OCA Annual Report 2014-2015

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

OCA Annual Report 2014-2015 Annual Report of the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Tanya J. McCloskey Acting Consumer Advocate 555 Walnut Street 5th Floor, Forum Place Harrisburg, PA 17101-1923 (717) 783-5048 Office (717) 783-7152 Fax 800-684-6560 E-mail Address: [email protected] Internet: www.oca.state.pa.us Issued: November 2015 210808 Office of Consumer Advocate Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Page i __________________________________________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1 ELECTRIC ..................................................................................................................... 5 Pennsylvania ...................................................................................................... 5 Duquesne Light ....................................................................................... 5 FirstEnergy Companies: Metropolitan Edison, Pennsylvania Electric, Pennsylvania Power, West Penn Power ................................ 7 PECO Energy ........................................................................................ 14 Pike County Light & Power .................................................................. 17 PPL Electric ........................................................................................... 18 Citizens’ Electric and Wellsboro Electric ............................................ 25 Electric Generation Suppliers ............................................................... 27 Generic Policy Cases ........................................................................... 37 Federal and Regional ....................................................................................... 40 FERC Electric Cases ............................................................................. 40 PJM ........................................................................................................ 42 NATURAL GAS ........................................................................................................... 44 Pennsylvania .................................................................................................... 44 Columbia Gas ........................................................................................ 44 PECO Gas ............................................................................................... 47 Peoples Natural Gas, Peoples Equitable, and Peoples TWP ............. 48 Philadelphia Gas Works ....................................................................... 51 Pike County ........................................................................................... 53 Office of Consumer Advocate Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Page ii __________________________________________________________________________________________________ UGI Companies: UGI Gas, UGI Central Penn Gas, UGI Penn Natural Gas .......................................................................................................... 53 Small Gas Companies .......................................................................... 56 Other Gas Cases ................................................................................... 56 Rulemakings and Policy Proceedings ................................................. 59 Purchased Gas Cost Cases ................................................................. 62 2015 Cases .................................................................................. 63 2014 Cases .................................................................................. 67 Federal .............................................................................................................. 70 FERC Gas Cases ................................................................................... 70 TELECOMMUNICATIONS .......................................................................................... 73 Pennsylvania .................................................................................................... 73 Chapter 30 (Act 183) Related Proceedings ......................................... 73 Other Proceedings ................................................................................ 74 Rulemakings .......................................................................................... 77 Federal .............................................................................................................. 77 FCC Proceedings .................................................................................. 77 WATER AND WASTEWATER .................................................................................... 81 Base Rate Proceedings ................................................................................... 81 Applications, Petitions, and Investigations ................................................... 97 CONSUMER COMPLAINT PROCEEDINGS ............................................................. 104 Electric Cases ................................................................................................. 104 CONSUMER AND LEGISLATIVE OUTREACH ........................................................ 106 Testimony, Presentations, and Speaking Engagements ........................... 106 Office of Consumer Advocate Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Page iii __________________________________________________________________________________________________ OCA CALL CENTER ................................................................................................. 112 SERVICE TO PENNSYLVANIA AND THE NATION ................................................. 114 Participation in NASUCA and in Other Consumer Interest Organizations .................................................................................... 114 OCA STAFF ............................................................................................................... 