As commissioners of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, we were happy to have approved last week UberX’s applications to provide ride-share service in Allegheny County and the rest of Pennsylvania. 

Throughout the ride-share controversies, the PUC’s message has always been the same: We support innovation that benefits the public interest when done within the bounds of the law.

The commission strives to ensure that its current regulatory structure is not a barrier to technological advances and desirable changes in the transportation industry. 

The commission, however, is charged with protecting public safety.

Under the actions taken by the commission, Uber will receive an experimental license once the company shows us it has complied with reasonable driver, vehicle and insurance safeguards. 

If it meets these conditions, we believe this new type of transportation service will meet the needs of the traveling public and should be certified.

Unfortunately, to date Uber has suggested that our safety requirements were an impediment to its business plan.

Most of the conditions previously placed on its ability to operate largely mirrored its existing operating practices, to which we added the conditions necessary to protect passengers, the motoring public and Uber drivers. 

These include vehicle inspection, driver background checks, zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use while operating a vehicle and personal insurance protections. 

We believe it should be neither difficult nor onerous for Uber to meet these conditions.

Failure to comply with these conditions will result in immediate revocation of Uber’s existing emergency temporary authority in Allegheny County. 

Failure to maintain compliance with the conditions outlined in our order will bring enforcement actions. 

To date, Uber has chosen to ignore our warnings about the consequences for operating outside of the law. 

Let us be clear — from our perspective, this is a “last and best offer.”

In meetings with Uber earlier this year, we outlined what state law required for it to operate legally in Pennsylvania. 

In fact, once Uber filed the proper paperwork, the PUC approved its emergency temporary authority within the month.

Throughout the process, the PUC has faced harsh criticism for enforcing the laws of Pennsylvania. 

In reality, the PUC has done everything possible, within the bounds of the law, to work with Uber to achieve compliance.

The PUC is required to enforce driver safety, vehicle integrity and insurance protections under the current laws, not the laws we wish were in place. 

The commission has maintained since March that a legislative solution for companies such as Lyft and Uber is the best answer for Pennsylvania. 

We have been working diligently with legislators towards that solution and will continue to do so.

At the same time, the PUC has begun the process of revisiting our regulations. 

We will continue to work with all parties toward integrating innovation into Pennsylvania’s transportation system.

In the meantime, we have shaped conditions that allow for this exciting new business model to thrive in the commonwealth while at the same time ensuring that the necessary public and driver protections are in place.

Robert F. Powelson is chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Pamela A. Witmer is a PUC commissioner.

First Published: November 21, 2014, 5:00 a.m.