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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Tim Solobay |
  
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Solobay bill aims to make natural gas pipeline repairs less painful for customers
HARRISBURG, June 24 – State Rep. Tim Solobay, D-Washington, introduced legislation (H. B. 2594) recently that would require natural gas companies in southwestern Pennsylvania to be responsible for gas lines that run from a customer's home to the street, including repairs to those lines.
"Right now, southwestern Pennsylvania gas customers have to foot the bill if that section of line on their property needs to be repaired or replaced, a cost that can sometimes be as much as two thousand dollars," Solobay said. "This bill would remove that burden from over-stretched consumers by mandating that all natural gas distribution companies are responsible for all service lines up to the level of the serviced location."
Solobay noted in the rest of the state gas companies, not consumers, are responsible for service lines from the street to the residence or serviced location.
Another portion of the bill would help natural gas companies make repairs and/or upgrades when they are needed or more convenient to do them.
"All too often a community paves a new road and everything looks nice and then the gas company comes in to dig things up to put in a line or fix a leak," Solobay said. "Periodic improvements to the infrastructure of natural gas distribution systems are necessary to ensure continued reliability and safety of the distribution systems. This bill would give natural gas companies the flexibility to do major line extension or work when municipalities already have roads torn up for water line, or sewer or paving projects."
Currently, natural gas companies must get approval from the Pennsylvania Utility Commission to raise rates to fund needed repairs and upgrades. This bill would allow those companies to make minor rate shifts for such projects. Water companies already have this ability.
House Bill 2594, which has received bipartisan support, is currently being considered by the House Rules Committee.
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