116 Office of Consumer Advocate Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Page 1 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION The Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) has served Pennsylvania utility consumers since its establishment by the General Assembly in 1976. The OCA is a statutorily independent office, administratively included within the Office of Attorney General. The OCA represents Pennsylvania utility consumers in matters before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) and other state and federal regulatory agencies and courts. The OCA participates before the PUC in all major rate cases, most small rate cases, and many non-rate proceedings that have a significant impact on consumers. The OCA also participates in matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that have a substantial impact on Pennsylvania consumers. The OCA participates actively on policy-making committees of non-government organizations such as the PJM Regional Transmission Operator (RTO), whose decisions have a critical impact on electric prices and service in Pennsylvania. Through our consumer education outreach, website, and toll-free call center, the OCA also seeks to ensure that consumers are informed regarding changes in their utility service. In recent years, the OCA has continued to work on proceedings resulting from major state and federal legislative changes impacting utility consumers, such as rulemakings and implementation orders regarding electric and natural gas restructuring, as well as regulatory requirements for basic and advanced telecommunications services. In Fiscal Year 2014-2015, the OCA participated in ongoing proceedings involving the implementation of Act 11 of 2012, which includes, among other things, a Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC) for electric, natural gas, water, and wastewater utilities, and a fully projected future test year. Many filings were made to establish DSICs, and numerous rate filings included the use of a fully projected future test year. The OCA serves as the voice of Pennsylvania utility consumers as the utility industries continue to evolve from a fully regulated to a partially regulated, partially competitive structure. The OCA has evolved as well in order to ensure that Pennsylvania consumers receive the benefits – and avoid the potential harms – that these industry changes bring about. Office of Consumer Advocate Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Page 2 __________________________________________________________________________________________________ In the electric industry, the OCA continued its complaints against a number of electric generation suppliers regarding the variable rates charged to customers during early 2014. The OCA also actively participated in a number of rulemakings before the PUC to address proposed changes in disclosure requirements, and switching time frames. Also during 2014, the OCA participated in company-specific petitions related to the new rules. In addition, the OCA has sought to ensure that customers continue to be protected through the development of stable, reasonably priced "default” service. Pursuant to Act 129, the OCA continues to participate in all default service filings of electric distribution companies to ensure that those companies provide reliable default generation service to their customers at the least cost over time. The OCA also continues
Recommended publications
  • House of Representatives
    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JOINT SENATE AGING & YOUTH COMMITTEE AND HOUSE AGING & OLDER ADULT SERVICES COMMITTEE HEARING STATE CAPITOL 8E-B EAST WING HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016 IN RE: INDEPENDENT ENROLLMENT BROKER (IEB) MAXIMUS BEFORE: SENATOR MICHELE BROOKS, MAJORITY CHAIRMAN SENATOR ART HAYWOOD, MINORITY CHAIRMAN SENATOR LISA BAKER SENATOR THOMAS McGARRIGLE SENATOR BOB MENSCH SENATOR JOHN SABATINA SENATOR RANDY VULAKOVICH HONORABLE TIM HENNESSEY, MAJORITY CHAIRMAN HONORABLE STEVE SAMUELSON, MINORITY CHAIRMAN HONORABLE CRIS DUSH HONORABLE HAL ENGLISH HONORABLE MARK GILLEN HONORABLE RICHARD IRVIN HONORABLE BARRY JOZWIAK HONORABLE KATE ANNE KLUNK HONORABLE STEVEN MENTZER HONORABLE ERIC NELSON HONORABLE MIKE PEIFER HONORABLE CRAIG STAATS ————————— JEAN DAVIS REPORTING POST OFFICE BOX 125 • HERSHEY, PA 17033 Phone (717)503-6568 1 APPEARANCES (cont'd.) 2 HONORABLE DONNA BULLOCK HONORABLE MARY JO DALEY 3 HONORABLE PAMELA DeLISSIO HONORABLE MICHAEL DRISCOLL 4 HONORABLE MARK LONGIETTI HONORABLE ADAM RAVENSTAHL 5 HONORABLE LYNWOOD SAVAGE 6 7 ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: 8 HONORABLE ROSEMARY BROWN HONORABLE LYNDA SCHLEGEL CULVER 9 HONORABLE DONNA OBERLANDER HONORABLE TINA PICKETT 10 CHLOE ZITTLE, DIRECTOR, SENATE AGING & YOUTH COMMITTEE, 11 REPUBLICAN CAUCUS LIANA WALTERS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SENATE AGING & YOUTH 12 COMMITTEE, DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS ERIN RAUB, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HOUSE AGING & OLDER ADULT 13 SERVICES COMMITTEE, REPUBLICAN CAUCUS LAUREN ROONEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HOUSE AGING & OLDER 14 ADULT
    [Show full text]
  • March 14, 2016 Senator David G. Argall, Chairman Senate Majority
    March 14, 2016 Senator David G. Argall, Chairman Senate Majority Policy Committee Senate Box 203029 State Capitol Building Harrisburg, PA 17120 Re: Public Hearing on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Dear Sen. Argall: On behalf of our more than 7,500 members, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) would like to highlight the positive societal and economic benefits of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology. AUVSI is the world’s largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to advancing unmanned systems. It is clear that, once a federal regulatory framework is established, a burgeoning UAS market is waiting to be unleashed in Pennsylvania. According to an AUVSI study, during the first 10 years after UAS are integrated into the national airspace, nearly 3,000 jobs are forecasted to be created in Pennsylvania along with over $2.36 billion in economic impact. In fact, since the FAA announced it would grant exemptions for certain low-risk commercial UAS operations in May 2014, more than three dozen Pennsylvania businesses have already received permission to use unmanned aircraft for a variety of applications. For example, Agscan, based in Broomall, received a commercial exemption to examine the condition of crops across the state. Joshua Brown, a Navy veteran and an expert in search and rescue, founded the company in 2014 and uses UAS to assess an acre of crops each minute, detecting abnormalities that are not always visible to the human eye. Using aerial data the UAS collects, AgScan can quickly identify crops that need attention for irrigation or insect problems. Another example is Pittsburgh-based Identified Technologies, which has built its business around collecting visual, infrared and gas data with UAS.
