The Pennsylvania Senate is expected to pass Senate bill 601, the gas deregulation bill for small commercial and residential customers, on June 7, said a spokesman for Sen. Jeff Piccola, the bill’s main sponsor.

“It’s at the final stage right now,” said Mike Sarfert, a Piccola aide. “It is up for its third consideration, and when the Senate gets back in session on June 7, I think it should pass.”

The bill was reported out of the Appropriations Committee earlier this week and it received its second consideration, Sarfert said. The bill was in the process of receiving its third and final consideration when the session broke. A bill needs three considerations before going to a vote.

“The only reason it did not receive its third consideration was because of another issue unrelated to bill’s content,” he said.

The bill was introduced to the state legislature on March 11. A companion bill sponsored by Rep. Frank Tulli is in front of the state’s House. The bills, which are virtually identical, are the result of a collaborative effort between Pennsylvania’s LDCs, marketers and regulators (See NGI, March 15).

John Norris

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