CHAPTER 61. STEAM HEATING SERVICE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec.
61.1. Definitions.
SERVICE AND FACILITIES
61.11. Accidents.
61.12. Interruptions of service.
61.13. Complaints.
61.14. Records.
61.15. Change in character of service.
61.16. Use of meter.
61.17. Utility to provide meters.
61.18. Location of meters.
61.19. Testing facilities.
61.20. Meter tests.
61.21. Adjustment of bills for meter error.
61.22. Disputed bills.
61.23. Access to meters and discontinuance of service.
61.24. Notice of desire to have service discontinued.
61.25. Refusal to serve applicants.
61.26. Temporary service.
61.27. Maps, plans and records.
61.28. Filing of annual financial reports.
ACCOUNTS
61.31. Systems of accounts.
The provisions of this Chapter 61 issued under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § 501, unless otherwise noted.
The provisions of this Chapter 61 adopted March 11, 1946, unless otherwise noted.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 61.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Customer—A party supplied with steam service by a public utility.
Degree day—A unit used in estimating quantities of fuel and power consumption based on a daily ratio of consumption the mean temperature below 65°F.
Main—The pipe of a public utility system, excluding service lines, located in a public highway, street, alley or private right-of-way, and used in transporting steam.
Pounds of steam—The quantity of steam supplied, measured in pounds and equal to the same amount of water, which would result from condensing the steam used by the customer.
Public utility—Persons or corporations owning or operating equipment or facilities in this Commonwealth for producing, transmitting, distributing or furnishing, steam to or for the public for compensation.
Service line—Connecting distribution facilities or pipelines of the utility. Service lines may be of either of the following types:
(ii) High pressure—The distribution facilities or pipelines of the utility which connect the facilities of the utility with the service line of the customer.
(a) General. A public utility shall submit a report of each reportable accident involving the facilities or operations of the public utility in this Commonwealth. The reports shall be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission.
(b) Reportable accidents. Reportable accidents are those involving utility facilities or operations which result in one or more of the following circumstances:
(1) The death of a person.
(2) Injury to an employe on duty sufficient to incapacitate him from performing his ordinary duties for a period longer than 3 days.
(3) Injury to a person other than an employe on duty sufficient to incapacitate the injured person from following his customary vocation, or mode of life, for a period of more than 1 day.
(4) An occurrence of an unusual nature, whether or not death or injury of a person results, which apparently will result in a prolonged and serious interruption of normal service.
(c) Telegraphic reports. A report by telephone or telegraph shall be made at once in the event of the occurrence of a reportable accident resulting in the death of a person, or in the event of an occurrence of an unusual nature.
(d) Written reports. A written report shall be made on Form UCTA-8 immediately following the occurrence of a reportable accident as defined in subsection (b). Accidents reportable to the Commission which reports are also required by the Bureau of Workmen’s Compensation, Department of Labor and Industry, may be reported by transmitting a copy of the reports in lieu of a report on Form UCTA-8.
(a) Records. A public utility shall keep a record which shall include data showing the time, duration and cause of an interruption of service affecting its entire system or a major division of its system. The records shall be preserved for a period of 6 years.
(b) Notification to customers. A customer who may be affected adversely as a result of a service interruption shall be notified prior to starting work which will result in an interruption of his service, except in cases of emergency.
(a) Investigations. A public utility shall make a full and prompt investigation of complaints made to it or through the Commission by its customers.
(b) Records of complaints. A public utility shall preserve written steam service complaints showing the name and address of the complainant, the date and character of the complaint and the adjustment or disposal made of the complaint. The complaint records shall be preserved for a period of 6 years.
Records required by this chapter shall be kept within this Commonwealth at an office or offices of the public utility located in the territory served by it, and shall be open for examination by the Commission or a representative of the Commission.
If a substantial change is made in the steam pressure which the public utility is obligated to supply or in other service conditions which would affect the efficiency of operation or which requires the adjustment of regulators or appliances of customers in the area affected, the equipment and appliances shall be inspected and, if necessary, readjusted, without charge by the utility, to meet the new conditions.
(a) Steam sold. Steam sold by a public utility shall be charged for by meter measurement, except in case of flat-rate service or if otherwise authorized by the Commission.
(b) Other steam. Other steam, either used by the public utility or furnished to others from the steam heating distribution system, shall be metered and a record kept, unless otherwise authorized by the Commission.