    [Show full text]
  • Legislative Locator Legislative Locator
    Legislative Locator Legislative Locator A Monthly Publication of The Pennsylvania Municipal League May 2019 TAKE ACTION! Attention Local Officials: Please reach out to your Senators and members of the Senate Transportation Committee where Senate Bill 607 awaits a vote - and express your support! Senate Bill 607 (PN 675) authorizes the use of radar and LIDAR for all municipal police. This proposal is supported by the Radar Coalition, which includes The League and PSATC. Please consider adopting a resolution supporting local use of radar in your municipality. We are providing a sample resolution on our website. If you have adopted a resolution in past sessions, it should be updated. In addition, we are providing a sample press release to use after adopting a resolution to let your residents know that municipal radar is a priority in your community and to encourage them to advocate for the passage of Senate Bill 607, too. Three other proposals have been introduced this session, which include provisions that authorize the restricted use of radar, they are: House Bill 74 (PN 78), introduced by Representative Greg Rothman; House Bill 352 (PN 328), introduced by Representative Bill Kortz; and House Bill 1275 (PN 1483), introduced by Representative Kurt Masser. The League and PSATC currently do not support these proposals as drafted due to their restrictive nature. All three of these bills are currently before the House Transportation Committee. (See SB 607 summary on next page) 1 Leisatie Locato Leisatie Locato Local Use of Radar and LIDAR Senate Bill 607 (PN 675), introduced by Senator Mario Scavello, amends Title 75 (Vehicles) authorizing the local use of both radar and LIDAR by any police officer.
    [Show full text]
  • LEG REG REVIEW 2012, 30Th Issue November 7, 2012
    LEG REG REVIEW 2012, 30th Issue November 7, 2012 LEG REG REVIEW is a periodic newsletter produced by PHILLIPS ASSOCIATES, a professional lobbying and consultant firm located near the State Capitol. It contains news on the legislative and regulatory scene in Pennsylvania that may be of interest to the Insurance and Business Communities. It is a free member benefit for those who are members of the Pennsylvania Association of Health Underwriters (PAHU) or Manufacturers Association of South Central PA (MASCPA). Subscription information may be obtained by contacting PHILLIPS ASSOCIATES at 717/728-1217 FAX 717/728-1164 or e-mail to [email protected]. Please email [email protected] supplying both your name and e-mail address if you wish to be removed from this list. DEMOCRATS TAKE TOP OFFICES In addition to winning the state for Barack Obama, Pennsylvania Democrats carried the day in the other top races. Senator Bob Casey, Jr. won with 53.6% over Tom Smith (44.7%). Kathleen Kane triumphed over David Freed 56.1% to 41.6% in the race for Attorney General. A Democrat has never held the office of Attorney General. State Treasurer Rob McCord won re-election 52.5% to 44% over Diana Irey Vaughan. The closest race pitted two incumbent House members against each other but ultimately Democrat Eugene DePasquale from York overpowered Republican John Maher (Allegheny/Washington) 49.7% to 46.5%. In this race, the Libertarian candidate Betsy Elizabeth Summers drew 3.8% of the vote, potentially enough to swing the decision. REPUBLICAN CONSOLATION PRIZE: The PA Congressional Delegation In one of the hottest races nationally, Republican Keith Rothfus took incumbent Mark Critz’ western and southwestern PA congressional seat with 51.5% of the vote.
