Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-111
Section 399.3 - Notices before service to landlord ratepayer discontinued(a) Except when required to prevent or alleviate an emergency or except in the case of danger to life or property, before any discontinuance of service within the utility's corporate limits, to a landlord ratepayer for nonpayment a public utility shall: (1) Notify the landlord ratepayer of the proposed discontinuance in writing as prescribed in section 5 at least 37 days before the date of discontinuance of service.(2) Notify the following agencies which serve the community in which the affected premises are located in writing at the time of delivery of notice to the tenants of the proposed discontinuance of service: (i) the Department of Licenses and Inspections of any city of the first class;(ii) the Department of Public Safety of any city of the second class, second class A, or third class; and(iii) the city or county Public Health Department or in the event that such a department does not exist, the Department of Health office responsible for that county.(3) Notify each residential unit reasonably likely to be occupied by an affected tenant of the proposed discontinuance in writing as prescribed in section 6 at least seven days after notice to the landlord ratepayer pursuant to this section, and at least 30 days before any such discontinuance of service. However, if within seven days of receipt of the notice issued pursuant to this section, the landlord ratepayer files a petition with the court disputing the right of the utility to discontinue service, such notice shall not be rendered until such petition has been adjudicated by the court.(b) Before any discontinuance of service by a public utility to a landlord ratepayer due to a request for voluntary relinquishment of service by the landlord ratepayer: (1) the landlord ratepayer shall state in a form bearing his notarized signature that all of the affected dwelling units are either unoccupied or the tenants affected by the proposed discontinuance have consented in writing to the proposed discontinuance, which form shall conspicuously bear a notice that false statements are punishable criminally;(2) all of the tenants affected by the proposed discontinuance shall inform the utility orally or in writing of their consent to the discontinuance; or(3) the landlord ratepayer shall provide the utility with the names and addresses of the affected tenants pursuant to section 4 and the utility shall notify the community service agencies and each residential unit pursuant to sections 3 and 6. Under the voluntary relinquishment discontinuance procedures of this subparagraph the tenants shall have all of the rights provided in sections 7 through 11. 1978, Nov. 26, P.L. 1255, No. 299, § 3, imd. effective. Affected 1980, Oct. 5, P.L. 693, No. 142, § 328, effective in 60 days.