(a)This section applies to distributed generation systems with a nameplate capacity above 3 MW and up to 5 MW. In addition, although we agree that there could be factors that may result in opportunities for People's to accelerate installations, we assume these are sporadic and that generally the utility will have an infrastructure replacement construction schedule more than 30 days out. 192 subpart P, and is subject to audit by the Gas Safety Division of Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement, was developed after an assessment of applicable safety risks and attempts to balance safe operations with the need to operate in a cost effective and prudent manner. Finally, PECO asserts that it would almost double the cost of the project to ratepayers from $60 million under the Commission's original order, to $110 million dollars under the ANOFR. The materials on this website are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No statutes or acts will be found at this website. Distribution credits are not carried forward into the next year. 1648.7(a) and 1648.3(e)(2)). Given that there is a notice requirement of at least 30 days for the public utility to notify the Commission of a major construction project, we consider at least 30 days prior notice to the customer to be reasonable. More specifically, meter and regulatory relocation mandated projects should be coordinated with the gas utilities DIMPs. If an outside meter is not going to become available because of certain restrictions, then an inside meter location must be considered, and that does not appear to us to be ambiguous. 2. Society Hill points out that restrictions arise primarily from local historic preservation ordinances and faade easements recorded in local land registries. Specifically, customers had objected to being charged for the relocation of meters from inside their residences to an exterior location, and sought reimbursement of associated costs. Finally, under subsection (b), the regulation lists the locations where outside meter or service regulator locations can be located. We agree with Peoples position to the extent it argues that the replacement of inside meters should occur in conjunction with overall infrastructure improvement plans. Also, we disagree that a utility should not be knowledgeable about where it can or cannot install its equipment based on local building codes. Columbia submits that it will be forced to redirect resources away from higher priority risks and jeopardize Columbia's ability to meet its Commission approved forecasted LTIIP, and notably, does not take into account that Act 11 was passed after these proposed regulations were initiated. We have extended the application deadline in paragraph (g)(3) and this work may be coordinated with the utility's general infrastructure DIMP program. We also find merit with Society Hill's comments about our use of the term ''restriction'' in subparagraph (d)(1)(i). #1 I rent a home in central PA. One alternative is to retrofit existing service lines with Excess Flow Valves (EFV). Therefore, NFG believes that any deadline on the application of this rulemaking to existing facilities jeopardizes the risk assessment and analysis that led to the development of NFG's DIMP by diverting resources to relocating existing meters, service regulators, and service lines. On February 17, 2021, the Supreme Court affirmed the Commonwealth Court's invalidation of Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ("PUC" or "Commission") regulations that had the effect of blocking alternative energy project developments of 5 MW or less that propose to use net metering. Moreover, meters can also leak and utilities must access the meters to conduct a leak survey. We shall modify the regulation accordingly by adding the term ''or building owner,'' as well as new language we discussed in our analysis of comments to the proposed rulemaking in Attachment One (page 32), to new paragraphs (a)(9), (10) and (11) in the final. PDF Shared Meter - National Grid A customer-generator is not prohibited from having a qualified meter service provider install metering equipment for the measurement of generation, or from selling alternative energy credits to a third party other than an EDC. Finally, we do not believe that the regulation prevents customers, property owners, and communities from working cooperatively with gas utilities. UGI contends that when service lines are replaced at the time of main replacement the costs of permitting fees and repaving costs can be shared, only one service line tie-in to the main has to be performed, only one excavation has to be performed, only one restoration project has to be performed, and work crews and equipment do not need to be dispatched multiple times. No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit. 7277, 7448. 6437; amended November 18, 2016, effective November 19, 2016, 46 Pa.B. Therefore, National Fuel argues that subsection (a)(1) should contain an exception for situations when the meter and/or regulator is moved outside as part of an emergency repair being performed at the customer's premises. Peoples submits that in the event a building owner modifies a structure, after meter placement, in such a way that interferes with the safety of the meter location, the regulations should be clear that the natural gas distribution company is not required to expense the costs associated with such relocation. PECO argues that the Commission also should revise the section that prohibits the placement of meter sets near building intakes pursuant to local or state building codes to make it clear that contractors/developers are responsible for ensuring that meter sets will not be placed near building intakes because local and state building codes are applicable to their building design work. In other words, meter set relocation required