HB 2184 — An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; in powers and duties, providing for public interest; and, in rates and distribution systems, further providing for rates to be just and reasonable, for voluntary changes in rates and for rates fixed on complaint and investigation of costs of production.

PRINTER'S NO.   2840

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2184
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY OTTEN, WAXMAN, PROBST, HILL-EVANS, RABB, HADDOCK,
        HOWARD, STEELE, SAPPEY, PROKOPIAK, POWELL, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
        PARKER, FRANKEL, CIRESI, RIVERA, WEBSTER, BRENNAN,
        SHUSTERMAN, FREEMAN, VITALI, BOROWSKI, HANBIDGE, D. WILLIAMS
        AND O'MARA, JANUARY 30, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
        UTILITIES, FEBRUARY 2, 2026


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, further
 3      providing for definitions; in powers and duties, providing
 4      for public interest; and, in rates and distribution systems,
 5      further providing for rates to be just and reasonable, for
 6      voluntary changes in rates and for rates fixed on complaint
 7      and investigation of costs of production.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.    Section 102 of Title 66 of the Pennsylvania
11   Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:
12   § 102.   Definitions.
13      Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
14   provisions of this part which are applicable to specific
15   provisions of this part, the following words and phrases when
16   used in this part shall have, unless the context clearly
17   indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:
18      * * *
 1      "Public interest."         Factors used to determine public interest
 2   by the commission under section 531 (relating to public
 3   interest).
 4      * * *
 5      Section 2.        Title 66 is amended by adding a section to read:
 6   § 531.   Public interest.
 7      (a)   Public interest findings.--When making a decision
 8   regarding a utility, the commission shall use the following to
 9   determine whether the decision is in the public interest:
10            (1)   The affordability of utility rates for current and
11      future residential customers.
12            (2)   The utility's plans for use of an all-of-the-above
13      energy strategy, including:
14                  (i)    development of distributed generation resources;
15                  (ii)    development of renewable energy and storage
16            resources;
17                  (iii)    generation resources with little or no
18            volatility in fuel prices; and
19                  (iv)    demand-side resources, including energy
20            efficiency, to insulate customers from future rate
21            increases and bill increases.
22            (3)   Modernization and improvement of the reliability of
23      Pennsylvania's electric grid, if applicable, including both
24      the transmission and distribution grid.
25            (4)   Protection of public health and the environment,
26      including reduction of air emissions, water withdrawals,
27      water consumption and water discharges.
28            (5)   The potential for economic growth, including:
29                  (i)    jobs;
30                  (ii)    economic output; and

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 1                   (iii)   State and local tax revenues.
 2             (6)   Improvement of utility reliability and resiliency.
 3             (7)   Improvements in energy efficiency.
 4             (8)   Environmental justice considerations.
 5      (b)    Documentation.--The commission shall include public
 6   interest findings under subsection (a) in all decisions relating
 7   to public utilities.
 8      Section 3.      Sections 1301(a), 1308(a) and 1309(a) of Title 66
 9   are amended to read:
10   § 1301.    Rates to be just and reasonable.
11      (a)    Regulation.--Every rate made, demanded, or received by
12   any public utility, or by any two or more public utilities
13   jointly, shall be just and reasonable, consistent with the
14   public interest and in conformity with regulations or orders of
15   the commission. Only public utility service being furnished or
16   rendered by a municipal corporation, or by the operating
17   agencies of any municipal corporation, beyond its corporate
18   limits, shall be subject to regulation and control by the
19   commission as to rates, with the same force, and in like manner,
20   as if such service were rendered by a public utility.
21      * * *
22   § 1308.    Voluntary changes in rates.
23      (a)    General rule.--Unless the commission otherwise orders,
24   no public utility shall make any change in any existing and duly
25   established rate, except after 60 days notice to the commission,
26   which notice shall plainly state the changes proposed to be made
27   in the rates then in force, how the changes proposed are
28   consistent with the public interest and the time when the
29   changed rates will go into effect. The public utility shall also
30   give such notice of the proposed changes to other interested

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 1   persons as the commission in its discretion may direct. Such
 2   notices regarding the proposed changes which are provided to the
 3   utility's customers shall be in plain understandable language as
 4   the commission shall prescribe. All proposed changes shall be
 5   shown by filing new tariffs, or supplements to existing tariffs
 6   filed and in force at the time. The commission, for good cause
 7   shown, may allow changes in rates, without requiring the 60 days
 8   notice, under such conditions as it may prescribe.
 9      * * *
10   § 1309.    Rates fixed on complaint; investigation of costs of
11                 production.
12      (a)     General rule.--Whenever the commission, after reasonable
13   notice and hearing, upon its own motion or upon complaint, finds
14   that the existing rates of any public utility for any service
15   are unjust, unreasonable, inconsistent with the public interest,
16   or in anywise in violation of any provision of law, the
17   commission shall determine the just and reasonable rates,
18   including maximum or minimum rates, to be thereafter observed
19   and in force, and shall fix the same by order to be served upon
20   the public utility, and such rates shall constitute the legal
21   rates of the public utility until changed as provided in this
22   part. Whenever a public utility does not itself produce or
23   generate that which it distributes, transmits, or furnishes to
24   the public for compensation, but obtains the same from another
25   source, the commission shall have the power and authority to
26   investigate the cost of such production or generation in any
27   investigation of the reasonableness of the rates of such public
28   utility.
29      * * *
30      Section 4.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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