Pro sports can resume in Pennsylvania, without spectators
By MARC LEVY, WILL GRAVES and MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Professional sports can resume in Pennsylvania where the governor’s stay-at-home order to stem the spread of the coronavirus is no longer in force, but without spectators. Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration said Wednesday that teams and competitors will be allowed to practice or play in counties where Wolf’s yellow or green designation applies in his stoplight-colored three-phase reopening plan. To resume, a team or a league must develop a coronavirus safety plan that has been approved by Wolf’s state Department of Health and it must include testing or screening and monitoring of all “on-venue” players and personnel. Organized youth sports can begin or resume in areas in the green phase.

Mail-in voting could turn Election Day into Election Week
By NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press
Delays caused by an increase in voting by mail may contribute to public doubts about the results. The public may not know the winner of the presidential race on election day because of a massive shift to voting by mail during the coronavirus pandemic. That’s because mail ballots take longer to count due to security procedures and laws in some states that limit when they can be processed. Democrats are worried that President Donald Trump’s escalating rhetoric against mail voting is designed to take advantage of this delay in the instance of a close race or even his defeat.

SpaceX launch scrubbed because of bad weather
By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The launch of a SpaceX rocket ship with two NASA astronauts on a history-making flight into orbit has been called off with less than 17 minutes to go in the countdown because of the danger of lightning. Liftoff is rescheduled for Saturday. The spacecraft was set to blast off Wednesday afternoon for the International Space Station, ushering in a new era in commercial spaceflight and putting NASA back in the business of launching astronauts from U.S. for the first time in nearly a decade. Ever since the space shuttle was retired in 2011, NASA has relied on Russian rockets to carry astronauts to and from the space station.

Many more likely sought US jobless aid even as layoffs slow
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government is set to sketch its latest picture of the layoffs that have left tens of millions of people unemployed but have slowed as states increasingly allow businesses to reopen. Even with companies calling some laid-off employees back to work, millions more likely filed for unemployment benefits last week after nearly 39 million sought aid in the previous nine weeks as the coronavirus paralyzed the economy. The pace of layoffs has declined for seven straight weeks, a sign that the cratering of the job market may have bottomed out. By historical standards, though, the number of weekly applications remains enormous.

PUC Reminds Consumers of June 1 Changes for Utility Electric Energy Prices;
Notes PAPowerSwitch Enhancements for Online Shoppers

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today reminded consumers that most electric distribution companies (EDCs) across the state will be adjusting electric generation prices on June 1 for non-shopping customers.

Depending on your service territory, energy prices could be increasing or decreasing for the summer months, and the PUC encourages consumers to be aware of the pending changes and to evaluate their options.

“During these difficult times, consumers may be looking for ways to lower monthly bills by reducing energy usage and supply costs,” said PUC Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille.  “We encourage consumers to carefully review their electric bills, understand the rates they will be paying and explore the PUC’s official electric shopping website, PAPowerSwitch.com, for details on competitive offers, along with tips for energy conservation and savings.”

Additionally, the PUC announced a series of enhancements to www.PAPowerSwitch.com (PAPowerSwitch) – the agency’s consumer-education and energy shopping website – to make it easier and quicker for consumers to access information about shopping for electric suppliers, along with other ways to conserve energy and save money.

“Price to Compare” Changes on June 1

In most areas of Pennsylvania, consumers can choose who supplies their electricity, based on price or other factors, such as renewable energy.

Customers not choosing a supplier continue to receive “default service” from the utility, with the cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) set quarterly or semiannually based on PUC approved electric generation procurement plans. The PUC, however, does not control the price of the generation portion of the electric bill.

Beginning on June 1, EDCs that have projected changes in their Prices to Compare (PTCs) for residential default service customers include:

• Citizens’ Electric, with an estimated decrease from 7.5845 to 7.4795 cents per kWh;
• Duquesne Light, with a slight increase from 7.1 to 7.11 cents per kWh;
• Met-Ed, with a decrease from 5.39 to 5.361 cents per kWh;
• PECO, with a decrease from 6.595 cents to 6.405 cents per kWh;
• Penelec, with an increase from 5.404 to 5.532 cents per kWh;

• Penn Power, with an increase from 6.257 to 6.684 cents per kWh;
• PPL, with a decrease from 7.632 to 7.284 cents per kWh;
• UGI Electric, with an estimated increase from 6.041 to 6.811 cents per kWh;
• Wellsboro Electric, with an estimated increase from 6.8896 to 6.9 cents per kWh; and,
• West Penn Power, with a decrease from 5.637 to 5.125 cents per kWh.

