1. (a) Except when authorized under § 56.71, § 56.72 or § 56.98 (relating to interruption of service; discontinuance of service; and immediate termination for unauthorized use, fraud, tampering or tariff violations), a public utility may not interrupt, discontinue or terminate service without attempting to contact the customer or responsible adult occupant, either in person, by telephone or electronically with the customer’s consent, to provide notice of the proposed termination at least 3 days prior to the scheduled termination using one of the methods in this section. If personal contact by one method is not possible, the public utility is obligated to attempt another method.

   1. (1) Phone contact shall be deemed complete upon attempted calls on 2 separate days to the residence between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. if the calls were made at various times each day, with the various times of the day being daytime before 5 p.m. and evening after 5 p.m. and at least 2 hours apart. Calls made to contact telephone numbers provided by the customer shall be deemed to be calls to the residence.
   2. (2) If contact is attempted in person by a home visit, only one attempt is required. The public utility shall conspicuously post a written termination notice at the residence if it is unsuccessful in attempting to personally contact a responsible adult occupant during the home visit.
   3. (3) Contact by e-mail, text message or other electronic messaging format consistent with the Commission’s privacy guidelines and approved by Commission order. The electronic notification option is voluntary and shall only be used if the customer has given prior consent approving the use of a specific electronic message format for the purpose of notification of a pending termination. Electronic contact shall be deemed complete if, after attempted transmittal, no message is received indicating that the transmittal was undeliverable or otherwise not received. If the public utility receives notification that the transmittal was undeliverable or otherwise not received, the public utility shall attempt to contact the customer either in person or by telephone, consistent with the requirements of this section.

2. (b) The content of the 3-day personal contact notice must include the earliest date at which termination may occur and the following information:

   1. (1) The date and grounds of the termination.
   2. (2) What is needed to avoid the termination of service.
   3. (3) How to contact the public utility and the Commission.
   4. (4) The availability of the emergency medical procedures.
3. (c) The public utility shall ask the customer or occupant if he or she has questions about the 10-day written notice the public utility previously sent.

Authority

The provisions of this § 56.93 amended under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 501, 504—506, 1301, 1401—1419, 1501 and 1509.

Source

The provisions of this § 56.93 adopted June 16, 1978, effective June 17, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 1655; amended July 17, 1998, effective August 17, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 3379; amended October 7, 2011, effective October 8, 2011, 41 Pa.B. 5473; amended May 31, 2019, effective June 1, 2019, 49 Pa.B. 2815. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (358978) to (358979).

Cross References

This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 56.11 (relating to billing frequency); 52 Pa. Code § 56.16 (relating to transfer of accounts); 52 Pa. Code § 56.81 (relating to authorized termination of service); 52 Pa. Code § 56.91 (relating to general notice provisions and contents of termination notice); 52 Pa. Code § 56.94 (relating to procedures immediately prior to termination); 52 Pa. Code § 56.100 (relating to winter termination procedures); 52 Pa. Code § 56.117 (relating to termination upon expiration of medical certification); 52 Pa. Code § 56.118 (relating to right of public utility to petition the Commission); 52 Pa. Code § 56.164 (relating to termination pending resolution of the dispute); 52 Pa. Code § 56.191 (relating to payment and timing); and 52 Pa. Code Chapter 56 Appendix C (relating to defintions (§ 56.231)).