The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) answered questions about their stance on impact fees: They don’t have one. The PUC will remain neutral and available to municipalities who need to approach them for advisement. The following news brief contains more information.
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PUC: Neutral on Shale Drilling
ESSENTIAL PUBLIC RADIO
By Mary Wilson and Essential Public Radio staff
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
As part of Pennsylvania’s new Marcellus Shale drilling laws, the state Public Utility Commission will soon assume new regulatory duties. Members of the state Public Utility Commission said they won’t be advocating for or against impact fees in any of the counties that host natural gas wells. But in some cases, they may have to come down on one side of the issue or the other.
Drilling companies could appeal a local impact fee by going to the Commonwealth Court. PUC chairman Robert Powelson said he doesn’t think that’s any different than what public utilities do today. “They go to the Commonwealth Court on an appeal basis. We’d have to represent our position and defend it, and we tend to win,” said Powelson.
