Appendix C. DEFINITIONS (§ 56.231)

This data dictionary and the following definitions are to be used in relation to the reporting requirements in § 56.231 (relating to reporting requirements).

Annual collections operating expenses—Use the definition in § 54.72 or § 62.2, ‘‘include administrative expenses associated with termination activity, field visits, negotiating payment arrangements, budget counseling, investigation and resolving informal and formal complaints associated with payment arrangements, securing and maintaining deposits, tracking delinquent accounts, collection agencies’ expenses, litigation expenses other than already included, dunning expenses and winter survey expenses.’’ Report the cumulative total as of the end of the reporting period/year. Exclude customer assistance program expenses.

Annual residential billings—Report the cumulative total dollar amount in residential billings during the reporting period/year. This includes ‘‘normal tariff billings’’ and ‘‘miscellaneous billings.’’ The latter category includes billings for late payment fees.

Average monthly bill for the previous year for a heating customer—Report the aggregate average monthly bill by calculating the average of the 12 monthly average bills for heating customers. Report the average as of the end of the reporting period/year.

Average monthly bill for the previous year for a nonheating customer— Report the aggregate average monthly bill by calculating the average of the 12 monthly average bills for nonheating customers. Report the average as of the end of the reporting period/year.

Average monthly usage for a heating customer—Report the aggregate average monthly usage by calculating the average of the 12 monthly average usages for heating customers. Report the average as of the end of the reporting period/year.

Average monthly usage for a nonheating customer—Report the aggregate average monthly usage by calculating the average of the twelve monthly average usages for nonheating customers. Report the average as of the end of the reporting period/year.

dotal dollar amount of active residential accounts in arrears and not on a payment agreement—Report the total dollar amount as of the end of the reporting period/month. The due date should be considered to be day zero (0) in the determination of when account is overdue. Exclude customer assistance program recipients.

Total dollar amount of active residential accounts in arrears and on a payment agreement—Report the total dollar amount as of the end of the reporting period/month. The due date should be considered to be day zero (0) in the determination of when account is overdue. Exclude customer assistance program recipients.

Total dollar amount of gross residential write-offs—Report the cumulative total dollar amount as of the end of the reporting period/year. Do not include customer assistance program credits (revenue shortfall) or customer assistance program arrearage forgiveness in this category.

Total dollar amount of inactive residential accounts in arrears—An account that has been terminated or discontinued, the final bill due date has passed, and the amount owed has not yet been written off. Report the total dollar amount as of the end of the reporting period/month. The due date should be considered to be day zero (0) in the determination of when an account is overdue. A terminated or final-billed account becomes inactive on the day after the final bill is due and payable.

Total dollar amount of net residential write-offs—Net write-offs are calculated by subtracting recoveries from gross write-offs. Report the cumulative total dollar amount as of the end of the reporting period/year.

Total dollar amount in security deposits on-hand—Report the dollar amount as of the end of the reporting period/year. Exclude accrued interest.

Total dollar amount in security deposits that are requested or billed to applicants—Report the cumulative total dollar amount as of the end of the reporting period/month.

Total dollar amount in security deposits that are requested or billed to customers—Report the cumulative total dollar amount as of the end of the reporting period/month.

Total number of active residential accounts in arrears and not on a payment agreement—Report the total as of the end of the reporting period/month. The due date should be considered to be day zero (0) in the determination of when account is overdue. Exclude customer assistance program recipients.

Total number of active residential accounts in arrears and on a payment agreement—Report the total as of the end of the reporting period/month. The due date should be considered to be day zero (0) in the determination of when account is overdue. Exclude customer assistance program recipients.

Total number of applicants that are requested or billed a security deposit— Report the cumulative number as of the end of the reporting period/month.

Total number of customers that are requested or billed a security deposit— Report the cumulative number as of the end of the reporting period/month.

Total number of dwellings receiving termination notices sent to occupants other than the customer—The grounds for termination are customer nonpayment of usage-based billings or nonpayment of a security deposit. Use this category when the termination notice was delivered to someone other than the customer, for example, a termination notice to a tenant because of nonpayment of a landlord-ratepayer. This does not include copies of termination notices sent in accordance with the third-party notification procedures in § 56.131. Report the cumulative number as of the end of the reporting period/month. Include customer assistance program recipients.