by regulation is not dependent on the type of service line and we shall not make any exceptions. The deed included a statement "this property has a shared well with next lot." The pump house and well is on our property and connected to our electrical meter. The Commission is amending its existing regulations at 52 Pa.Code 59.18 that are currently limited with respect to providing regulatory requirements for meters, regulators and service line locations. EAP submits that the Commission recognized that gas utilities needed to initiate infrastructure replacement programs and supported legislation to implement a distribution system improvement charge (DSIC).6, EAP further believes that a utility main replacement program would create the economic and risk management efficiencies needed to consider relocation of inside meters or regulators as contemplated in the proposed amendments. As indicated previously, the Commission addressed meter placement and location and general requirements for new service lines. Although this law was amended on July 19, 1995, owners remain responsible for energy used outside the tenant's dwelling or control. The final regulations become effective upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Finally, UGI submits that additional indirect costs will be imposed upon municipalities and residents. However, under the new rule, NFG submits that this would be a replacement of an existing facility and the utility would need to reconfigure the layout of the service line to be perpendicular to the main and/or to go from two or more service lines into the building to only one. The report shall be submitted by July 30 of each year, and include the following information for the reporting period ending May 31 of that year: (1)The total number of customer-generator facilities. Even under these rare circumstances, we believe the utility could provide some notice to the customer. P-00072337 (May 19, 2008). In so doing, we have retained language, struck proposed language, and added new language. Our adoption of the CFR under Section 59.33(b) sets the minimum safety standards for all natural gas and hazardous liquid public utilities. The regulation does provide, in effect, guidelines that must be followed. Or, you may share the meter with a renter on a property you also occupy. We do not agree with the alternative proposed by the gas utilities that meters may be located inside within a building if an excess flow valve is installed at the service line tap and the service line pressure is equal to or greater than 10 psig. 192.1005. Under section 5.1(e) of the Regulatory Review Act, IRRC met on July 24, 2014, and approved the final-form rulemaking. Fiscal Note:Fiscal Note 57-277 remains valid for the final adoption of the subject regulation. December 2020: Pa. Supreme Court Argument List, Quigley v. Unemployment Comp. PECO believes that the ANOFRO significantly expanded the scope of the rulemaking where natural gas distribution companies now must relocate all indoor meter sets, regardless of the type of service line, within 10 years from the effective date of the regulations. Finally, we do not agree with PGW that the general rule needs any further clarification. Discussion of Comments to the Proposed Rulemaking Order. Given the remediation work and cost to be undertaken, we shall add paragraph (3) of subsection (g) to set the completion date of 20 years from the effective date of the regulation ''or incorporate the requirements of the regulation in a Distribution Integrity Management Plan, whichever occurs first.''. Clearly, these efficiencies for relocating meters and regulators would result when streets and sidewalks are already excavated for main replacement. Also, moving meters outside will risk damage to the units caused by vehicles hitting meters and tampering, among other occurrences. Public Utilities 1529.1. The regulation addresses where meters and regulators can be located and factors that must be considered in locating meter sets. In accordance with Section 501 of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. Sections 11.30-11.32.) Moreover, Society Hill suggests that a pictorial representation of the meter and related equipment, demonstrating its size and character in readily understandable form accompanies the notice. Submetering Apartments in Pennsylvania is very common. Gas, Electric and Steam Service to Tenants Provided Through Shared Meters We agree with NFG and Peoples that the notice provision should provide the phrase ''at least'' before thirty (30) days to establish that the advance notice does not have to be exactly 30 days. Moreover, the Mayor favors the placement of gas meter sets indoors while the regulators, which are small and will be less intrusive on the aesthetics of historic structures, may remain outside. Ultimately, Gas Safety concluded that the Commission's existing regulation at 52 Pa.Code 59.18 is vague, inadequate, and out-of-date with respect to the federal standards which the Commission has adopted. We believe our explanation of these terms in our analysis of comments to be the proposed rulemaking in Attachment One (page 21) provided sufficient guidance to apply to the regulation. Moreover, UGI explains that since this rulemaking was initiated, an acceleration of the goals of the ANOFRO has already been achieved by these other means. Also, we agree that a utility should not have the power to impose costs without prior written notice to the customer. Moreover, NFG states that paragraph (g)(2) should be revised to specifically exclude Section 59.18(f) which by its title applies to ''new service lines.'' Please direct comments or questions to. 1 Gas Meter Location, Docket No. of Review, Gerrymandering and the Battle Over Voting District Design. Understanding Shared Meters | WNY | National Fuel Gas Company After review of the state and federal regulations pertaining to meter set location, gas distribution tariffs, and after meeting with the gas utilities and reviewing the data responses, Gas Safety concluded the following: 1. Shared meter law? In addition to the federal requirements, large NGDCs have filed individual Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plans (LTIIPs) under Act 11, some of which have been approved by the Commission. The neighbors said they'd paid the previous owners $15 a month and we agreed on that amount until we researched it further. The relocation of the inside regulator costs approximately $450. We live in a duplex with a shared water meter. 