(a) General rule.--A public utility that furnishes water to or for the public shall be allowed to recover in rates the full cost of service related to public fire hydrants.
(b) Charge to municipalities and other customers of the public utility.--
(1) In determining the rates to be charged for public fire hydrants by a public utility that furnishes water to or for the public, the commission shall as part of a utility's general rate proceeding provide for the recovery of the costs of public fire hydrants in such a manner that the municipalities in which those public fire hydrants are located are not charged for more than 25% of the cost of service for those public fire hydrants, as such cost of service is reasonably determined by the commission.
(2) The commission shall also as part of the utility's general rate proceeding provide for the recovery of the remaining cost of service for those public fire hydrants not recovered from the municipalities under paragraph (1) by assessing all customers of the public utility the remaining cost of service to the public fire hydrants. The remaining cost of service for those public fire hydrants shall be included in the public utility's fixed or service charge or minimum bill.
(c) Effect on current rates.--The legal rates charged to municipalities for public fire hydrants in effect on the effective date of this section shall remain frozen and shall not be changed until the present rates for those public fire hydrants are determined to be below the 25% ceiling established under subsection (b). The remaining cost of service for those public fire hydrants not recovered from the municipality shall be recovered from all customers of the public utility in the public utility's fixed or service charge or minimum bill.
(d) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "public fire hydrant" means a fire hydrant that is charged, at least in part, to a municipality such as a city, borough, town or township.
(June 30, 1995, P.L.165, No.23, eff. 60 days)
1995 Amendment. Act 23 added section 1328.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 13 - Rates and Distribution Systems
Section 1301 - Rates to be just and reasonable
Section 1301.1 - Computation of income tax expense for ratemaking purposes
Section 1302 - Tariffs; filing and inspection
Section 1303 - Adherence to tariffs
Section 1304 - Discrimination in rates
Section 1305 - Advance payment of rates; interest on deposits
Section 1306 - Apportionment of joint rates
Section 1307 - Sliding scale of rates; adjustments
Section 1308 - Voluntary changes in rates
Section 1309 - Rates fixed on complaint; investigation of costs of production
Section 1310 - Temporary rates
Section 1311 - Valuation of and return on the property of a public utility
Section 1313 - Price upon resale of public utility services
Section 1314 - Limitation on prices paid for property and fuel
Section 1315 - Limitation on consideration of certain costs for electric utilities
Section 1316 - Recovery of advertising expenses
Section 1316.1 - Recovery of club dues
Section 1317 - Regulation of natural gas costs
Section 1318 - Determination of just and reasonable gas cost rates
Section 1319 - Financing of energy supply alternatives
Section 1320 - Fuel purchase audits by complaint
Section 1321 - Recovery of certain employee meeting expenses
Section 1322 - Outages of electric generating units
Section 1323 - Procedures for new electric generating capacity
Section 1324 - Residential telephone service rates based on duration or distance of call
Section 1325 - Local exchange service increases; limitation (Repealed)
Section 1326 - Standby charge prohibited
Section 1327 - Acquisition of water and sewer utilities
Section 1328 - Determination of public fire hydrant rates
Section 1329 - Valuation of acquired water and wastewater systems
Section 1330 - Alternative ratemaking for utilities
Section 1350 - Scope of subchapter
Section 1352 - Long-term infrastructure improvement plan
Section 1353 - Distribution system improvement charge
Section 1354 - Customer notice
Section 1356 - Asset optimization plans
Section 1357 - Computation of charge