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City Council Tries to Clamp Down on Rogue Meter Installers in Unlicensed Philadelphia Properties

Official:Amending Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Regulation of Businesses, Trades and Professions," to restrict meter installations, including by prohibiting installations in unlicensed premises and by requiring companies performing installations to provide information to the Department of Licenses and Inspections; all under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez

Introduced: October 11, 2018

: Committee on Licenses and Inspections

procurementutility meterszoning

No one voted on this bill

This bill was introduced in the 2016–2019 Council term and when that term ran out. The public record shows no committee vote and no floor vote at any stage, so no member of Council ever went on record for or against it.

That is not unusual here. Of the 8,465 bills introduced between 2000 and 2025, 1,624 lapsed without a single recorded vote. Ninety percent of bills that became law carry a roll call. Three percent of lapsed bills do. How this works.

Plain-Language Summary

This bill would require public utilities to confirm that a residential premises is properly licensed and zoned before installing a meter to monitor usage.

What This Bill Does

AI-written. Every figure is checked against the bill text.

Prohibits public utilities from installing meters at unlicensed premises, meaning premises that do not have the necessary licenses or zoning for residential use.
Requires public utilities to confirm with the Department of Licenses and Inspections that a residential premises is properly licensed and zoned before installing a meter.
Requires public utilities to notify the Department of Licenses and Inspections of the location of each meter installation.
Imposes a requirement on companies performing installations to provide information to the Department of Licenses and Inspections.