The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) this week further clarified various portions of its implementation of Chapter 23 of Act 13 of 2012, provides for the imposition of an unconventional gas well fee.
The Commission voted 5-0 to provide further clarification on issues such as whether setting conductor pipe triggers the impact fee; how impact fees will be assessed to wells that are reclassified from horizontal to vertical; and when the impact fee ceases after a well is plugged.
Additionally, the Commission clarified that budget reports from local governments receiving impact fee monies are due March 1 of each year. Generally, the annual budget report will reflect a municipality’s final approved for the prior fiscal year. However, for the upcoming year’s deadline, March 1, 2013, the municipal budget reports for both 2011 and 2012 must be filed with the Commission. In subsequent years, only the prior year’s final approved budget report will be due. For example, the municipal budget report for 2013 will be due on or before March 1, 2014.