Boscola Reappointed Chair of Consumer Protection Committee

State Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-18) has been re-appointed as Democratic chairman of the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee.

“I am proud of my work on this important committee and will continue to fight for consumers,” Boscola said. “It is also important that we continue to press power companies to provide more reliable service and minimize power outages.”

The committee reviews legislation involving utility issues and the state boards that license and regulate numerous professions in Pennsylvania.

Most recently, the committee held a hearing in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. While commending most of the electric companies for their efforts during the storm, Boscola prodded officials to be even more responsive to consumer needs during storm emergencies.

Early last year, Boscola and state Sen. Pat Browne (R-16) worked together to press the state Public Utility Commission (PUC) to force UGI to speed up work on replacing its aging utility pipelines in Allentown. Pointing to the deadly gas line explosion in February 2011, Boscola co-sponsored legislation aimed at giving utility companies the means to expedite replacement work on the state’s aging utility infrastructure – while limiting rate hikes.

Last month, the Bethlehem lawmaker was re-elected by her Democratic colleagues to chair the Senate Democratic Policy Committee.