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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Tim Solobay |
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Solobay bill would address cost of natural gas pipeline repairs
HARRISBURG, March 10 – State Rep. Tim Solobay, D-Washington, has introduced legislation that would help ease the cost of natural gas pipeline repairs on homeowners and natural gas companies.
One part of H.B. 744 would help homeowners by requiring natural gas companies in southwestern Pennsylvania to be responsible for gas lines that run from a customer's home to the street. This responsibility would include repairs to those lines.
"This is a situation found exclusively in southwestern Pennsylvania, where 1 million customers are financially responsible for their natural gas service line, which is the line running from the curb to the meter," Solobay said. "If there is a problem with the line, the gas company shuts off service and customers, at their expense, must hire a contractor to fix the line. Elsewhere in the state, the gas companies have voluntarily taken on the responsibility for the service lines."
Solobay noted that elsewhere in Pennsylvania the gas utility replaces the line at no direct cost to the homeowner. His bill would make state law uniform by requiring gas utilities throughout Pennsylvania, not customers, assume financial, as well as operation and maintenance, responsibilities for the service line from the curb to the meter.
Another portion of Solobay's bill would help natural gas companies make repairs and/or upgrades when they are needed or convenient by allowing those companies to make minor rate shifts for such projects.
"Currently, natural gas companies must get approval from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to raise rates for needed repairs and upgrades," he said. "This process means the companies can't do the work at the same time a community is digging up its roads for other infrastructure improvements or repairs. By allowing 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, we could save money in the long run and reduce the inconveniences that road work causes local residents."
Solobay said the PUC would still oversee such increases.
House Bill 744 has bipartisan support in the House and is currently being considered by the House Consumer Affairs Committee.