The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

Acquisition—The purchase of one public utility by another, the merger of two or more public utilities, or the purchase of used or useful utility assets by one public utility from another public utility as these terms are used in 66 Pa.C.S. § 1102 (relating to enumeration of acts requiring certificate).

Act 537 Plan—The comprehensive plan for the provision of adequate sewage systems adopted by a municipality or municipalities possessing authority or jurisdiction over the provision of such systems and submitted to and approved by the DEP and as may be revised under section 5 of the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (35 P.S. § 750.5).

Affiliate—An entity that is an affiliated interest of the applicant as defined in 66 Pa.C.S. § 2101 (relating to definition of affiliated interest).

Applicant—A person, corporation or municipal corporation seeking to obtain a certificate of public convenience from the Commission.

Application—A written request for permission or authorization filed with the Commission.

Certificated wastewater public utility—A person, corporation or municipal corporation that has been authorized by the Commission or the Commonwealth to provide wastewater public utility service.

Certificated water public utility—A person, corporation or municipal corporation that has been authorized by the Commission or the Commonwealth to provide water public utility service.

Class A wastewater public utility—A certificated wastewater public utility that keeps its accounts in conformity with § 66.2(a) (relating to system of accounts for wastewater public utilities).

Class B wastewater public utility—A certificated wastewater public utility that keeps its accounts in conformity with § 66.2(b).

Class C wastewater public utility—A certificated wastewater public utility that keeps its accounts in conformity with § 66.2(c).

Class A water public utility—A certificated water public utility that keeps its accounts in conformity with § 65.16(a) (relating to system of accounts).

Class B water public utility—A certificated water public utility that keeps its accounts in conformity with § 65.16(b).

Class C water public utility—A certificated water public utility that keeps its accounts in conformity with § 65.16(c).

Comprehensive plan—A document adopted by a municipal corporation which establishes an overall plan and recommended actions relevant to the current and future land use and growth management needs of the area under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. § § 10101—11202).

Corporation—The term as defined in 66 Pa.C.S. § 102 (relating to definitions).

DEP—Department of Environmental Protection of the Commonwealth.

Equivalent dwelling unit—A unit of measurement that is based on the flow characteristics of an average single-family residence in terms of sewage quantity and constituent quality.

Extension—The extension of a water main or a wastewater main including the pipe, elbows, tees, valves, reducers, service taps and other appurtenances which may be part of the facilities required to provide water public utility service or wastewater public utility service.

Main—The pipe of a public utility system, excluding service laterals, located in a public highway, street, alley or private right-of-way, which is used in collecting and conveying wastewater or transporting and distributing water.

Municipal authority—A body politic and corporate created or incorporated under 53 Pa.C.S. § § 5601—5623 (relating to Municipality Authorities Act).

Municipal corporation—The term as defined in 66 Pa.C.S. § 102.

Municipally owned public wastewater system—A wastewater system owned or operated by a municipal corporation.

Municipally owned public water system—A water system that is owned or operated by a municipal corporation.

NPDES—The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System.

New wastewater system—A wastewater system that is newly constructed or proposed after the effective date of this rule by an applicant or an existing wastewater system that is owned or operated by an uncertificated entity.

New water system—A water system that is newly constructed or proposed after the effective date of this rule by an applicant or an existing water system that is owned or operated by an uncertificated entity.

PE—Professional engineer—A professional engineer, licensed to practice engineering in this Commonwealth under the Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law (63 P.S. § § 148—158.2), that is responsible for designing the new water system or new wastewater system.

Person—The term as defined in 66 Pa.C.S. § 102.

Planned development—An area of land, controlled by a landowner, to be developed into a collection of structures that may include residential, commercial or industrial uses.

Proposed public utility—An applicant that seeks to obtain a certificate of public convenience from the Commission to become a certificated water public utility or a certificated wastewater public utility.

Public utility—A person or corporation owning or operating equipment or facilities in this Commonwealth for diverting, developing, pumping, impounding, distributing or furnishing water or for wastewater collection, treatment or disposal to the public for compensation. The term does not include a person or corporation, not otherwise a public utility, who or which furnishes service only to himself or itself, or a bona fide cooperative association which furnishes service only to its stockholders or members on a nonprofit basis.

Public Utility Code—66 Pa.C.S. § § 101—3316 (relating to Public Utility Code).

Public wastewater system—A wastewater system for the collection or collection and treatment of wastewater from two or more lots, or two or more equivalent dwelling units and the treatment or disposal, or both, of the wastewater at another site.

Public water system—A water system which provides water to the public for human consumption and that serves at least 15 service connections or at least 25 people daily for at least 60 days of the year. Water for human consumption includes water that is used for drinking, bathing and showering, cooking, dishwashing or maintaining oral hygiene.

Service connection—The facilities necessary to provide the customer service, including the water service line or wastewater service lateral, the main tap, meter and other related facilities.

Service territory—The geographical area in which a certificated water public utility or a certificated wastewater public utility has obtained Commission or Commonwealth authorization to provide public utility service.

Tariff—The schedule of rules and charges of a certificated water public utility or certificated wastewater public utility for its respective water public utility service or wastewater public utility service as filed with and approved by the Commission or effective by operation of law under which the public utility is required to provide public utility service.

Uncertificated entity—A person or corporation that is providing water public utility service or wastewater public utility service to the public for compensation in this Commonwealth without first obtaining a certificate of public convenience from the Commission or a municipal corporation, other than a municipal authority, that is providing water public utility service or wastewater public utility service outside of its corporate boundaries without first obtaining a certificate of public convenience from the Commission.

Wastewater—The term as defined in 66 Pa.C.S. § 102.

Wastewater public utility service—The term as defined in 66 Pa.C.S. § 102.

Wastewater system—The equipment and facilities owned or operated by an entity for the processing of wastewater and includes any activity related to such processing, including collecting, handling, treating, transporting, disposing and delivery of wastewater.

Water public utility service—The term as defined in 66 Pa.C.S. § 102.

Water system—The equipment and facilities owned or operated by an entity for diverting, developing, pumping, impounding, treating, distributing or furnishing water.

Authority

The provisions of this § 3.512 added under 66 Pa.C.S. § § 1101—1103.

Source

The provisions of this § 3.512 added September 26, 2025, effective January 26, 2026, 55 Pa.B. 6829.