HB 2330 (2025-2026 Session) – Pennsylvania
Summary for readers
Overview
- Purpose: The bill amends Title 66 (Public Utilities) to create and regulate a master-meter system and submetering program for landlord ratepayers, and to establish related programs. The aim appears to address how utility charges are billed when a master-meter system is used and how tenants may be charged through submeters, with the state providing structure and oversight.
- Status: Referred on 2026-04-21 to the Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities committee.
- Principal sponsors: Rep. Ben Sanchez (co-sponsors: Tom Mehaffie, Joe Ciresi, Carol Hill-Evans).
What the bill would do (key provisions and changes)
1. Master-meter system and submeters for landlord ratepayers
- Creates a framework under Title 66 for master-meter billing arrangements where a single meter (master meter) measures a building’s total utility usage, which is then submetered to individual tenants.
- Establishes definitions and administrative rules governing when master meters and submeters may be used, including responsibilities of landlords, submeters, and administrators in the process.
Program establishment and administration
- Authorizes the designation or creation of programs related to master-meter and submetering arrangements. These programs would likely set standards for billing, maintenance, measurement accuracy, disputes, and consumer protections for tenants.
- Potentially includes requirements around disclosure, notices to tenants, and enforcement mechanisms to ensure fair practices in billing and service provision.
Consumer protection and utility oversight
- The bill introduces protections for tenants who are charged through submeters, aiming to ensure accurate billing, prevent double-charging, and provide avenues for dispute resolution.
- May outline penalties or remedies for landlords or utility providers failing to comply with the master-meter/submetering requirements.
Interaction with existing utility law
- The amendments sit within Title 66 (Public Utilities), indicating alignment with Pennsylvania’s utility regulation framework, including responsibilities of utility companies and oversight by state agencies.
Who would be affected
- Landlords and property owners who operate multi-unit buildings with master-metered utilities.
- Tenants living in buildings that use master-meter and submeters for utility charges.
- Utility providers and municipal or state agencies responsible for enforcing utility regulations.
- Local governments or housing authorities may interface with the program if administered at the state level.
Key procedural and timeline aspects
- Introduction and referral: The bill has been referred to the Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities committee (as of 2026-04-21).
- Next steps: Committee review, potential amendments, and eventual floor consideration in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. If enacted, regulations and program guidelines would need to be implemented by the relevant state department or agency designated by the bill.
Notes and considerations
- Specific dollar amounts, precise program structures, and enforcement details are not provided in the brief text available here. The bill’s full text would clarify:
- Definitions of “master-meter,” “submeter,” and related terms.
- Procedures for tenant notification, dispute resolution, and billing accuracy standards.
- Any funding, reporting, or performance benchmarks for the establishing programs.
- Transition rules for buildings currently using master-meter systems.
This summary focuses on the bill’s stated aims to regulate master-meter and submetering arrangements and to establish related programs under the Pennsylvania Public Utilities framework, with attention to tenant protections and landlord responsibilities.
