Interested Persons May Comment on Proposed Amendments Designed to Improve Operations of Public Utility LIURPs, Maximize Ratepayer Benefits

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today alerted consumers and other interested parties about the start of a public comment period for proposed amendments to current regulations for the Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP).  Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the proposed amendments, which are detailed in the PUC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Order (NOPR) published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on Dec. 2, 2023 [53 Pa.B. 7506].

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

On May 18, 2023, the PUC entered a NOPR proposing amendments to current LIURP regulations at 52 Pa. Code §§ 58.1—58.18.  In doing so, the PUC cited the need to update the regulations in order to keep up with the changing energy landscape and technology improvements; to ensure coordination among Commonwealth energy reduction programs; and to ensure fair, effective, and efficient LIURPs.  Additionally, the NOPR summarizes previous comments to a PUC Secretarial Letter issued in December 2016.

The PUC’s existing LIURP regulations apply to natural gas distribution companies and electric distribution companies.  These public utilities are required to include a LIURP as part of their universal service and energy conservation programs.  The other three required universal service programs are Customer Assistance Programs (CAPs), Hardship Funds, and Customer Assistance Referral and Evaluation (CARES) programs.

Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP)

LIURP helps limited-income residential customers lower the amount of electricity or natural gas used each month by providing free home weatherization from a qualified contractor and installation of energy saving devices in the home.  Treating homes saves energy and helps reduce the customer’s monthly bill.

Submitting Written Comments and Reply Comments

Written comments on the NOPR may be filed through Jan. 16, 2024, and written reply comments may be filed through Feb. 15, 2024.  Both written comments and written reply comments must reference Docket No. L-2016-2557886.

Persons filing written comments or written reply comments are encouraged to use the PUC’s electronic filing system.  An eFiling account may be opened and used through the PUC’s website.

Persons may file hard copies of written comments or written reply comments with the PUC’s Secretary’s Bureau.  Persons filing hard copies are required to mail – preferable by overnight delivery – one original filing, signed and dated, to the PUC’s Secretary at:

          Rosemary Chiavetta, Secretary
          Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
          Commonwealth Keystone Building
          400 North Street
          Harrisburg, PA  17120

All pages of written comments and written reply comments, with the exception of a cover letter, must be numbered.  Comments and reply comments filed during the public comment period will be posted on the PUC website and will be forwarded to the appropriate Legislative Standing Committees and to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC).  IRRC will post the comments and reply comments on its website at the following URL:
https://www.irrc.state.pa.us/regulations/RegSrchRslts.cfm

Matters relative to the LIURP rulemaking may be viewed and downloaded from the PUC’s website.  Contact persons for this proceeding are Regina Carter, PUC Bureau of Consumer Services, at 717-425-5441 or regincarte@pa.gov; and Karen Thorne, Regulatory Review Assistant, PUC Law Bureau, at kathorne@pa.gov.