Press Release

PUC Seeks Comments on Improving Coordination of Universal Service Programs, Streamlining Enrollment, and Improving Verification and the Re-enrollment Process for Eligible Consumers

Published on 4/10/2023

Filed under: Electric Gas Water and Wastewater

Interested Parties Have Until June 7 to File Comments with the Commission as the PUC Begins a Statewide Review of Universal Service Program Design

HARRISBURG – As part of a comprehensive statewide review of universal service program design, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is now accepting 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.

“This proceeding enables the Commission to consider improvements to consumer enrollment and retainment in the universal service programs overseen by the PUC, with the goal of making the processes as efficient as possible for the consumer and utility as well as maintaining proper diligence and verification for eligibility,” said PUC Vice Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank.  “We seek efficiencies in these programs and are trying to make allocated dollars go as far as possible.”

At the Commission’s Public Meeting of March 16, 2023, the Commission voted 3-2 in support of Vice Chairman DeFrank and Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss’ joint motion which seeks to gather public comments for consideration on a series of topics about  customer assistance programs (CAPs).  This effort includes, but is not limited to, identifying any current barriers to greater coordination and sharing of information between multiple utilities and between utilities and state social service agencies; looking at the option of administering CAPs on a statewide basis rather than utility-by-utility; pursuing additional consumer education and outreach to income-qualified consumers; and examining whether or not the PUC’s CAP Policy Statement should be amended to include jurisdictional water utilities.

 “A review of the current status of universal service program design is important to ensure that we have simple, efficient, and stream-lined processes in place to assist low-income customers enroll and stay enrolled in beneficial programs for which they qualify,” Commissioner Zerfuss stated. ”We welcome comments from all interested parties to aid in our consideration of  improvements and efficiencies to existing programs, including those that may be considered in the context of a future rulemaking proceeding.”

On March 27, 2023, the Commission issued a Secretarial Letter, published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on Saturday, April 8, 2023, initiating its review of all jurisdictional fixed utilities’ universal service programs and providing for a 60-day comment period.  Interested parties may now submit written comments through Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in response to 14 articulated questions regarding how the Commission’s regulations, policies and procedures on universal service programs could be revised with a particular focus on the following areas:

• Increasing program coordination among all utilities.
• Streamlining the eligibility and enrollment process.
• Improving both the verification and re-enrollment processes for universal service programs to help eligible consumers avoid losing low-income benefits.

Comments to this Secretarial Letter may be filed electronically through the Commission’s eFiling system.  An eFiling account may be opened and used through the Commission’s website. If the filing is over 250 pages, one original signed copy of comments must also be filed with the Commission’s Secretary.

If you choose not to eFile, mail your comments to:

     Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
     Commonwealth Keystone Building - 2nd Floor
     400 North Street
     Harrisburg, PA 17120.

All pages of filed comments, with the exception of a cover letter, must be numbered.

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