# Pennsylvania Supreme Court Limits PUC Jurisdiction

On October 29, 2026, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania held that municipal authorities formed under the Municipality Authorities Act generally are not subject to Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) jurisdiction, even when they serve customers outside the boundaries of the municipality that formed them. The court said disputes over an authority’s service area, rates, or service generally belong in courts of common pleas, and an authority does not need a PUC certificate solely because it serves customers beyond its municipality. Utilities, developers, local governments, and contractors involved in utility infrastructure planning should account for this ruling when evaluating service-territory assumptions and regulatory exposure.

- Utility project teams should verify the authority’s service area and the applicable dispute forum when assessing projects that cross municipal boundaries.
- Developers and contractors can use the ruling to inform due diligence and project planning; service outside an incorporating municipality does not, by itself, require a PUC certificate under the decision.
- Local governments and utilities should factor the court-of-common-pleas jurisdiction into strategies for disputes involving service, rates, or territory.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities
**Topics:** Policy
**Published:** November 11, 2026

### Government Entities
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC)
- Sanitary Sewer Authority of the Borough of Shickshinny
- Conyngham Township

### Sources
- [PA Supreme Court: Municipal Authorities Serving Outside Municipal Boundaries Not Subject to PUC Jurisdiction | Cozen O'Connor - JDSupra](https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/pa-supreme-court-municipal-authorities-7882426) - JD Supra