HB 171 — An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in rates and distribution systems, providing for wastewater utility deduct meter tariff requirement.

PRINTER'S NO.   2801

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 171
                                                 Session of
                                                   2026

     INTRODUCED BY LAWRENCE, CIRESI, K.HARRIS, PUGH, SCHEUREN AND
        ZIMMERMAN, JANUARY 28, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
        UTILITIES, JANUARY 28, 2026


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in rates and distribution systems,
 3      providing for wastewater utility deduct meter tariff
 4      requirement.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.      Title 66 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 8   Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 9   § 1302.1.      Wastewater utility deduct meter tariff requirement.
10      (a)   Deduct meter program.--Each wastewater utility shall
11   develop a deduct meter program, which shall allow for eligible
12   customers the installation of a deduct meter as a part of any
13   new tariff or tariff supplement.
14      (b)   Billing.--A wastewater utility shall provide customers
15   with the option to be billed for wastewater services based on:
16            (1)    total water usage; or
17            (2)    net sewer outflow, calculated as total water usage
18      minus the volume measured by the deduct meter.
 1      (c)   Requirements for eligibility.--An eligible customer
 2   electing to participate in the deduct meter program must:
 3            (1)   have a metered water supply and be current on all
 4      wastewater utility payments; and
 5            (2)   be responsible for:
 6                  (i)    purchasing, installing and maintaining a
 7            utility-approved deduct meter;
 8                  (ii)    ensuring that the meter is installed at an
 9            approved location and available for inspection as needed
10            by the utility; and
11                  (iii)    submitting meter readings or allowing utility
12            access for reading and verification.
13      (d)   Fee.--A wastewater utility may charge a reasonable
14   administrative or inspection fee, subject to commission
15   approval.
16      (e)   Duties.--The commission shall:
17            (1)   approve deduct meter models and installation
18      standards;
19            (2)   maintain a registration system for deduct meters;
20            (3)   provide clear program guidelines and application
21      procedures to customers; and
22            (4)   review and approve all deduct meter tariffs to
23      ensure consistency, fairness and customer protection.
24      (f)   Regulations.--The commission may adopt regulations to
25   implement this section, including standardizing deduct meter
26   eligibility, calibration and reporting requirements.
27      (g)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
28   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
29   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
30      "Deduct meter."       A secondary water meter installed to measure

20260HB0171PN2801                       - 2 -
1   water that is not discharged into the sanitary sewer system,
2   including water used for irrigation, pools and other outdoor
3   uses.
4      "Eligible customer."    A residential customer with a metered
5   water supply who meets the program requirements as provided
6   under this section.
7      "Wastewater utility."    A wastewater utility under the
8   jurisdiction of this Commonwealth.
9      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




20260HB0171PN2801                  - 3 -