As we reflect on the past fiscal year, the OSBA’s impact stands as a testament to the effective advocacy we provide for small businesses. Through a commitment to ensuring small businesses sustain and thrive, the OSBA has been intentional in its strategies, delivering measurable outcomes and notable successes achieved throughout the past fiscal year. The OSBA engages in major base rate, merger, and acquisition proceedings including non-rate proceedings that would have significantly impacted small commercial and mid-sized consumers.
During Fiscal Year 2024-2025, the OSBA actively participated in approximately 222 cases. These efforts listed below addressed an overall requested increase of over $1.74 billion. Through our advocacy, we saved small business consumers over $264 million in utility rate savings.
- 32 base rate filings
- 11 Section 1307(F) filings
- 8 Section 1329 filings
- 2 merger filings
- 27 Section 1102 filings
- 7 Default Service Plan (DSP) filings
- 93 water, wastewater, and stormwater filings
- 25 gas filings
- 41 telephone and broadband filings
- 23 electric filings
- 3 non-certificated filings
- 1 State appeal case
The OSBA staff has participated in numerous proceedings spanning across nearly all Pennsylvania’s regulated utilities.
- 9 mediations
- 27 initial, evidentiary, and post-hearings
- 46 prehearing and status conferences
- 60 public input hearings
- 87 telephonic and in-person hearings
Furthermore, leveraging its expertise and success in litigation, the OSBA’s statutory responsibilities were expanded following the 1993 reforms to Pennsylvania’s Workers Compensation Act. The OSBA provides expert actuarial review and evaluation of, accompanied by comments and recommendations for improvement on, the loss cost filings that are submitted annually to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department by the Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau (PCRB) and the Coal Mine Compensation Rating Bureau of Pennsylvania (CMCRB).