2010 Pennsylvania Code
Title 66 - PUBLIC UTILITIES
Chapter 14 - Responsible Utility Customer Protection
1403 - Definitions.

     § 1403.  Definitions.
        The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
     shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
     context clearly indicates otherwise:
        "Applicant."  A natural person not currently receiving
     service who applies for residential service provided by a public
     utility or any adult occupant whose name appears on the
     mortgage, deed or lease of the property for which the
     residential utility service is requested.
        "Change in income."  A decrease in household income of 20% or
     more if the customer's household income level exceeds 200% of
     the Federal poverty level or a decrease in household income of
     10% or more if the customer's household income level is 200% or
     less of the Federal poverty level.
        "Customer."  A natural person in whose name a residential
     service account is listed and who is primarily responsible for
     payment of bills rendered for the service or any adult occupant
     whose name appears on the mortgage, deed or lease of the
     property for which the residential utility service is requested.
        "Customer assistance program."  A plan or program sponsored
     by a public utility for the purpose of providing universal
     service and energy conservation, as defined by section 2202
     (relating to definitions) or 2803 (relating to definitions), in
     which customers make monthly payments based on household income
     and household size and under which customers must comply with
     certain responsibilities and restrictions in order to remain
     eligible for the program.
        "Electric distribution utility."  An entity providing
     facilities for the jurisdictional transmission and distribution
     of electricity to retail customers, except building or facility
     owners or operators that manage the internal distribution system
     serving such building or facility and that supply electric power
     and other related electric power services to occupants of the
     building or facility.
        "Formal complaint."  A complaint filed before the
     Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission requesting a legal
     proceeding before a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
     administrative law judge or a mediation under the management of
     a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission administrative law
     judge.
        "Household income."  The combined gross income of all adults
     in a residential household who benefit from the public utility
     service.
        "Informal complaint."  A complaint filed with the
     Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission by a customer that does
     not involve a legal proceeding before a Pennsylvania Public
     Utility Commission administrative law judge or a mediation under
     the management of a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
     administrative law judge.
        "LIHEAP" or "Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program."  A
     federally funded program that provides financial assistance in
     the form of cash and crisis grants to low-income households for
     home energy bills and is administered by the Department of
     Public Welfare.
        "Natural gas distribution service."  The delivery of natural
     gas to retail gas customers utilizing the jurisdictional
     facilities of a natural gas distribution utility.
        "Natural gas distribution utility."  A city natural gas
     distribution operation or entity that provides natural gas
     distribution services and may provide natural gas supply
     services and other services. The term does not include either of
     the following:
            (1)  Any public utility providing natural gas
        distribution services subject to the jurisdiction of the
        Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission that has annual gas
        operating revenues of less than $6,000,000 per year, except
        where the public utility voluntarily petitions the commission
        to be included within this definition or where the public
        utility seeks to provide natural gas supply services to
        retail gas customers outside its service territory.
            (2)  Any public utility providing natural gas
        distribution services subject to the jurisdiction of the
        commission that is not connected to an interstate gas
        pipeline by means of a direct connection or an indirect
        connection through the distribution system of another natural
        gas public utility or through a natural gas gathering system.
        "Natural gas supply services."  The sale or arrangement of
     the sale of natural gas to retail gas customers and services
     that may be unbundled by the Pennsylvania Public Utility
     Commission under section 2203(3) (relating to standards for
     restructuring of natural gas utility industry). The term does
     not include natural gas distribution service.
        "Occupant."  (Reserved).
        "Payment agreement."  An agreement whereby a customer who
     admits liability for billed service is permitted to amortize or
     pay the unpaid balance of the account in one or more payments.
        "Public utility."  Any electric distribution utility, natural
     gas distribution utility or water distribution utility in this
     Commonwealth that is within the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania
     Public Utility Commission.
        "Significant change in circumstance."  Any of the following
     criteria when verified by the public utility and experienced by
     customers with household income less than 300% of the Federal
     poverty level:
            (1)  The onset of a chronic or acute illness resulting in
        a significant loss in the customer's household income.
            (2)  Catastrophic damage to the customer's residence
        resulting in a significant net cost to the customer's
        household.
            (3)  Loss of the customer's residence.
            (4)  Increase in the customer's number of dependents in
        the household.
        "Water distribution utility."  An entity owning or operating
     equipment or facilities for diverting, developing, pumping,
     impounding, distributing or furnishing water to or for the
     public for compensation.