Total number of 48-hour termination notices posted—The grounds for termination are customer nonpayment of usage-based billings or nonpayment of a security deposit. Report the cumulative number as of the end of the reporting period/month. Include customer assistance program recipients. The termination notice was posted at the customer’s residence in accordance with § 56.95.

Total number of inactive residential accounts in arrears—An account that has been terminated or discontinued, the final bill due date has passed, and the amount owed has not yet been written off. Report the total as of the end of the reporting period/month. The due date should be considered to be day zero (0) in the determination of when an account is overdue. A terminated or final-billed account becomes inactive on the day after the final bill is due and payable.

Total number of reconnections for customer submission of medical certification—Includes only reconnections because the customer has supplied the company with a valid medical certificate as the condition of reconnection. Report the cumulative number as of the end of the reporting period/month. Include customer assistance program recipients.

Total number of reconnections for full customer payment, partial payment or payment agreement—A reconnection is any residential account that was terminated for any reason covered under § 56.81 or § 56.98 and subsequently restored after the customer paid in full the outstanding balance of the account, made a partial payment or entered into a payment agreement regardless of whether the customer’s current status is that of applicant or customer per the definitions in § 56.2. Four criteria must be met: the reconnection is for the same customer/applicant that was terminated; the location of the reconnection is the same location as the location of the termination; the dollars in debt that are the subject of the customer payment and/or customer payment agreement are for the same customer/applicant while at the same location; and the time that has passed since the final bill due date does not exceed 4 years. Report the cumulative number as of the end of the reporting period/month. Include customer assistance program recipients.

Total number of reconnections for reasons other than customer payment or medical certification—Report the cumulative number as of the end of the reporting period/month. Include customer assistance program recipients.

Total number of residential heating customers—Report the number as of the end of the reporting period/month. Report each individually billed account under a unique residential account number and residential tariff rate (Count the number of residential bills that you issue). Include customer assistance program recipients.

Total number of residential nonheating customers—Report the number as of the end of the reporting period/month. Report each individually billed account under a unique residential account number and residential tariff rate (Count the number of residential bills that you issue). Include customer assistance program recipients.

Total number of security deposits on-hand—Report the number as of the end of the reporting period/year.

Total number of 10-day termination notices issued by the utility—The grounds for termination are customer nonpayment of usage-based billings or nonpayment of a security deposit. Report the cumulative number as of the end of the reporting period/month. Include customer assistance program recipients.

Total number of terminations for nonpayment—The grounds for termination are customer nonpayment of usage-based billings or nonpayment of a security deposit. Report the cumulative number as of the end of the reporting period/month. Include customer assistance program recipients.

Total number of terminations for nonpayment and reasons other than nonpayment categorized by the first three digits of each account’s postal code—The grounds for termination are customer nonpayment of usage-based billings or nonpayment of a security deposit, failure to permit access, unauthorized use of service, fraud, meter tampering, and safety. Report the cumulative number as of the end of the reporting period/month. Include customer assistance program recipients. Categorize by the first three digits of the postal code of the customer’s service address.

Total number of terminations for reasons other than nonpayment—The reasons for termination include failure to permit access, unauthorized use of service, fraud, meter tampering, and safety. Report the cumulative number as of the end of the reporting period/month. Include customer assistance program recipients.

Total number of 3-day termination notices completed by personal contact in person—The grounds for termination are customer nonpayment of usage-based billings or nonpayment of a security deposit. Report the cumulative number as of the end of the reporting period/month. Include customer assistance program recipients. The customer was contacted in person in accordance with § 56.93.

Total number of 3-day termination notices completed by telephone—The grounds for termination are customer nonpayment of usage-based billings or nonpayment of a security deposit. Report the cumulative number as of the end of the reporting period/month. Include customer assistance program recipients. The customer was contacted using the telephone in accordance with § 56.93.

Authority

The provisions of this Appendix C issued under Chapter 14 of the Public Utility Code, 66 Pa.C.S. Chapter 14.

Source

The provisions of this Appendix C adopted October 7, 2011, effective October 8, 2011, 41 Pa.B. 5473.

Cross References

This appendix cited in 52 Pa. Code § 56.231 (relating to reporting requirements).