SB 574 — An Act amending Title 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in corporate powers, duties and safeguards, further providing for additional powers of certain public utility corporations.

PRINTER'S NO.   574

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                            SENATE BILL
                            No. 574
                                                    Session of
                                                      2025

     INTRODUCED BY COMITTA, MUTH, SAVAL AND SANTARSIERO,
        APRIL 9, 2025

     REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
        APRIL 9, 2025


                                         AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations)
 2      of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in corporate
 3      powers, duties and safeguards, further providing for
 4      additional powers of certain public utility corporations.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.         Section 1511(b)(1)(i) and (c) of Title 15 of the
 8   Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
 9   § 1511.    Additional powers of certain public utility
10                   corporations.
11      * * *
12      (b)    Restrictions.--The powers conferred by subsection (a)
13   shall not be exercised:
14             (1)   To condemn for the purpose of constructing any
15      street railway, trackless-trolley omnibus, petroleum or
16      petroleum products transportation or aerial electric
17      transmission, aerial telephone or aerial telegraph lines:
18                   (i)    Any dwelling house or[, except in the case of
 1            any condemnation for petroleum or petroleum products
 2            transportation lines,] any part of the reasonable
 3            curtilage of a dwelling house within 100 meters therefrom
 4            and not within the limits of any street, highway, water
 5            or other public way or place.
 6                * * *
 7      (c)   Public Utility Commission approval.--The powers
 8   conferred by subsection (a) may be exercised to condemn property
 9   outside the limits of any street, highway, water or other public
10   way or place for the purpose of erecting poles or running wires
11   or other aerial electric, intrastate aerial telephone or
12   intrastate aerial telegraph facilities or for the transportation
13   of petroleum or petroleum products only after the Pennsylvania
14   Public Utility Commission, upon application of the public
15   utility corporation, has found and determined, after notice and
16   opportunity for hearing, that the service to be furnished by the
17   corporation through the exercise of those powers is necessary or
18   proper for the service, accommodation, convenience or safety of
19   the public. The power of the public utility corporation to
20   condemn the subject property or the procedure followed by it
21   shall not be an issue in the commission proceedings held under
22   this subsection, and no court shall entertain any proceeding
23   questioning the jurisdiction of the commission under this
24   subsection. A final order of the commission approving or denying
25   an application under this subsection, including an order
26   involving a question of jurisdiction under this subsection, may
27   be made the subject of any appeal in the manner provided or
28   prescribed by law.
29      * * *
30      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.

20250SB0574PN0574                   - 2 -