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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2025 - 2026
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 2, 2024 10:53 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator John I. Kane |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Water Ratepayer Bill of Rights |
| In the near future, I will reintroduce Senate Bill 432. The legislation creates a Water Ratepayer Bill of Rights. Previous co-sponsors included Senators Kearney, Fontana, Collett, Street, Costa, Comitta, and Santarsiero. I have been contacted by numerous constituents that are concerned with the possible sale of a local water authority to a private for-profit company. They are concerned that the ratepayers do not have a voice or vote in this process. The purpose of the legislation is to ensure residential customers all over the state have input when a municipal water or wastewater authority may be acquired by a private for-profit company. This comprehensive bill will require a selling authority to conduct a ratepayer referendum where customers will be able to vote yes or no on whether they want their water or wastewater authority to be acquired by a for-profit private water company. This process will give water authority ratepayers the ability to approve or disapprove of water authority sales. It will also allow water authority ratepayers the time and process to raise issues they may have with a possible water utility acquisition. This bill will also require water and wastewater private for-profit companies to publish an annual report with information regarding what they charge for water and wastewater services and the previous charge for services by the acquired water authority. This will prevent utilities from inflating their costs to residential consumers by providing transparency on the costs of water and wastewater services before and after an acquisition. The legislation will ensure accountability of the utilities that serve residents where they live, work, and raise their families. We need a system that gives ratepayers a voice and shared information to ensure their families are receiving safe services. Ratepayers deserve a fair deal. Please join me so we can create a better system that provides water ratepayers with transparency and rights. |
Memo Updated: December 2, 2024 10:54 AM