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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT:Roseann
R. Cadau |
State Rep. Joseph
Preston |
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Preston introduces bill to protect consumers from utility shutoffs
HARRISBURG, March 1 – State Rep. Joseph Preston has introduced legislation that would give Pennsylvania customers more time to pay their utility bills before their heat is shut off.
Preston’s legislation proposes a more reasonable payment plan of one to five years for customers to pay for outstanding gas or electric utility bills in order to get service restored. The utility companies now require customers whose service has been suspended to pay the entire outstanding balance in order to have service restored.
“I want to give low- and fixed-income families more time to pay their home heating bills because, with all of the other bills they struggle to pay such as food, transportation and clothing, it’s hard for people to catch up with their utility payments,” Preston said. “Currently, some families just can’t afford to pay the entire outstanding balance in a lump sum to get their heat working again.”
The Allegheny County lawmaker’s bill also would cap the cost of utility reconnection fees at $50 and set the maximum security deposit to get utility service restored at $100. In addition, it would require public utility companies to accept grants from the state’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program as utility payments during the winter months.
The repayment plan for families would be based on a household income of 250 percent or less of the federal poverty guidelines. Those guidelines currently are $24,925 annually for an individual, $32,075 for a family of two, $40,225 for a family of three and $48,375 for a family of four.
Preston is majority chairman of the House Consumer Affairs Committee.
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