For default service customers not participating in the competitive electricity market, Pennsylvania’s regulated utilities offer a voluntary Standard Offer Program (Standard Offer) – providing those customers with the option of receiving service from a competitive supplier at a fixed-price that is 7% below the utility’s PTC at the time of enrollment. The Standard Offer price is fixed for one year and can be canceled by the customer at any time with no early cancellation or termination fees.

PAPowerSwitch Updates

PAPowerSwitch provides consumers with valuable information on how to shop for electric supply services.  The website enables consumers to quickly compare offers from competitive suppliers against the default service rate from their local utility.

The PUC continually upgrades PAPowerSwitch to educate consumers and help them successfully navigate Pennsylvania’s competitive market for electricity. Recent updates to the website include:

• A new comparison feature where consumers can view and evaluate up to eight different offers at the same time;
• Faster page-loading;
• Enhanced security measures;
• More filtering options relating to offers from competitive electric generation suppliers (EGSs); and
• Additional view options, with horizontal or vertical views of EGS offers.

All the recent upgrades are reflected in the mobile version of PAPowerSwitch, allowing easy access from even more devices.

PUC Continues Encouraging Energy Efficiency & Conservation

The PUC also reminds families to explore energy conservation to help manage bills and reduce energy usage – especially as more people are home, with many working remotely, and the summer cooling season approaches. PAPowerSwitch, as well as the PUC’s website for natural gas shopping, PAGasSwitch.com, have interactive information and tips for saving energy.

Other PUC Actions During Current Pandemic

Under the unique circumstances presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission’s moratorium on EGS door-to-door sales and marketing for all customer classes remains in effect – helping minimize non-essential personal social contact.

In this time of heightened stress, the PUC also reminds consumers to remain vigilant when discussing energy supply service with telemarketers, particularly if the contact was unsolicited.  Additionally, consumers are encouraged to be on the lookout for unscrupulous activity and potential scam artists who may pose as utility representatives.

Consumers are advised not to sign a contract without knowing the length of the contract, the price, whether it is fixed or variable and if there are any fees, such as membership fees or early termination fees. Customers on a variable rate are subject to fluctuations in the price for their electricity. Information on fixed and variable electric rates is available here.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

 

(Harrisburg,Pa.) The first Pa. House member to test positive for the COVID-19 occurred yesterday. In a statement released by Rep. Andrew Lewis (R-Dauphin) he said that

“Throughout this pandemic, our health officials have reminded us that it is likely many of us will contract COVID-19 and suffer mild, flu-like symptoms. On Monday, May 18, I was tested for COVID-19 and on Wednesday, May 20, I was notified that my test came back positive.

“I immediately began self-isolation protocol and contacted the House of Representatives, and our caucus Human Resources department. My last day in the Capitol was Thursday, May 14.”

The Rep. has also followed all guidelines in contacting the people he was in contact with and advising them to self-quarantine for 14 days

 

Harrisburg, PA – As more counties move to yellow and green, Governor Tom Wolf today issued an order to elaborate on the reopening process for green phase counties and guidance on outdoor dining in yellow counties, dining in green counties, and professional sports in yellow counties.

Green Phase Updated Order
The governor elaborated on green phase guidelines announced on May 22 by issuing an updated order for counties in the green phase of reopening.

