Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 49, December 7, 2024
Section 56.16 - Transfer of accounts(a) A customer who is about to vacate premises supplied with public utility service or who wishes to have service discontinued shall give at least 7 days notice to the public utility and a noncustomer occupant, specifying the date on which it is desired that service be discontinued. In the absence of a notice, the customer shall be responsible for services rendered. After a reasonable attempt to obtain meter access, if the public utility is not able to access the meter for discontinuance, service shall be discontinued with an estimated meter reading upon which the final bill will be based. The resulting final bill is subject to adjustment once the public utility has obtained an actual meter reading.(b) In the event of discontinuance or termination of service at a residence or dwelling in accordance with this chapter, a public utility may transfer an unpaid balance to a new residential service account of the same customer.(c) If a termination notice has been issued in accordance with § 56.91 (relating to general notice provisions and contents of termination notice) and subsequent to the mailing or delivery of that notice, the customer requests a transfer of service to a new location, the termination process in § § 56.91-56.99 may continue at the new location.(1) When notifications set forth under § 56.91 and § 56.95 (relating to deferred termination when no prior contact) have been rendered and service has not been terminated due to a denial of access to the premises, the public utility may deny service at a new location when a service transfer is requested.(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the right of a customer to dispute a bill within the meaning of § § 56.141-56.143 (relating to dispute procedures; time for filing an informal complaint; and effect of failure to timely file an informal complaint).The provisions of this § 56.16 adopted June 16, 1978, effective 6/17/1978, 8 Pa.B. 1655; amended April 8, 1983, effective 4/9/1983, 13 Pa.B. 1250; amended October 7, 2011, effective 10/8/2011, 41 Pa.B. 5473.The provisions of this § 56.16 amended under the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. § § 331, 501, 504, 1301, 1305, 1401-1419, 1501 and 1504.