(a) Assistance.--Upon the request of a political subdivision within a county, the county may assist the political subdivision in negotiations or a contest with a public utility company and may use or allow the political subdivision to use the legal, engineering, accounting or clerical service of the county.
(b) Intervention.--The county commissioners may enter their appearance as interveners or otherwise in a proceeding before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission or before a court in a proceeding involving a controversy between a political subdivision in the county and a public utility company.