THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY LEACH, STOUT, WASHINGTON, HUGHES AND COSTA, FEBRUARY 20, 2009

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, FEBRUARY 20, 2009  

AN ACT

Establishing a lending program in Commonwealth libraries for

electricity meters; creating a grant; and making an

appropriation.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Electricity

Meter Lending Program Act.

Section 2.  Purpose.

The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1)  There is an increasing need for the deployment of

innovative technologies that help Pennsylvania citizens to

shift or reduce their power consumption and costs.

(2)  It is the intent of this act to expand electricity

meter use and provide an expense-free and effortless way for

residents to discover the amount of electricity used by plug-

in appliances throughout the home.

(3)  It is the intent of this act to encourage consumers

to become more informed energy users and make decisions that

will reduce energy consumption, as well as encourage citizens

to consider newer high-efficiency appliances.

Section 3.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Electricity meter."  An electronic device that measures the

amount of electrical energy of a household appliance in kilowatt

hours.

"Grant."  A grant issued under the Electricity Meter Lending

Program established under this act.

"Library."  A local public library that receives funding from

the Commonwealth.

"Office."  The Office of Commonwealth Libraries within the

Department of Education of the Commonwealth.

"Program."  The Electricity Meter Lending Program established

under this act.

Section 4.  Electricity Meter Lending Program.

(a)  Establishment.--There is established the Electricity

Meter Lending Program within the Office of Commonwealth

Libraries. The purpose of the program is to provide grants to

libraries to provide electricity meters to lend to the public.

(b)  Eligibility.--A library that receives funding from the

Commonwealth is eligible to apply for a grant for funds to

purchase electricity meters and lend the electricity meters to

the public. A municipality in which a library is located may

also apply for a grant for the library. The office, in its

discretion, shall determine the amount of a grant award to a

library. The office shall consider the population of the

library's service area and may establish additional criteria for

awarding the grants.

(c)  Requirements.--A library receiving a grant shall use the

funds to purchase electricity meters and comply with the

provisions of section 5. The office shall monitor and verify

fulfillment of all of the requirements under this act.

Section 5.  Electricity meter lending.

(a)  Electricity meter lending.--A library receiving a grant

shall offer electricity meters for loan to the public.

(b)  Program materials.--The office shall provide and a

library receiving a grant shall make available to the public all

of the following materials:

(1)  Simple operating instructions for electricity

meters.

(2)  Information on how to calculate the cost of using

any appliance based on the reading on the device.

(3)  Energy conservation information.

(c)  Training.--At least one employee of a library receiving

a grant shall be knowledgeable about the electricity meter.

(d)  Procedures.--A library shall establish procedures for

the lending of electricity meters to the public.

Section 6.  Administration.

(a)  Enforcement.--The office shall enforce repayment of a

grant for a library that does not comply with the provisions of

this act, to include use of all lawful collection procedures and

the use of private collection agencies.

(b)  Appeals.--The provisions of this act shall be subject to

2 Pa.C.S. Ch. 5 Subch. A (relating to practice and procedure of

Commonwealth agencies).

Section 7.  Rules and regulations.

The office may promulgate rules and regulations to administer

and enforce this act.

Section 8.  Appropriation.

The sum of $40,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary,

is hereby appropriated to the Office of Commonwealth Libraries

within the Department of Education for the fiscal year July 1,

2009, to June 30, 2010, to carry out the provisions of this act.

Section 9.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.