Is Tri-County regulated by the Public Utilities Commission?
Tri-County does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). As a result of the passage of Pennsylvania’s Electric Cooperative Corporation Act of 1937, rural electric cooperatives within the state remain exempt from PUC regulations. Rather, Pennsylvania electric cooperatives are regulated by their member-elected boards of directors and the mandates of the federal Rural Utilities Service (RUS). What is the Rural Utilities Service? The Rural Utilities Service, also known as RUS, is an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was created in 1994 to replace the federal Rural Electrification Administration (REA). RUS lends money to member-owned electric and telephone cooperatives. The agency also provides assistance to cooperatives for the establishment of rural water and sewer systems and other utility-related services.