    [Show full text]
  • Legislative Scorecard
    2020 LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 .........................................SCORING METHODOLOGY 05 ..................... LETTER FROM THE STATE DIRECTOR 06 .................................................... BILL DESCRIPTIONS 14 ............................................................... SENATE VOTES 18 ..................................................................HOUSE VOTES www.AmericansForProsperity.org/Pennsylvania 3 FELLOW PENNSYLVANIANS, Thank you for your interest in the 2019-2020 Americans for Prosperity- Pennsylvania (AFP-PA) Legislative Scorecard. Our goal with the scorecard is simple: to make the government more accountable to the people. People are capable of extraordinary things when provided with the freedom and opportunity to do so. Based on that belief, our team of dedicated staff and activists works tirelessly on the most pressing public policy issues of our time to remove barriers to opportunity to ensure that every Pennsylvanian can reach their full potential, and have the best shot at their unique version of the American Dream. Through continuous engagement, our grassroots activists across the Keystone State build connections between lawmakers and the constituents they serve to transform the key institution of government. It begins with welcoming everyday citizens that are motivated to join our charge so that we can elevate and amplify their voices in public policy—making them more powerful and influential than they could be on their own. It comes full circle when AFP-PA successfully mobilizes activists in support of principled policy leadership or to hold lawmakers accountable for harmful policies. It is about consistently pushing activists and lawmakers alike to be better and make a difference. From building diverse coalitions or providing lawmakers with the support they need to stand on principle, this approach has allowed our organization to emerge as a change-maker in the state.
    [Show full text]
  • 31, 2019 Around the Rotunda
    October 25 - 31, 2019 Report provided courtesy of: KSA Group Contents Around the Rotunda Around the Rotunda ...... 1 Committee News ......... 1 No Around the Rotunda this week. Bullet.in.Points .......... 14 Committee News Cosponsor Memos ....... 14 Bill Actions ............. 14 House Democratic Policy Committee 10/28/19, 10:00 a.m., Room 414 Main Capitol Upcoming Events ........ 23 By Matt Hess, Pennsylvania Legislative Services In the News ............. 24 The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 1078. SESSION STATUS At 1:22 p.m. on Wednesday, HB 1078 Marshall, Jim - (PN 1238) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in general provisions, October 30, 2019 the Senate further providing for definitions; and, in miscellaneous provisions, providing for autonomous stands in recess until Monday, vehicles and imposing a penalty. The bill adds chapters providing for autonomous vehicles November 18, 2019 at 1:00 and autonomous shuttle vehicles. Effective in 90 days. p.m., unless sooner recalled by the President Pro Tempore. Rep. Kim thanked Chairman Sturla for holding the hearing and Rep. Marshall for sponsoring the legislation. “One of the biggest complaints in my district is the lack of reliable At 2:29 p.m. on Wednesday, transportation,” she stated. “Today’s goal is to explore if this makes sense, what does it October 30, 2019 the House look like, and to see if we can do it in Harrisburg. If we can, let’s farm it out to the rest of the stands adjourned until commonwealth so we can be a leader. This bill would open the doors to allowing us to have Monday, November 18, 2019 it on public roads.
    [Show full text]
  • Expanding Pharmacist-Provided Immunization Opportunities
    Expanding Pharmacist-Provided Immunization Opportunities House Bill 91 and Senate Bill 274 Legislation: • House Bill 91 - introduced by Representative Seth Grove - currently in the House Health Committee. • Senate Bill 274 - introduced by Senator Judy Ward - currently in the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee. Ask your legislators: • Ask your Representatives to vote for House Bill 91. • Ask your Senators to vote for SB 274. Facts About Immunizations: • Currently in Pennsylvania, there are approximately 9,500 certified pharmacist immunizers available to safely and conveniently administer vaccinations. • According to a 2008 article in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, “With supporting health policy, health education, and communication, health care settings beyond the traditional medical home (e.g. pharmacists) have the potential to effectively augment the vaccination efforts of more traditional settings to deliver vaccines to adolescents.” • Thirteen other states have no age restrictions for pharmacists providing immunizations. • Thirty-six states allow pharmacists to provide all immunizations to children of younger ages than provided in Pennsylvania. PPA supports expanding pharmacist-provided immunization opportunities because: • The public's unique access to pharmacists – including extended hours of operation and weekend availability, coupled with being a trusted health care professional – places pharmacies in an ideal position to have a major impact on reducing vaccine-preventable illness. • Pharmacists are trained to administer immunizations and are a trusted partner in patients overall health care. Talking Point Sheet for Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Students ONLY (Not for Distribution) House Co-Sponsor list: House Bill 91 sponsored by Rep. Seth Grove (R-196th District) Is your Representative a Co-Sponsor? If your Representative is a current co-sponsor of House Bill 91 (listed below), be sure to thank them.
