House Committee OKs Bills To Fund Natural Gas Service Extensions, Replace Lead Water Service Lines

The House Consumer Affairs Committee amended and reported out House Bill 107 (Godshall-R- Montgomery) providing a new mechanism for natural gas distribution utilities to cover costs of extending natural gas distribution systems.

The bill was amended significantly to require Public Utility Commission approval of a distribution system extension charge to increase access to natural gas service in unserved or underserved areas, require customer contributions for most new customers and establishes a cap on the charge and a sunset date.

[Note: Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, sponsored Senate Bill 214 to promote expanding natural gas service into unserved areas.  The bill is pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee.]

The Committee also amended and reported out House Bill 2075 (Charlton-R-Delaware) lead water service line and damaged sewer lateral replacement.

The bill was amended to limit the scope of the bill to replacement of lead water services lines within the rate base of a water supplier under the jurisdiction of the Public Utility Commission, establishing a cap on the number of lines replaced annually and to reimburse customers who replaced their lines within 4 years of a replacement project.

[Note: House Bill 674 was signed into law last year allowing public authorities to use their funds to replace lead service lines.]

House Bill 107 was referred into and out of the House Rules Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.

House Bill 2075 was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery) serves as Majority Chair of the Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-783-6428 or sending email to: rgodshal@pahousegop.com.  Rep. Thomas Caltagirone (D-Berks) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-3525 or sending email to: RepCaltagirone@pahouse.net.