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Read. Follow. Verify.Pennsylvania House Bill 172 Modifies Public Utility Billing and Prohibits Back-Billing Beyond 12 Months
Last action · January 28, 2026: Referred to CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND UTILITIES, Jan. 28, 2026Sponsors: John Lawrence and 10 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Pennsylvania House Bill 172 updates public utility billing regulations by prohibiting utilities from billing for s that accrued more than 12 months prior, with exceptions for fraud, theft, meter tampering, or regulatory proceedings. The legislation also maintains standard payment periods of at least 20 days for residential customers and 15 days for nonresidential customers without late penalties, and ensures monthly billing rights and itemization requirements. The measure takes effect in 60 days.
Residential and commercial utility customers are protected from receiving surprise back-bills for service consumed more than a year ago, while public utilities must adjust their interim billing and fuel adjustment calculations accordingly.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
residential customers
Residential customers are guaranteed at least 20 days to pay bills without penalties, the right to monthly billing, and protection from back-billing beyond 12 months.
nonresidential customers
Nonresidential customers are guaranteed at least 15 days to pay bills without penalties, excluding installation charges.
public utilities
Public utilities must comply with restrictions on back-billing past 12 months, itemize specific taxes and charges on bills, and follow prescribed methods for calculating fuel adjustment charges.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do residential customers have to pay utility bills without a late fee?
Can a utility send a bill for services used more than a year ago?
Do utility customers have the right to receive monthly bills?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 28, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred to CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND UTILITIES, Jan. 28, 2026
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 6 more sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.palegis.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance50How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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