Press Release
PUC Approves 911 Renewal Plans for Fayette, Venango Counties
Published on 11/8/2012
Filed under: Telecommunications
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today reauthorized the telephone charge residents in Fayette and Venango counties pay for their local 911 systems.
Fayette County, a fourth-class county, did not request a change to its current contribution rate of $1.25 per telephone line per month. Fayette County’s 911 service area has a population of approximately 136,600. The county is served by Verizon Pennsylvania Inc., Laurel Highland Telephone Co. and Verizon North LLC, and various competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs).
Venango County, a sixth-class county, did not request a change to its current contribution rate of $1.50 per telephone line per month. Venango County’s 911 service area has a population of approximately 54,980. The county is served by Verizon North LLC, Windstream Pennsylvania LLC, CenturyLink, Venus Telephone Corp. and various CLECs.
The Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act of 1990 provides for a statewide 911 emergency communication system to be administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). The law allows the counties to recover the cost for 911 systems by accessing a fee on every telephone line.
Local phone companies collect the fee for the counties. Under the Act, the maximum fee that can be collected per telephone line per month is $1 for first- and second-class counties; $1.25 for third- through fifth-class counties; and $1.50 for sixth- through eighth-class counties.
The PUC reviews the contributions rates to make sure they do not exceed the allowable amount. The PUC then forwards a decision to PEMA. The PUC has 90 days to submit its recommendation to PEMA as to whether a proposed contribution rate should be approved or modified. The plan and the surcharge are effective from the date of the PUC order for a period of three years.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner. For recent news releases, audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov.
###
Docket Nos. M-2012-2322833 and M-2012-2321508
Contact:
-
Press Secretary
717-787-5722
Complaints
Learn how to submit a complaint with a public utility. You can also search existing formal complaints.
Get DetailsSubscribe to Press Releases
Keep track of PUC news and activities with press releases delivered straight to your email inbox.
SubscribeNeed More Help?
If you can't find what you're looking for here, please contact the PA Public Utility Commission. Call us at 1-800-692-7380 or contact us online.
Document Search
Public utility documents available electronically include case dockets, public meeting orders and more.
Filing & Resources
Find utility-related reports, laws and regulations, federal filings, tariffs, procedures and more.
eFILING
Consumers, utilities and attorneys can save time by submitting documents to the PUC electronically.