HB 1761 — An Act amending Titles 53 (Municipalities Generally) and 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in municipal authorities, further providing for purposes and powers; and, in rates and distribution systems, further providing for standby charge prohibited.

PRINTER'S NO.   2169

                       THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                           HOUSE BILL
                           No. 1761
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY SCOTT, RIGBY, MADDEN, DEASY, PROBST, HILL-EVANS,
        FREEMAN, GIRAL, SANCHEZ, NEILSON, CERRATO, CIRESI, BOROWSKI,
        GILLEN, GREEN AND MATZIE, JULY 23, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
        UTILITIES, JULY 23, 2025


                                       AN ACT
 1   Amending Titles 53 (Municipalities Generally) and 66 (Public
 2      Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in
 3      municipal authorities, further providing for purposes and
 4      powers; and, in rates and distribution systems, further
 5      providing for standby charge prohibited.
 6      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 7   hereby enacts as follows:
 8      Section 1.      Section 5607(e) of Title 53 of the Pennsylvania
 9   Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding paragraphs to read:
10   § 5607.    Purposes and powers.
11      * * *
12      (e)    Prohibition.--
13             * * *
14             (4)   An authority that furnishes water to or for the
15      public shall not impose a standby charge on volunteer fire
16      companies, nonprofit rescue squads and nonprofit ambulance
17      services that are owners or occupants of structures equipped
18      with automatic fire protection systems and are ratepayers of
 1      record for costs associated with automatic fire protection
 2      systems. Charges to volunteer fire companies, nonprofit
 3      rescue squads and nonprofit ambulance services that are in
 4      effect on the effective date of this subparagraph shall
 5      continue to be charged until the conclusion of the next
 6      billing cycle.
 7             (5)   As used in this subsection, the following words and
 8      phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
 9      paragraph unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
10             "Cost of service."   The actual water usage and capital
11      investment made by a municipality specifically for the
12      purpose of rendering fire protection service assessed against
13      the owner of a residential or commercial structure for the
14      reason that the structure is equipped with an automatic fire
15      protection system.
16             "Standby charge."    An amount in addition to the cost of
17      service.
18      * * *
19      Section 2.     Section 1326 of Title 66 is amended to read:
20   § 1326.    Standby charge prohibited.
21      (a)    Prohibition.--A public utility that furnishes water to
22   or for the public shall not impose a standby charge on [owners]:
23             (1)   Owners of residential structures equipped with
24      automatic fire protection systems.
25             (2)   Volunteer fire companies, nonprofit rescue squads
26      and nonprofit ambulance services that are owners or occupants
27      of structures equipped with automatic fire protection systems
28      and are ratepayers of record for costs associated with
29      automatic fire protection systems.
30      (a.1)    Effect on current rates.--Charges to volunteer fire

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 1   companies, nonprofit rescue squads and nonprofit ambulance
 2   services that are in effect on the effective date of this
 3   subsection shall continue to be charged until conclusion of the
 4   public utility's next general rate proceeding.
 5      (b)   [Definition.--As used in this section, the term "standby
 6   charge" means an amount, in addition to the regular rate,
 7   assessed against the owner of a residential structure for the
 8   reason that the residential structure is equipped with an
 9   automatic fire protection system.] Definitions.--As used in this
10   section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings
11   given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly
12   indicates otherwise:
13      "Cost of service."   The actual water usage and capital
14   investment made by a public utility specifically for the purpose
15   of rendering fire protection service assessed against the owner
16   of a residential or commercial structure for the reason that the
17   structure is equipped with an automatic fire protection system.
18      "Standby charge."    An amount, in addition to the cost of
19   service, under subsection (a.1).
20      Section 3.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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