Pennsylvania Statutes Title 53 P.S. Municipal and Quasi-Municipal Corporations § 15565. Ordinance;  petition to Public Service Commission;  damages

Whenever any city of the first class may desire to condemn, enter upon, take, appropriate, occupy, and use any properties, facilities, and franchises hereunder, it shall declare its intention so to do by ordinance duly enacted, which ordinance shall set forth what properties, facilities, and franchises the city desires to condemn, and whether the acquisition thereof shall be subject to or free from the bonds, obligations, or other liabilities, liens, and encumbrances in whole or in part.  Thereupon the said city may proceed to the condemnation thereof under the terms of said ordinance;  and the compensation or damages arising from such condemnation, taking, appropriation, occupying, and using of such properties, facilities, an franchises, shall be ascertained, determined, and paid in the manner hereinafter set forth.  The condemnation proceedings shall be begun by petition to the Public Service Commission, to assess and determine the proper amount of compensation to be paid therefor, and shall set forth, with reasonable certainty, a description of the properties, facilities, and franchises to be condemned, and the names of the owners thereof, and whether the same are to be taken free from or subject to the bonds, obligations, or other liabilities, liens, and encumbrances, or to what extent they are to be so taken, and the Public Service Commission shall, after due notice to all parties interested and after such public hearings thereon as it shall deem necessary and proper, assess and determine the amount of compensation or damages to be paid by the city to the owner or owners aforesaid.