Climate watch: Energy concerns now a focus for state lawmakers
Electricity prices are rising. And concerns are growing about the capacity of the electric grid. So, state lawmakers are increasingly turning their attention to energy matters.
West Penn Power raises rates
On June 1, all 11 PA public utilities raised their “price to compare,” the cost per kilowatt-hour charged to customers who have not chosen a competitive electric generation supplier (EGS). The rate for West Penn Power, which serves this area, rises 10.3% from 10.947 cents per KwH to 12.075 cents per KwH. “These changes affect customers receiving ‘default service’ from their electric utility — that is, those who have not selected an EGS,” says the Public Utility Commission (PUC).
PA data center legislation
The PA House of Representatives has passed four bills to regulate data centers. One would direct the PUC to make binding rules for data centers that use over 25 megawatts of energy. Two others focus on disclosing how much water and energy data centers use. A fourth would create a model regulation ordinance that townships could use when dealing with data centers. Spotlight PA reports, however, that Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, R-Indiana, doesn’t “think we should be looking at individual bills right now” regarding data centers.
PA House passes ATT bill
The PA House of Representatives in May passed unanimously a bill to “require the state’s utilities to study the potential for advanced transmission technologies (ATT) when they upgrade existing transmission projects or build new ones.” Under H.B. 2233, the PUC may order a utility to include ATTs as part of an approved transmission project. ATTs are high-performance conductors and other grid-enhancing technologies. They boost the amount of electricity that can flow across the grid, helping to reduce outages. The bill now will be considered by the Senate.
Battery storage bill introduced
Legislation has been introduced in the House to require Pennsylvania’s largest electric utilities to install 3,000 megawatts of battery storage by 2033. HB 2380 would allow for grid-scale battery storage to house electricity from solar, wind, hydroelectric and thermal power plants and release it when needed. Storage battery systems can improve the grid’s performance. Employing them is cheaper than building new transmission lines. Thirty-three Democrats have co-sponsored the legislation.
PA electric service terminations up
Pennsylvania’s electric public utilities combined recorded a 21.3% increase in service terminations in 2025. That’s according to a PUC report. West Penn Power, however, bucked that trend with a 3.4% decrease in terminations. Philadelphia-based PECO was the utility with the largest rise in terminations, a 134.9% increase over the year before.
Room for improvement
Pennsylvania ranks 47th out of 50 states in renewable energy growth over the last ten years, says PennEnvironment. The commonwealth’s solar, wind and geothermal energy generation grew by 81% since 2015. But that’s well below the national average of nearly 200%. Renewables today account for just 5% of the state’s electricity. Pennsylvania did better in electronic vehicle (EV) infrastructure, ranking 10th for growth in charging ports.
Pittsburgh buildings greening up
Over 13 years, 540 buildings in downtown Pittsburgh have “collectively reduced carbon emissions by 56.1%, cut energy use by 27.3%, saved $42.8 million in energy costs, and an additional $7.1 million in savings by reducing water consumption.” “It’s a stunning achievement,” said Chris Cieslak, chief operating officer of Pittsburgh’s Green Building Alliance. The achievement was reported by WESA, Pittsburgh’s NPR News station.
Richard Jones is a member of the State College chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Reach the chapter at PaStateCollege@citizensclimatelobby.org.