Laurel Highlands Today

On May 1, 2024, the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee made a significant move by passing legislation that could potentially lower ratepayer costs for public utilities. Sponsored by Sen. Pat Stefano (R-32), Senate Bill 1174 aims to provide relief to public utilities by allowing them to petition the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) for waivers from certain laws, regulations, or policies.

Sen. Stefano emphasized the importance of reducing costs for consumers, stating, "Consumers continue to see increases in their utility bills and we need to find ways to reduce them." The bill would enable utilities to operate more efficiently and effectively, ultimately benefiting ratepayers.

Under the proposed legislation, utilities seeking a waiver must present supporting data to the PUC demonstrating how the waiver would lead to cost savings or prevent future rate increases. Additionally, they must outline evaluation procedures to assess the effectiveness of the waiver and ensure that safety and reliability standards are maintained or exceeded.

With the support of the committee, Senate Bill 1174 now moves forward to the full Senate for further consideration. This bill is part of a broader initiative led by Sen. Stefano to address rising utility costs and provide relief to ratepayers.

For further information, interested parties can contact Amanda Cuteri at 717-787-7175.