4 See Petition of Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Inc. for Limited Waivers of Certain Tariff Rules Related to Customer Service Line Replacement, Docket No. We shall also decline to address visual impact alternatives that may avoid or minimize the impact of installing the meter and/or regulator outside. (c)The net metering applicant has 20 days to submit a response to the EDCs recommendation to reject an application to the Bureau of Technical Utility Services. Utilities also seek clarification whether this regulation, if adopted, would apply to meter sets installed after the effective date of this proposed regulation since a number of new requirements are not requirements of meter sets today. Accordingly, Peoples suggests that the ANOFRO revisions be amended to reflect these changes that are provided on page 3 of its comments. Several of the gas distribution utilities assert they cannot comply with the state and federal regulations pertaining to leakage surveys because they cannot get access to inside meter sets. In other words, NFG explains that a utility should not be required to reconfigure existing service lines since this would add significantly to the expense and resource demands of compliance with this regulation. 5835] [Saturday, September 13, 2014] The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (Commission), on May 22, 2014, adopted a final rulemaking order which amends 59.18 (relating to meter, regulator and service line location) to be consistent with Federal regulations. Additionally, the OCA contends that the Commission needs to revise proposed section 59.18 to assure that both customers and the property owner receive notice. Year and yearlyThe period of time from June 1 through May 31. The best solution is to put in a separate meter for areas served outside a tenant's rental unit. If National Fuel finds a shared meter condition, the Hopefully this will also serve as a reminder to regulators that they cannot through regulations rewrite a statute they are tasked with administering in the way they wish the legislature had written it. If the customer-generator supplies more electricity to the electric distribution system than the EDC delivers to the customer-generator in any billing period, the excess kilowatt hours shall be carried forward and credited against the customer-generators unbundled kilowatt-hour distribution usage in subsequent billing periods until the end of the year when all remaining unused kilowatt-hour distribution credits shall be zeroed-out. Moreover, since gas utilities will not be required to perform stand-alone projects not coordinated with either a utility DIMP or LTIIP, we shall not make a distinction in the regulation for the type of service construction, such as plastic service lines that need to be relocated. As the other unit has a flat rent rate that includes utility usage, we guess the landlord wants to make us to pay for the usage of other unit for more than $200/month extra based on our meter reading . Your Rights & Responsibilities - Cenhud All service locations to be aggregated must be EDC service location accounts held by the same individual or legal entity receiving retail electric service from the same EDC and have measureable load independent of any alternative energy system. If a customer-generator supplies more electricity to the electric distribution system than the EDC and DSP deliver to the customer-generator in a given billing period, the excess kilowatt hours shall be carried forward and credited against the customer-generators kilowatt-hour usage in subsequent billing periods at the full retail rate. (h)An EDC and EGS which offer net metering shall submit an annual net metering report to the Commission. The Order was published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on June 16, 2012. So what does this mean for the future of renewable energy projects in Pennsylvania? Accordingly, PGW recommends that these sections should be modified as follows: OCA also is concerned that the structure of amended section 59.18(d)(1) may allow the gas utility to make the final decision regarding the location of a gas meter. The Commission need not engage in a further regulatory process to revise its regulations, but it may choose do so, and should. First, choose your state: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Dist. Find a lawyer near you Avvo has 97% of all lawyers in the US. All the tariffs for the solicited utilities have tariff rules governing the location of meter sets. We believed that any limitation of an NGDC's discretion through this regulation is in the public interest. Moreover, by use of the term ''municipal home rule charter,'' the Commission intended to include individual properties designated as historic pursuant to ordinances enacted by cities of the First Class. We shall not make the recommended language change offered by PGW. The provisions of this 75.17 adopted November 18, 2016, effective November 19, 2016, 46 Pa.B. Finally, EAP seeks further clarification that costs incurred when customer-owned facilities are extended (or replaced) in the course of relocating a meter will be handled as utility expenses for the purposes of cost recovery. No statutes or acts will be found at this website. 