legislation to modernize PUC ratemaking process

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    August 22, 2024 | 4:15 PM

HARRISBURG, Aug. 22 – State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, introduced two bills earlier this summer to make it easier for residents to remain informed and participate in Pennsylvania Utility Commission rate cases: H.B. 2495 which would allow ratepayers to submit public comments to the PUC online, and H.B. 2496 which would require the outside of envelopes to indicate if they contain a notice of a proposed rate change.

“Utility services such as water, wastewater and electricity are essential to modern daily life,” Ciresi said. “As our residents’ health and well-being are dependent on these services being safe, reliable and affordable, they need to be able to easily communicate to the PUC their concerns about utility rate changes and acquisitions which will have a direct and substantial impact on their quality of life.”

Utilities are currently required to send ratepayers notice of proposed rate changes and include instructions on how to submit public comments by mail. According to Ciresi, the current notification system is neither efficient nor effective as notices can get lost in the volume of other notices sent by utilities and other companies.

“We’re in the 21st century, and we are still expecting the public to send comments through the mail,” Ciresi said. “My legislation would modernize the PUC ratemaking process, making it more accessible to the public. These bills would call additional attention to notices sent by utilities about proposed rate changes and require the PUC to accept public comments on these cases online, with information on how to do that included in those notices.”

Thanks to Ciresi’s intervention, the PUC added two hearings in Limerick to receive public comments on the proposed $126.7 million rate hike for Aqua Pennsylvania Inc. and Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater Inc.