Press Release

PUC Forms Working Group to Address Comprehensive Review of Universal Service Program Design

Published on 8/23/2023

Filed under: Consumer Education Electric Gas Telecommunications Water and Wastewater

Interested Parties Invited to Join Working Group, First Meeting Scheduled for Sept. 21^st

HARRISBURG – As part of a comprehensive statewide review of universal service program design, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) will form a Working Group to address public comments on improving coordination of universal service programs among all jurisdictional fixed utilities – with an in-depth analysis into ways to streamline enrollment as well as improve the verification and re-enrollment processes for income-qualified customers.

“We look forward to bringing together the industry, advocates and all interested parties to work in a collaborative fashion to both increase efficiencies in these universal service programs and increase participation in them for income-eligible customers not currently enrolled in programs. We encourage everyone who has an interest in these issues to join us for the working group,” said Vice Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank.

Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss said: “I would like to thank everyone who filed comments and participated in our statewide review of universal service programs.  I am excited about starting this work group; it is important to continually find ways we can, collectively, better serve Pennsylvania consumers.”

In a Secretarial Letter issued Aug. 22 to all jurisdictional fixed public utilities, the Commission invited interested parties to join the Working Group to address the following:

1. Develop a common application that could be used by all jurisdictional fixed public utilities statewide to facilitate the enrollment of eligible customers into their utilities’ universal service programs.
2. Discuss the potential development of a website dedicated to facilitating the enrollment of customers into utilities’ universal service programs using, among other tools, the common application developed in #1 above.
3. Discuss the requirements of a statewide administrator, or some other agency, bureau or entity, to administer universal service enrollment statewide, including the potential website identified in #2 above.
4. Prepare for the data sharing by the Department of Human Services anticipated on or about the summer of 2024.
5. Any other actions required to advance the goals set forth in the Secretarial Letter at this docket dated March 27, 2023.

The first meeting of the Working Group will be scheduled for Sept. 21, 2023, at 1 p.m. in Hearing Room 1 of the Commonwealth Keystone Building in Harrisburg.  Participation via Microsoft Teams will also be available for the Sept. 21^st meeting.

On March 16, 2023, the PUC adopted the joint motion of Vice Chairman DeFrank and Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss requesting comments, review and potential revisions to the Commission’s universal service policies for electric distribution companies, natural gas distribution companies, jurisdictional water and wastewater utilities and local exchange telecommunications companies. 

This was followed by a Secretarial Letter dated March 27, 2023, that specifically requested comments from interested parties regarding how the Commission’s regulations, policies and procedures could be revised with a particular focus on:

• Increasing program coordination among all utilities,
• Streamlining the eligibility and enrollment process, and
• Reducing the number of otherwise eligible consumers from losing low-income benefits due to the verification or re-enrollment process.

The Commission articulated 14 questions on which comment was sought and noted that a review of these comments may help inform the Commission’s consideration of improvements to the existing programs, including improvements that may be considered in the context of a future rulemaking proceeding.

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov. Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility.  “Like” Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Facebook for easy access to information on utility issues.

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Docket No.:  M-2023-3038944

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov