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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Chris King |
  
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King to introduce legislation that would regulate heating oil industry
HARRISBURG, Aug. 14 – State Rep. Chris King, D-Bucks, announced today that he plans to introduce legislation that would regulate heating oil industry in Pennsylvania.
Under current state law, the natural gas, artificial gas, and electric industries are regulated by the Public Utility Commission. King's legislation would include the heating oil industry on this list of regulated industries.
King said he decided to introduce the legislation because there is limited competition in the local home heating oil industry and he has received a lot of calls from constituents concerned about the price of home heating oil this winter.
"A large number of my constituents use oil to heat their homes," King said. "Oil companies are offering deals with varying rates to lock in rates for the winter months, and the PUC should have regulatory oversight of the industry to ensure that consumers are not being taken advantage of."
King said 25.5 percent of Pennsylvania homes are heated by oil, compared to 51.6 percent for natural gas and 16.4 percent for electricity. Heating oil consumers have seen dramatic increases in their bills.
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