The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Applicant." A natural person not currently receiving service who applies for residential service provided by a public utility or any adult occupant whose name appears on the mortgage, deed or lease of the property for which the residential utility service is requested. The term does not include a person who, within 30 days after service termination or discontinuance of service, seeks to have service reconnected at the same location or transferred to another location within the service territory of the public utility.

"Change in income." A decrease in household income of 20% or more if the customer's household income level exceeds 200% of the Federal poverty level or a decrease in household income of 10% or more if the customer's household income level is 200% or less of the Federal poverty level.

"Creditworthiness." An assessment of an applicant's or customer's ability to meet bill payment obligations for utility service.

"Customer." A natural person in whose name a residential service account is listed and who is primarily responsible for payment of bills rendered for the service or any adult occupant whose name appears on the mortgage, deed or lease of the property for which the residential utility service is requested. The term includes a person who, within 30 days after service termination or discontinuance of service, seeks to have service reconnected at the same location or transferred to another location within the service territory of the public utility.

"Customer assistance program." A plan or program sponsored by a public utility for the purpose of providing universal service and energy conservation, as defined by section 2202 (relating to definitions) or 2803 (relating to definitions), in which customers make monthly payments based on household income and household size and under which customers must comply with certain responsibilities and restrictions in order to remain eligible for the program.

"Electric distribution utility." An entity providing facilities for the jurisdictional transmission and distribution of electricity to retail customers, except building or facility owners or operators that manage the internal distribution system serving such building or facility and that supply electric power and other related electric power services to occupants of the building or facility.

"Formal complaint." A complaint filed before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission requesting a legal proceeding before a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission administrative law judge or a mediation under the management of a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission administrative law judge.

"Household income." The combined gross income of all adults in a residential household who benefit from the public utility service.

"Informal complaint." A complaint filed with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission by a customer that does not involve a legal proceeding before a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission administrative law judge or a mediation under the management of a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission administrative law judge.

"LIHEAP" or "Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program." A federally funded program that provides financial assistance in the form of cash and crisis grants to low-income households for home energy bills and is administered by the Department of Public Welfare.

"Medical certificate." A written document, in a form approved by the commission:

(1) certifying that a customer or member of the customer's household is seriously ill or has been diagnosed with a medical condition which requires the continuation of service to treat the medical condition; and

(2) signed by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician's assistant.

"Natural gas distribution service." The delivery of natural gas to retail gas customers utilizing the jurisdictional facilities of a natural gas distribution utility.

"Natural gas distribution utility." A city natural gas distribution operation or entity that provides natural gas distribution services and may provide natural gas supply services and other services. The term does not include either of the following:

(1) Any public utility providing natural gas distribution services subject to the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission that has annual gas operating revenues of less than $6,000,000 per year, except where the public utility voluntarily petitions the commission to be included within this definition or where the public utility seeks to provide natural gas supply services to retail gas customers outside its service territory.

(2) Any public utility providing natural gas distribution services subject to the jurisdiction of the commission that is not connected to an interstate gas pipeline by means of a direct connection or an indirect connection through the distribution system of another natural gas public utility or through a natural gas gathering system.

"Natural gas supply services." The sale or arrangement of the sale of natural gas to retail gas customers and services that may be unbundled by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission under section 2203(3) (relating to standards for restructuring of natural gas utility industry). The term does not include natural gas distribution service.

"Occupant." (Reserved).

"Payment arrangement." An agreement whereby a customer who admits liability for billed service is permitted to amortize or pay the unpaid balance of the account in one or more payments.

"Public utility." Any electric distribution utility, natural gas distribution utility, small natural gas distribution utility, steam heat utility, wastewater utility or water distribution utility in this Commonwealth that is within the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

"Significant change in circumstance." Any of the following criteria when verified by the public utility and experienced by customers with household income less than 300% of the Federal poverty level:

(1) The onset of a chronic or acute illness resulting in a significant loss in the customer's household income.

(2) Catastrophic damage to the customer's residence resulting in a significant net cost to the customer's household.

(3) Loss of the customer's residence.

(4) Increase in the customer's number of dependents in the household.

"Small natural gas distribution utility." A public utility providing natural gas distribution services subject to the jurisdiction of the commission that:

(1) has annual gas operating revenues of less than $6,000,000 per year; or

(2) is not connected to an interstate gas pipeline by means of a direct connection or any indirect connection through the distribution system of another natural gas public utility or through a natural gas gathering system.

"Steam heat utility." An entity producing, generating, distributing or furnishing steam for the production of heat or to or for the public for compensation.

"Wastewater utility." An entity owning or operating equipment or facilities for the collection, treatment or disposal of sewage to or for the public for compensation. The term includes separate companies that individually provide water or wastewater service so long as the separate companies are wholly owned by a common parent company.

"Water distribution utility." An entity owning or operating equipment or facilities for diverting, developing, pumping, impounding, distributing or furnishing water to or for the public for compensation.

(Oct. 22, 2014, P.L.2545, No.155, eff. 60 days)

2014 Amendment. Act 155 amended the defs. of "applicant," "customer," "payment agreement," and "public utility" and added the defs. of "creditworthiness," "medical certificate," "small natural gas distribution utility," "steam heat utility" and "wastewater utility."

References in Text. The Department of Public Welfare, referred to in this section, was redesignated as the Department of Human Services by Act 132 of 2014.