Commending the Philadelphia Energy Authority for offering the Service Line Warranty Program, an optional program to guarantee privately owned utility line repairs, to the citizens of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, Residents of the City of Philadelphia (“City”) are responsible for the maintenance and repair of water and sewer lines that are on their property and under portions of the City’s right of way; and

WHEREAS, Water and sewer lines on private property can vary widely in age and condition, resulting in substantial cost to residents when there is a malfunction of these lines on residential property; and

WHEREAS, The National League of Cities pioneered its Service Line Warranty Program, which has covered over $33 million in service line repairs; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Energy Authority (“PEA”) is introducing this program as a resource for residential property owners to obtain warranties to cover water and sewer line repair or maintenance and to reduce energy costs for the Philadelphia Water Department; and

WHEREAS, The Service Line Warranty Program gives residents who have not set aside money to pay for an unexpected, expensive utility line repair the opportunity to obtain a low cost warranty that will provide repairs for a low monthly fee, with no deductibles or service fees; and

WHEREAS, Over 400 cities nationwide are currently participating in this optional education and awareness program for homeowners, including the Cities of Newark, Baltimore, San Diego, Las Vegas, Kansas City, and Fort Lauderdale; and

WHEREAS, There is significant need among the residents of the City for access to various tools to reduce the costs of their water and sewer line repairs and maintenance due to aging infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, Bringing this optional warranty program to those residents bridges an obvious need with a proven way to address it and is worthy of praise; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby commend the Philadelphia Energy Authority for offering the Service Line Warranty Program, an optional warranty program to the citizens of Philadelphia.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Philadelphia Energy Authority, evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.

End