    [Show full text]
  • Senate Leaders • Sen
    The Pennsylvania House and Senate announced their 2019-2020 committee leaders. Why should I care? Committee leaders are influential members of the Pa. General Assembly. Strong relationships between them, PAMED, and physician members are key. Here are the announced committee leaders. While it may seem like some of them have nothing to do with the practice of medicine, all chairs are included because history has shown that legislation that affects physicians can get assigned to a seemingly unrelated committee due to the bill’s contents. Therefore, it’s good for physicians to be aware of all committee leaders in the Pa. General Assembly. Senate Leaders • Sen. Joe Scarnati (Jefferson) – President Pro Tempore • Sen. Jake Corman (Centre) – Majority Leader • Sen. Patrick Browne (Lehigh) – Appropriations Chairman • Sen. John Gordner (Columbia) – Majority Whip • Sen. Bob Mensch (Montgomery) – Caucus Chair • Sen. Richard Alloway (Franklin) – Caucus Secretary • Sen. David Argall (Schuylkill) – Policy Chair • Sen. Jay Costa (Allegheny) – Minority Leader • Sen. Vincent Hughes (Philadelphia) – Appropriations Chairman • Sen. Anthony Williams (Philadelphia) – Minority Whip • Sen. Wayne Fontana (Allegheny) – Caucus Chair • Sen. Larry Farnese (Philadelphia) – Caucus Secretary • Sen. John Blake (Lackawanna) – Caucus Administrator • Sen. Lisa Boscola (Northampton) – Policy Chair Aging & Youth • Sen. John DiSanto – R, Dauphin and Perry counties • Sen. Maria Collett – D, Bucks and Montgomery counties Agriculture & Rural Affairs • Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. – R, Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence counties • Sen. Judy Schwank – D, Berks County Appropriations • Sen. Pat Browne – R, Lehigh County • Sen. Vincent Hughes – D, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties Banking & Insurance* • Sen. Don White – R, Armstrong, Butler, Indiana, and Westmoreland counties • Sen. Sharif Street – D, Philadelphia County Communications & Technology • Sen.
    [Show full text]
  • Candidate Listing - Post Primary 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 11/03/2020 (GENERAL ) DATE/TIME : 8/4/2020 4:21:45 PM Page 1 of 31
    PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU OF COMMISSIONS, ELECTIONS AND LEGISLATION DEPARTMENT OF STATE POST PRIMARY Candidate Listing - Post Primary 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 11/03/2020 (GENERAL ) DATE/TIME : 8/4/2020 4:21:45 PM Page 1 of 31 Candidate ID Party Candidate Name Address City Zip County PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES --Statewide 2020C0962 DEM JOSEPH R BIDEN PO BOX 58174 PHILADELPHIA PA 19102- 2020C0476 REP DONALD J TRUMP P.O. BOX 13570 ARLINGTON VA 22219 2020C1459 GRN ELIZABETH FAYE SCROGGIN 233 W PENNSYLVANIA AVE DOWNINGTOWN PA 19335- CHESTER 2020C1442 LIB WILLIAM MARTIN SLOANE 417 WEST SOUTH STREET CARLISLE PA 11111- CUMBERLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL --Statewide 2020C0570 DEM JOSH SHAPIRO P.O. BOX 22635 PHILADELPHIA PA 19110- MONTGOMERY 2020C0539 REP HEATHER HEIDELBAUGH 141 WOODHAVEN DRIVE PITTSBURGH PA 15228- ALLEGHENY 2020C1456 GRN RICHARD L WEISS 107 OLD VILLAGE LANE BETHEL PARK PA 15102- ALLEGHENY 2020C1446 LIB DANIEL WASSMER 1433 ROUTE 590 HOWLEY PA 18428- PIKE STATE TREASURER --Statewide 2020C0571 DEM JOE TORSELLA P.O. BOX 626 FLOURTOWN PA 19031 MONTGOMERY 383 GATEWAY INDUSTRIAL PARK 2020C0542 REP STACY L GARRITY ATHENS PA 18810- BRADFORD ROAD 2020C1458 GRN TIMOTHY RUNKLE 15 TEAKWOOD CIRCLE ELIZABETHTOWN PA 17022- LANCASTER 2020C1445 LIB JOE SOLOSKI 141 BUCKHORN RD PORT MATILDA PA 16871- CENTRE AUDITOR GENERAL --Statewide 2020C0549 DEM NINA AHMAD 405 E GOWEN AVE PHILADELPHIA PA 19119- PHILADELPHIA 2020C0564 REP TIMOTHY DEFOOR 1300 ELLIS DRIVE HARRISBURG PA 17110 DAUPHIN 2020C1457 GRN OLIVIA SAISON 5522 SPRUCE ST PHILADELPHI PA 19139- PHILADELPHIA
    [Show full text]
  • Page 1 C I T Y O F P H I L a D E L P H I A
    CITY OF PHILADELPHIA C I T Y C O U N C I L Councilmember Allan Domb Room 316, City Hall Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-686-3414 ___________________ Councilmember At-Large December 8, 2020 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Mitch McConnell Speaker of the House Majority Leader United States House of Representatives United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Charles Schumer The Honorable Pat Toomey Minority Leader United States Senator, Pennsylvania United States Senate United States Senate Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515 Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Senator Schumer, Senator Toomey: The City of Philadelphia is sincerely grateful for your continued leadership during these difficult times. As you well know, our nation is facing disastrous economic