Unless otherwise authorized by the Commission, a public utility shall, at its own expense, provide and install and shall continue to own, maintain and operate, equipment necessary for the measurement of steam furnished to its customers.
Meters shall either be installed inside of buildings, or shall be protected from climatic changes if it is necessary to locate it outside of a building.
A public utility shall provide and keep available adequate facilities for testing its meters. A public utility not maintaining a standardizing laboratory may have its meters and instruments certified by any standardizing laboratory approved by the Commission upon written permission from the Commission. The accuracy of testing equipment will be established and checked periodically by representatives of the Commission. The tester will seal and date tag the testing facilities after making final adjustments and shall furnish the public utility with a certificate properly dated and signed.
(a) Allowable error for condensation meters. No condensation meter may be placed in service or allowed to remain in service which has an error in registration of more than 4% when the temperature of the condensate is standard (140° F) and the average water flow through the meter is approximately equal to the manufacturer’s rating of the meter.
(b) Allowable error for flow meters. No steam flow meter may be placed in service or allowed to remain in service which has an error in registration of more than 4% when the steam, at its average moisture content, nominal pressure and average steam flow through the meter or its differential pressure-producing device, is approximately equal to the manufacturer’s rating of the meter or its differential pressure-producing device.
(c) Periodic tests. A public utility shall make periodic tests of meters in service in accordance with the following:
(1) Condensation meters shall be tested at least once every 24 calendar months.
(2) Steam flow meters shall be tested at least once every 3 years.
(3) Meters shall be sealed or capped after the completion of periodic tests.
(d) Meter records. A public utility shall maintain a record of each customer meter. This record shall show the name of the manufacturer, type, rating, date of purchase and date installed in service, location and removal date, date and reasons for tests, and the error before and after testing, indicated by the words ‘‘as found’’ and ‘‘as left.’’ This record shall be kept for 6 years.
(e) Installation test. A steam service meter installed shall be tested for accuracy by the public utility before its installation, or shall be tested within 12 calendar months after installation. It shall also be inspected by the public utility for proper connection, mechanical condition, and suitability of location within 60 days after installation.
(f) Request test. Upon payment of the fee specified in § 1.43 (relating to schedule of fees payable to the Commission), each public utility shall make a test of the accuracy of registration of any service meter if a written request is made by the customer for whom the meter is installed. A customer may require the seal of the meter to be broken in his presence or that of his representative if he desires personally or by a representative to witness the testing of a meter. The fee shall be retained by the utility if the tested meter is found to be accurate within the limits specified in subsections (a) or (b). However, the cost shall be borne by the utility and the fee returned to the customer if the tested meter is found to be inaccurate. A report of the test shall be made to the customer.
(g) Fees for testing appliances of public utilities. For testing the measuring apparatus and condensation meters of public utilities the Commission will charge and collect from such utilities the following fees:
(1) For a testing facility tested at the plant of a company—$15.
(2) For a condensation meter tested at a Commission laboratory—$3. This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 61.21 (relating to adjustment of bills for meter error).
(a) Fast meters. If, upon test of a meter, the meter is found to have an error of more than 4% fast, the public utility shall refund to the customer the overcharge, based upon the corrected meter reading for a period equal to 1/2 the time elapsed since the last previous test, but not to exceed 3 months. If the period of registration error can be definitely fixed, the overcharge shall be computed for the period. If the meter has not been tested in accordance with § 61.20 (relating to meter tests), the period for which it has been in service beyond the regular test period shall be added to the 3 months in computing the refund.
(b) Slow meters. If, upon test of a meter, the meter is found to have an error of more than 4% slow, the public utility may render a bill for the steam consumed, but not covered by bills previously rendered, for a period equal to 1/2 of the time elapsed since the last previous test, but not to exceed 3 months. If the period of registration error can be definitely fixed, the charge may be computed for the period.
(c) Nonregistering meters. If a meter is found not to have registered for a period, the public utility shall compute the steam used by taking the average of the steam used for the nearest meter-reading period immediately preceding and the meter-reading period immediately following the date when the meter was found to be not registering, the computation to be based upon the degree days in the different months of use, which amount shall be assumed to be the amount of steam used by the customer during the billing period in which the meter was found not to have registered. Exceptions shall be made to this rule only where the facts clearly show that the stated method does not give the correct consumption for the period.
In the event of a dispute between a customer and a public utility respecting a bill, the utility shall immediately make the investigation required by the particular case and report the result of the investigation to the customer.