The orders from Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine update existing yellow phase orders with these revisions:

• Suspends all previous stay-at-home orders and replaces them with the new green phase order for these counties, effective at 12:01 a.m., Friday, May 29: Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Montour, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Venango, and Warren.
• The order includes provisions for businesses that were permitted conduct in-person operations in the yellow phase, those permitted to operate with some restrictions on in-person operations and those that were not permitted any in-person operations under the yellow phase.
• The order also includes guidance on occupancy limits and health and safety orders that business must adhere to under the green phase.
• Specifics are included on those areas that have raised questions from business owners and residents, including:
  • Personal care services, including hair salons and barber shops must operate by appointment only; appointments or reservations are also strongly encouraged for gyms or spas.
  • Any gathering for a planned or spontaneous event of greater than 250 individuals is prohibited.  This includes, but is not limited to, a concert, festival, fair, conference, sporting event, movie showing, or theater performance.
  • Churches, synagogues, temples, mosques and other places of congregate worship are specifically excluded from the limitations established by the order.  These institutions are strongly encouraged to enforce social distancing and other mitigation measures such as masking at their gatherings.
  • Visitation to prisons and hospitals may resume subject to the discretion of the facility. Visitors who interact with residents and patients must be diligent regarding hygiene. Given the critical importance of limiting COVID-19 exposure in nursing homes, nursing home visitation restrictions will initially remain in place.

The Wolf Administration worked with the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association to develop guidance on dining in both the yellow and green phases.

Yellow Phase Outdoor Dining
Beginning June 5, restaurants and retail food service businesses located in counties designated as being in the yellow phase are permitted add dine-in service in outdoor seating areas so long as they strictly adhere to the requirements of the guidance, including maximum occupancy limits:

• Indoor areas, including bar areas, of restaurants and retail food service businesses must be closed to customers except for through-traffic. Non-bar seating in outdoor areas (i.e., tables or counter seats that do not line up to a bar or food service area) may be used for customer seating.
• Customers being served must be seated at a table.

Prohibitions are also included. The following are not permitted:

• Self-service food or drink options, such as buffets, salad bars, condiments, and drink stations.
• Condiments on tables; these must be dispensed by employees upon the request of a customer.
• Reusable menus.
• Refilling food and beverage containers or allowing implements brought in by customers.

Green Phase Dining
Retail food service businesses, including restaurants, and bars located in counties designated as being in the green phase are permitted to provide take-out and delivery sales, as well as dine-in service in both indoor and outdoor seating areas, so long as they strictly adhere to the requirements of the guidance, including maximum occupancy limits:

• Bar seating may be utilized if customers are seated and comply with physical distancing guideline of at least 6 feet or physical barriers between customers. Standing in a bar area will not be permitted.
• A maximum of four customers that have a common relationship may sit together at the bar, while adhering to the physical distancing guidelines or barriers between other customers.

No business is required to conduct in-person operations and should not do so if unable to follow applicable guidance.

Dining guidance provides businesses and employees in the restaurant and retail food service industry with specific details on operations, including following the Guidance for Businesses Permitted to Operate During the COVID-19 Disaster Emergency to Ensure the Safety and Health of Employees and the Public, available here, and provisions specific to mask-wearing, table-spacing, occupancy limits, sanitization, and implementation of a COVID-19 prevention plan, among other provisions to ensure worker and customer safety.

The dining guidance also notes that restaurants and retail food service businesses located in counties designated as being in the red phase are permitted to provide take-out and delivery sales only and may not allow the service or consumption of food or beverages on the premises.

Professional Sports Guidance
The Wolf Administration has worked with Pennsylvania’s professional sports teams to develop guidance that allows for competition to resume.

Professional sports, defined as any sporting event at which the participants are paid by a league or team, or at which individuals or teams receive prizes or purse, are allowed to practice or play in the yellow and green phases of reopening without on-site or venue spectators if the team (or league on behalf of the team) has developed a COVID-19 safety plan.

Such a plan must be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and include, among other requirements, testing or screening and monitoring of all on-venue players and personnel.  Also, no fans or spectators may be permitted on interior or exterior venue property.  Professional sports organizations are encouraged to contact the Wolf Administration to share their reopening plans and get them approved by the Department of Health.

Find the governor’s order here.

Find the secretary of health’s order here.

History in the making as House is poised for proxy voting
By LISA MASCARO and ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s a day that’s shaping up as one for the history books on Capitol Hill. For the first time, House lawmakers intend to vote by proxy. The aim is to avoid the risk of travel to Washington during the pandemic. House Republicans have sued to stop the majority party. The House is trying to strike a balance between working from home and honoring the Constitution’s requirement to be “present” and voting. On the legislative front, with Congress deadlocked on a broad virus aid package, lawmakers are shifting their attention to a more modest overhaul of small business relief.