fallout from the necessary shutdown of business activity as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. In Philadelphia – a minority majority city with among the highest poverty levels of any major U.S. city – our small and minority-owned businesses are shuttering their doors and our people are at risk of losing everything. We need your support now more than ever before if our local economy is to survive. We respectfully ask that you bring to a vote a minimum of $908 billion for a COVID emergency relief package before the December 11th deadline and commit to the $160 billion in direct and unrestricted funding to cities like Philadelphia. We understand the many challenges you face in managing the competing interests in both chambers of our federal government, but we cannot afford to leave our local businesses, especially the hospitality industry and the thousands of people they employ without the financial safety nets to get them through the winter.
    [Show full text]
  • April 29, 2020 the Honorable Tom Wolf
    April 29, 2020 The Honorable Tom Wolf Governor of Pennsylvania 225 Main Capitol Harrisburg, PA 17120 RE: Resumption of automotive sales per guidance from the US Department of Homeland Security regarding critical infrastructure strategic requirements. Dear Governor Wolf: I am writing to urge you to reverse your March 19, 2020 decision to prohibit the sales of vehicles. The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued revised guidance on the strategic needs of our nation as we combat COVID-19. The document signed by the Secretary of DHS's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), titled, "Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Ensuring Community and National Resilience in COVID-19 Response Version 3.0" (April 17, 2020) THE IMPORTANCE OF ESSENTIAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKERS lists vehicle sales as a component of our national infrastructure. This document lists essential functions, workforce categories and strategic requirements to safeguard our nation. Vehicle sales are described as an essential component of America's vital infrastructure related to transportation / logistics and therefore, necessary components to support the nation's strategic security. The strategic assessment was updated on April 17, 2020, with Page 13 of this report saying: Transportation and Logistics Workers critical to the manufacturing, distribution, sales, rental, leasing, repair, and maintenance of vehicles and other transportation equipment (including electric vehicle charging stations) and the supply chains that enable these operations to facilitate continuity of travel-related operations for essential workers. Page 2 of 3 April 20, 2020 Automotive Sales The criterion to add sales to this strategic requirement was based upon the growing disruption to both the work force and the transportation industry by your decision to prohibit this function.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Volume 15, Issue 2 in PDF Format
    Volume 15, Issue 2 - 2014 Communication from the Policy A Information Exchange Slice of Pie A Slice of Pie is an ongoing publication keeping our readers informed about important public policy issues. It is the mission of the Policy Information Exchange to educate and inform Pennsylvanians with disabilities, their families and advocates, and the general public, regarding public policy issues and to further the exchange of policy information between the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council and federal, state and local policy makers. The Policy Information Exchange is funded in part by the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council. that appropriated funds are actually being spent. For more information, contact PIE STATE NEWS at The Arc of Pennsylvania office at 717- 234-2621 or [email protected]. State Budget Below PIE summarizes some items of Department of Public Welfare interest to the disability community in Pennsylvania’s final 2014-15 budget, Intellectual Disability Waivers: State HB 2328. The budget includes funding funding increased by 3.9%, or almost $40 increases to serve more people in million. This includes funds to serve an intellectual disabilities, autism, physical additional 700 people with intellectual disability, aging and home and community based services. In light of concern about whether there will be enough revenue In This Issue to balance the level of spending in the budget, it should be noted that some or State News ..............................page 1 all of any appropriation can still be held National News .......................page 10 back or “frozen.” In the past, some line items have been reduced or eliminated Resources .............................page 11 when the state makes a decision to reduce spending.
    [Show full text]