17290_Authority_February_2024

municipalauthorities.org | 27 Continued on page 55. Liesel Gross, CEO, Lehigh County Authority Bidding Thresholds Increase (Effective Jan. 1, 2024) The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry published the municipal authority and municipal bidding thresholds for 2024. Under Act 90 of 2011, the bidding thresholds provide for an annual inflation adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The percentage change for the 12-month period ending September 30, 2023, is 3.7%. PLEASE NOTE: The law (Act 90 of 2011) caps an increase at a maximum of 3%. Beginning January 1, 2024, the bidding thresholds for municipal authorities will be as follows: • Purchases and contracts below $12,600 require no formal bidding or written/telephonic quotations. • Purchases and contracts between $12,600 and $23,200 require three written/telephonic quotations. • Purchases and contracts over $23,200 require formal bidding. To view the specifics of the CPI adjustment, visit the Pennsylvania Bulletin announcement at pacodeandbulletin. gov, December 23, 2023, edition. PUC Announces Appointments to Damage Prevention Committee On December 21, 2023, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced three appointments to its Damage Prevention Committee (DPC), which is tasked with enforcing the state's Underground Utility Line Protection Act - also known as the "PA One Call Law." The Commission voted 5-0 today to appoint Thomas C. Ceraso, Douglas L. Haupt and William Kukurin to the DPC to serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2024. Thomas C. Ceraso, of New Kensington, Westmoreland County, will represent the municipal authority industry on the DPC. Ceraso has served for more than 30 years on the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County. He also has been a member of the Pennsylvania One Call Board as a board member, alternate board member and officer over the last 13 years. Ceraso also was involved in One Call's Legislative Task Force on rewriting the One Call Law. About the DPC The DPC is a peer-based group of 13 representatives, nominated by their industry or affiliated organization and appointed by the PUC. Creation of the committee was authorized by Act 50 of 2017, which enhances Pennsylvania's Underground Utility Line Protection Act - also known as the "One Call Law." The focus of the DPC is to reduce the number of "hits" on underground lines and utilities. The DPC meets regularly to review alleged violations of the One Call Law and make informal determinations as to the appropriate response including, but not limited to, the issuance of warning letters, mandatory training programs and/or administrative penalties.