(a) Access to meters. For purposes of maintenance and operation, each public utility shall at all reasonable times have access to meters, service lines and other property owned by it on the premises of customers. Neglect or refusal on the part of customers to provide reasonable access to their premises for these purposes shall constitute sufficient cause for discontinuance of service.
(b) Notice of discontinuance. No public utility may discontinue service to a customer for violation of its rules and regulations or for nonpayment of bills without a diligent attempt to induce the customer to comply with the rules and regulations, or to pay such bills when due. Service shall not be discontinued until after at least 24-hour written notice has been given by the utility that bills are five or more days delinquent, or that the violation of rules shall cease. If fraudulent use of steam is detected, or if the measuring equipment of the utility has been tampered with, or if a dangerous condition is found to exist on the premises of customers, the steam may be shut off without advance notice.
A customer who is about to vacate any premises supplied with service by a public utility, or who for any reason wishes to have service discontinued, shall give at least 24-hour written notice to the utility, specifying the date on which it is desired that service be discontinued. The service discontinuance shall be under the terms in the rules and regulations of the utility filed with the Commission. In the absence of notice, the customer shall be responsible for service rendered.
(a) Noncompliance with rules and regulations. A public utility may decline to serve an applicant until he has complied with Commonwealth and municipal regulations governing steam heat service and the approved rules and regulations of the utility.
(b) Inadequate facilities of utility. A public utility may decline to serve an applicant if it does not have adequate facilities to render the service desired, or if the service is of a character that is likely to unfavorably affect service to other customers.
(c) Inadequate facilities of applicant. A public utility may refuse to serve an applicant if, in its judgment, installation of the piping of the applicant is regarded as hazardous or of a character that satisfactory service cannot be given.
In the case of temporary service for short-term use, a public utility may require the customer to pay the costs of making the service connection and removing the material after the service has been discontinued, or to pay a fixed amount in advance to cover such expenses. However, if the material is removed, the customer shall be credited with the reasonable salvage which the public utility will receive on discontinuance of service.
A public utility shall keep complete maps, plans and records of its entire distribution and other system showing the size, character and location of each main, district regulator, expansion joint, street valve and trap and each service connection, together with other information that may be necessary. The maps, plans and records required by this section shall be kept up to date so that the utility may furnish promptly and accurately copies of its maps or any information regarding its facilities upon request by the Commission. Special surveys to locate such facilities are not generally required if existing plans are inadequate.
Under 66 Pa.C.S. § § 504 and 3301 (relating to reports by public utilities; and civil penalties for violations), the Commission may require a public utility to file, and invoke penalties for failure to file, certain reports. In this regard, the following apply:
(1) Unless prior permission to do otherwise is granted, a public utility, other than transportation, subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, shall file annual financial reports with the Commission by April 30 immediately following the reporting year, for reports based upon the calendar year; or by July 31 immediately following the reporting year, for reports permitted to be based upon the fiscal year ending May 31. A request for an extension of time for filing an annual report shall be submitted to the Commission prior to the filing dates specified in this paragraph.
(2) If a public utility, other than transportation, fails to file its annual report in compliance with this section, the public utility may be subject to a penalty as provided under 66 Pa.C.S. § 3301. Continued failure to file annual reports may result in additional penalties. The provisions of this § 61.28 issued under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 501 and 504. The provisions of this § 61.28 adopted May 6, 1988, effective May 7, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 2106. This section cited in 52 Pa. Code § 101.2 (relating to definitions); and 52 Pa. Code § 101.4 (relating to reporting requirements).
Each public utility shall keep its accounts in conformity with the ‘‘Uniform Classification of Accounts’’ (18 CFR Part 101).
Service line of the customer—The pipe of the customer which extends from the utility service line to the point of utilization.
§ 61.11. Accidents.
§ 61.12. Interruptions of service.
§ 61.13. Complaints.
§ 61.14. Records.
§ 61.15. Change in character of service.
§ 61.16. Use of meter.
§ 61.17. Utility to provide meters.
§ 61.18. Location of meters.
§ 61.19. Testing facilities.
§ 61.20. Meter tests.
§ 61.21. Adjustment of bills for meter error.
§ 61.22. Disputed bills.
§ 61.23. Access to meters and discontinuance of service.
§ 61.24. Notice of desire to have service discontinued.
§ 61.25. Refusal to serve applicants.
§ 61.26. Temporary service.
§ 61.27. Maps, plans and records.
§ 61.28. Filing of annual financial reports.
§ 61.31. Systems of accounts.
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