2009-2010
House Consumer Affairs Committee
Joseph Preston, Jr. Chairman

The House Consumer Affairs Committee generally receives all legislation that amends Title 66, Public Utility Code of the PA Consolidated Statutes. The Committee also has jurisdiction over all regulations promulgated by the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Consumer Protection Bureau in the Attorney General's Office.

The PUC has jurisdiction over:

• electric distribution companies
• natural gas distribution companies
• non-municipal water companies and some wastewater collection and disposal facilities
• steam heat
• local and long distance telephone carriers
• railway safety (bridges and underpasses)
• truck safety (insurance, cargo, routes)
• taxi (except Philadelphia) and motor coach carriers (moving companies)

The Bureau of Consumer Protection in the Office of the Attorney General has jurisdictional oversight over legislation that addresses the Unfair Trade Practices Act and where they are given jurisdiction via legislation on consumer related issues such as identity theft, issues involving unfair trade practices, home improvement contractors, lemon law and other similar concerns. By law, the Bureau of Consumer Protection is authorized to perform the following duties:

• Investigate commercial and trade practices in the distribution, financing and furnishing of goods and services for the use of consumers;
• Conduct studies, investigations and research into matters affecting consumer interests and make such information available to the public;
• Advise the Legislature on matters affecting consumer interests, including the development of policies and the proposal of programs to protect consumers;
• Investigate fraud and deception in the sale, servicing and furnishing of goods and products, and strive to eliminate such illegal actions;
• Promote consumer education and publicize matters relating to consumer fraud, deception and misrepresentation.

All Commonwealth agency regulations are submitted to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) for review and comment. The respective legislative committees have a time sensitive opportunity to review and comment on regulations to which the Speaker of the House has designated jurisdiction. You will be notified by the Consumer Affairs Committee when we receive copies of a PUC or Bureau of Consumer Protection regulation and will be informed of the time frame the Committee has for comment. If any member would like the Committee to take a formal position on a particular regulation, we will schedule a committee meeting for that purpose. Any member may also directly share their concern with IRRC. For your review a brief summary of the regulatory review process is attached.

Even though the Committee generally has jurisdiction over public utilities, there are some industries that are unregulated as per federal edict. These include cable and wireless telephone company rates. However, if there is a suspected unfair trade practice, the committee can address that issue through hearings and legislative remedy. Municipal water authorities and rural electric cooperatives and electric and natural gas generation suppliers also are not regulated by the PUC.