Pennsylvania § 13588 - Collection of utility charges.

§ 13588. Collection of utility charges.

(a) Authority for ordinance.--Council shall provide, by ordinance, for the collection of charges for the use of water, light, electric, gas or other similar utility service that may accrue to the city, fixing the time when the charges are payable and the penalties for nonpayment. The charges shall be assessed to the respective owners of the real estate on which the utility service is used. If the charges are not paid in accordance with the provisions of the ordinance, a claim for the amount due may be filed as a lien and collected in accordance with the Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law.

(b) Owner liability.--

(1) If a city that has agreed to provide water service through a separate meter and separate service line to a residential dwelling unit in which the owner does not reside, the owner shall be liable to pay the tenant's bill for service rendered to the tenant by the city only if the city notifies the owner and the tenant within 30 days after the bill first becomes overdue. Notification must be provided by first class mail to the address of the owner provided to the city by the owner and to the billing address of the tenant, respectively.

(2) This subsection may not be construed to require a city to terminate service to a tenant. An owner shall not be liable for any service which the city provides to the tenant 90 or more days after the tenant's bill first becomes overdue unless the city has been prevented by court order from terminating service to that tenant.