HB 2236 — An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in service and facilities, providing for alerting residential customers to potential water leaks.

PRINTER'S NO.     2929

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                             HOUSE BILL
                             No. 2236
                                                   Session of
                                                     2026

     INTRODUCED BY PUGH, RIVERA, PROBST, NEILSON, WARREN, PICKETT AND
        GILLEN, FEBRUARY 20, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
        UTILITIES, FEBRUARY 20, 2026


                                        AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in service and facilities, providing
 3      for alerting residential customers to potential water leaks.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.        Title 66 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 7   Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 8   § 1509.1.      Alerting residential customers to potential water
 9                  leaks.
10      (a)   Notification.--
11            (1)    Upon a determination by a public utility through a
12      meter reading that a residential customer is experiencing
13      atypical water consumption, the public utility shall notify
14      the residential customer by telephone or email, if that
15      contact information is available.
16            (2)    Notification under paragraph (1) must include:
17                  (i)    A statement alerting the residential customer
18            that the atypical water consumption may be a sign of a
 1          potential water leak stemming from the property of the
 2          residential customer.
 3                (ii)    An estimate of the residential customer's
 4          projected balance for the next two billing cycles,
 5          assuming that the atypical water consumption trend
 6          continues.
 7                (iii)    A brief questionnaire, subject to the
 8          residential customer's consent, designed to assess
 9          whether the residential customer has knowledge of changes
10          in the water consumption practices that may account for
11          the atypical water consumption on the property of the
12          residential customer.
13                (iv)    Written or verbal guidance on best practices
14          for avoiding and identifying water leaks on residential
15          property.
16    (b)   Site visits.--
17          (1)   Upon a determination by a public utility that a
18    residential customer is unaware of recent changes in water
19    consumption practices that may account for the atypical water
20    consumption, and subject to the express consent of the
21    residential customer, the public utility shall offer to
22    perform a site visit to the property of the residential
23    customer.
24          (2)   A site visit under this subsection:
25                (i)    Shall consist of the inspection of the water
26          meter and connecting apparatus of the residential
27          customer and a visual inspection of the property of the
28          residential customer.
29                (ii)    Shall not require physical disturbances of the
30          property of the residential customer, including

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 1            excavation or alteration of physical structures.
 2            (3)   An employee executing a site visit under this
 3      subsection shall:
 4                  (i)    Document the site visit through photographic
 5            documentation of inspected areas.
 6                  (ii)    If possible, at the conclusion of the site
 7            visit, secure the residential customer's signature
 8            attesting to the performance of the site visit.
 9      (c)   Limitations.--
10            (1)   A public utility and an employee of a public utility
11      shall not be held liable for failing to identify a water leak
12      within the property line or structure during a site visit
13      under subsection (b).
14            (2)   An employee of a public utility may refuse to
15      execute a site visit if there are unsafe physical conditions,
16      actual denial of entry to the property or constructive denial
17      of entry to the property at the time of the site visit or
18      based on the public utility's records of past interactions
19      with the residential customer. The employee shall document
20      the refusal with specificity.
21            (3)   A public utility may not consider a residential
22      customer's atypical water consumption for purposes that are
23      outside of those permitted by State law and regulation or
24      that are deemed necessary to comply with this section.
25      (d)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
26   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
27   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
28      "Atypical water consumption."           Irregular or abnormal water
29   consumption by a residential customer that exceeds the
30   residential customer's average monthly or billing period

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1   consumption over a 12-month period by at least 200% or $200. The
2   term does not include nonessential uses of water as defined
3   under 52 Pa. Code § 65.1 (relating to definitions).
4      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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