1529, but has no similar law that states that a landlord cannot receive a water bill in his own name and divide the bill between tenants. Commissioners Present:Robert F. Powelson, Chairperson; John F. Coleman, Jr., Vice Chairperson; James H. Cawley; Pamela A. Witmer; Gladys M. Brown. Finally, if any deadline is included in paragraph (g)(3), NFG submits that it should specifically state that it does not apply to the requirement at Section 59.8(f), which by its title applies to ''new service lines.'' 192.383(b). As indicated previously, the Commission issued an Advance Notice of Final Rulemaking Order (ANOFRO) on September 13, 2013. Finally, we have added subsection (c) which we discuss in our analysis of comments to the proposed rulemaking in Attachment One (pages 3437). Finally, Peoples suggests that the term ''property'' at the conclusion of the sentence should be changed to ''building'' or ''structure'' to ensure that the regulation is specifically addressing meter and regulator locations outside of the building structure itself, and not off of the physical property (land) of the customer. Gas utilities have the application period under paragraph (3) subsection (g) to comply with the regulation and replacement should be determined according to the utility's risk analysis in its DIMP. As of Oct. 24, 1991, the New York State Shared Meter Law makes building owners responsible for gas and electricity registered through a shared meter. EAP concludes that the new mandate to relocate all inside meter sets within a ten year period to the outside of a building or residence regardless of the nature of the existing service line and without aligning this new regulatory program with current programs to replace aging infrastructure, is not based on recognized principles of risk management and gas safety, is not cost-effective, and is not in the public interest. Under section 5(c) of the Regulatory Review Act, IRRC and the House and Senate Committees were provided with copies of the comments received during the public comment period, as well as other documents when requested. Split the bill between multiple renters who live with a shared water meter. The state has experienced several gas explosions related to steel service lines being struck and pulled up from their stable position and subsequently pulling the service line from the inside meter set. The OCA submits that the gas utilities have an obligation to maintain their system in conformance with Pennsylvania and federal safety standards. We further noted IRRC's comment that the proposed regulation includes only meter and regulator location and does not address several other safety concerns identified in the Preamble (Order). EAP states that it has compiled estimates from its members assuming all inside meters and regulators would be relocated over the mandated ten year timeframe without necessarily attempting to identify either historic properties or those in areas with a ''high risk of vandalism'' as exempted under section 59.18(d)(1)(i) and (iii). Columbia asserts that its DIMP reflects its highest priority risks as third party damage on main and service lines first, then its first generation assets that will be mitigated as part of the Company's accelerated priority pipe replacement plan for mains and services (e.g. The Operator Qualified plumbers are certified and tested by the specific gas utility. According to EAP, the fact remains that capital and resources will be diverted to complete work that has a lower risk priority based on gas utility DIMP programs. We also addressed the safety issue with respect to steel service lines pulled from a stable position with the regulations that provide for the placement of the regulator outside the building. Comments and Discussion to Specific Regulatory Provisions of the Advance Notice of Final Rulemaking Order. Getting and Keeping Gas and Electricity Service - Tenant Other Important Parts of the Law Summary of New York a) Refunds State's Example:a hot water heater or furnace may be located inside We have adopted the Federal regulation. Todd also represents these same clients before the Pennsylvania General Assembly as a registered lobbyist, and represents The Retail Energy Supply Association, known as RESA, in natural gas competition related matters before the PUC. If the customer-generator agrees, a dual meter arrangement may be substituted for a single bidirectional meter. The cost of retrofitting a steel service line with EFV is approximately $1,500. In order to clearly establish and support this rule- making's intent, IRRC recommends that the Commission review and revise its Preamble and responses in the Regulatory Analysis Form (RAF) prior to submitting a final regulation. Distribution system operators were given until August 2, 2011 to write and implement DIMP plans. We were told by the electric co. in May that the electricity was being put back in the landlord's name because "foreign load" or "shared meter" is illegal. 1782 (March 25, 2023). 1648.7(a) and 1648.3(e)(2)). Language has also been added and stricken in paragraphs (d)(2)(d)(5) consistent with our discussion of the comments to proposed rulemaking in Attachment One (pages 4349). Peoples argues that this section should acknowledge that there are some circumstances in which meters may need to be installed in the places now designated as prohibited in the ANOFRO revisions. The shared meter law is designed to eliminate problems with shared meters and provides clear guidelines if a shared meter exists. 2 See Ratification and Adoption of Amendments to Part 192 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Docket No. The gas distribution utilities reported more than 4,000 leaks occurring on inside meter sets over a five year period.
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