Pennsylvania § 1532 - Penalties.

§ 1532. Penalties.

(a) Per diem liquidated damages.--Any landlord ratepayer who fails to provide a utility with the names and addresses of affected tenants in accordance with section 1524 (relating to request to landlord to identify tenants) or fails to provide reasonable access to the meter shall be deemed to have caused substantial damage to the utility by thus forcing a continuation of the existing utility service and, as a consequence, shall be required to pay, as liquidated damages to the utility, a sum of not less than $500 but not more than $1,000 for each day of the landlord's failure to comply, commencing with the first day of completion and exhaustion of the procedures provided under section 1524(a) and (b)(1), (2) and (3).

(b) Injunctive relief.--The utility may commence an action in equity against a landlord ratepayer to obtain injunctive relief compelling the landlord to furnish the names and addresses of affected tenants or compelling the landlord to provide access to the meter. Interference with the utility's ability to terminate service without this information shall be deemed sufficient proof of immediate, continuing and irreparable injury to sustain injunctive relief. The court shall, in addition to awarding injunctive relief, render judgment in favor of the utility for the total per diem liquidated damages recoverable under subsection (a) together with reasonable attorney fees and necessary costs of suit.

(c) Tampering with posted notice.--Any person who removes, interferes or tampers with a notice to tenants of proposed termination of service, posted pursuant to section 1526 (relating to delivery and contents of first termination notice to tenants) commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $300.

(d) Denial of access to common areas.--Any landlord ratepayer or an agent or employee who willfully denies an agent or employee of the utility access to common areas of his residential building for any lawful purpose under this title, including, but not limited to, posting or delivering notices to tenants under this subsection, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $500 for each day access is denied.

(July 2, 1993, P.L.379, No.54, eff. 60 days)

Cross References. Section 1532 is referred to in sections 1524, 1525 of this title.