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PUC Initiates Rulemaking On Replacement Of Customer-Owned Lead Service Lines And Damaged Wastewater Service Laterals
From: PA Environment Digest Edited by David E. Hess |
| On September 17, the Public Utility Commission approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, to be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, seeking public comment on the implementation of Act 120 of 2018 (Act 120).
Act 120, signed by Gov. Wolf on Oct. 24, 2018, amended the Public Utility Code regarding the replacement of lead service lines (LSLs) and damaged wastewater service laterals (DWSLs) and the recovery of associated costs. The Commission voted 4-0 to adopt the NOPR on Act 120, providing for the replacement of LSLs and DWSLs under a Commission-approved program. Act 120 directs the Commission to establish certain standards, processes, and procedures by regulation to ensure a warranty on the utility’s replacement work and reimburse customers who replaced LSLs and DWSLs at their own cost. The NOPR is the result of several months of work, first directed in a Joint Motion of Oct. 3, 2019, that included a PUC-convened working group, along with directed questions to interested stakeholders for comment on the replacement of LSLs and DWSLs– including parameters for planning and reporting, communication, replacements, refusals, 66 Pa. C.S. § 1311(b), and rates. Interested parties may submit written comments, via the Commission’s electronic filing system, referencing Docket No. L-2020-3019521 within 60 days of publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, and reply comments 30 days thereafter. Filing information can be found on the Commission’s website. |