Proposed Legislation in Pennsylvania Would Give Public Utility Commission Regulatory Powers over Gas Lines
This post was written by Luke Liben and Nicolle Bagnell.
The Pennsylvania Senate recently approved House Bill 344 that would give the state’s Public Utility Commission (PUC) regulatory oversight of any and all natural gas pipelines in Pennsylvania. Pursuant to this power, the PUC would be permitted to conduct safety inspections and investigations with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration. PUC would not, however, be required to deem any pipelines as public utilities, and the bill therefore avoids the extension of eminent domain powers. The bill’s sponsor, Representative Matt Baker, emphasized that “[o]ut of the 31 natural gas producing states in the nation, we are one of only two that does not have statutory authority to regulate natural gas pipelines within its boundaries.” Apparently agreeing with Rep. Baker that “[t]his is a public safety issue that needs to be corrected as soon as possible,” the bill was supported by the PUC, the United States Department of Transportation, and the Pennsylvania Consumer Advocate, among others.
The bill now goes back to the Pennsylvania House for concurrence.
