PRINTER'S NO. 3030
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2255
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY BENNINGHOFF, ZIMMERMAN AND JOZWIAK, MAY 1, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
UTILITIES, MAY 1, 2024
AN ACT
Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in service and facilities, providing
for master meter system and submetering program for landlord
ratepayers.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 15 of Title 66 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:
SUBCHAPTER C
MASTER METER SYSTEM AND SUBMETERING
PROGRAM FOR LANDLORD RATEPAYERS
Sec.
1551. Declaration of policy.
1552. Definitions.
1553. Master meter system and submetering program.
§ 1551. Declaration of policy.
The General Assembly finds and declares that it is the policy
of the Commonwealth to encourage access for tenants and landlord
ratepayers to energy technologies and efficiency through
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programs which offer master meter systems and submetering
options.
§ 1552. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Conversion." The process of converting a residential
building from the use of a multimeter system to a master meter
system.
"Energy efficiency." A reduction in overall consumption,
measured in kilowatt hours, or the shifting of an amount of
energy during a specified period of time, measured as demand in
kilowatts.
"Master meter system." A system by which public utility and
electric generation services for a single residential building
are billed through a commercial public utility account. The term
does not include a multimeter system.
"Multi meter system." A system by which each tenant holds an
individual public utility account. The term does not include a
master meter system.
"Residential building." A building containing one or more
dwelling units occupied by one or more tenants. The term does
not include nursing homes, hotels and motels or any dwelling of
which the landlord ratepayer is the only resident.
"Submetering." Meters owned by a landlord ratepayer and
installed for the purpose of billing individual tenant usage or
energy efficiency.
"Tenant." Any person or group of persons who are
contractually obligated to make rental payments to the landlord
ratepayer pursuant to a rental arrangement, including, but not
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limited to, an oral or written lease with the landlord ratepayer
for a dwelling unit in a residential building or mobile home
park which is provided gas, electric, steam, sewer or water as
an included service under the rental agreement and who are not
the ratepayers of the utility which supplied the gas, electric,
steam, sewer or water service.
§ 1553. Master meter system and submetering program.
(a) Establishment.--The commission shall establish a program
for a landlord ratepayer or the landlord ratepayer's designated
agent for the use of a master meter system or submetering.
(b) Criteria.--The commission shall ensure that the program
established under subsection (a) complies with the following
criteria:
(1) Allows a landlord ratepayer with an option to choose
a master meter service from a public utility for the landlord
ratepayer's residential property in accordance with section
1313 (relating to price upon resale of public utility
services).
(2) E nsures that a master meter system has certified and
tested meters for tenant bill accuracy.
(3) Has at least one technology option to allow a tenant
to control the tenant's usage, which may include the ability
to shift energy consumption to a different time or an overall
reduction in energy usage or a guarantee of total bill
savings less than the amount under section 1313. A public
utility may include demand or energy efficiency from a master
meter system as a reduction for the purpose of shared saving
or lost distribution revenue programs as determined by the
commission.
(4) Verifies a lease agreement prior to a conversion.
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(5) Includes applicable requirements for disconnection,
including notice and required payment plan requirements.
(6) Mandates registration for a designated agent used by
a landlord ratepayer for billing.
(7) Has standards for the purchase or lease of equipment
for contracts between a landlord ratepayer and a public
utility.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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