Taking action on rising energy rates

Rep. Danielle Friel Otten July 25, 2025 | 3:40 PM

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Dear Neighbor,

As we await action from the Senate on the state budget, Team Otten has kept busy working on legislation and delivering constituent services both in our Exton district office and out in the community.

Taking action on rising energy rates

In previous newsletters, we’ve talked about rising demand for energy and the need to get new sources of energy onto the grid to improve resilience, ensure grid stability, and protect ratepayers from volatile price spikes and soaring electric bills. This week, we learned the results of the annual PJM capacity auction, which determines the prices utility companies will pay in the coming year to purchase their electricity from power plants.

This year’s PJM auction saw a price hike of 22% over last year’s record-breaking increase, which PJM estimates could result in a 5% increase in electric bills. That increase would have been even higher if it weren’t for the lawsuit Gov. Shapiro filed against PJM in December 2024, which resulted in a lower auction price cap.

On Wednesday, as governors from nine states in the PJM region called on our regional electricity grid operator to take urgent action to address rising energy prices, I circulated a memo for new legislation to protect Pennsylvania ratepayers by exploring alternatives to the PJM market.

Just when we should be accelerating the connection of new energy sources to the grid, PJM (our regional grid operator) is instead sitting on a backlog of energy projects, blocking progress, inflating prices, and putting the stability of our energy grid at risk.

Our communities deserve a grid operator that works for the people, not one that delays critical projects while forcing residential ratepayers to disproportionately foot the bill for exploding demand, driven by large corporate entities like data centers and AI. If PJM can’t deliver the affordable and reliable energy future Pennsylvanians need, then we must be ready to pursue other alternatives.

My legislation would direct the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to work with our neighboring states to explore alternatives to PJM’s capacity and transmission market, ensure the electric grid is prepared for future capacity, and determine the best path forward for a possible withdrawal from PJM.

In addition, I am continuing to work on three new bills that would help protect the public interest, prevent residential ratepayers from subsidizing the costs of the largest energy consumers (like data centers), and ensure that utilities are doing all they can to improve grid reliability and resilience before hiking up rates.

I am committed to doing all I can to protect Pennsylvania ratepayers and find workable solutions that put ratepayers and the public interest first.

See my June 6 newsletter for tips on reducing your energy bills this summer, switching to a lower-cost renewable energy supplier, and avoiding energy marketing scams.

Mobile Office Hours and Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps visit

On Wednesday, Greg from my team was in Downingtown for our monthly mobile office at the Downingtown Library. If you live in or near the Borough, be sure to mark your calendar for the fourth Wednesday of each month, and stop by the library between 11 AM and 1 PM for assistance with SEPTA senior cards, unclaimed property, property tax / rent rebate applications, or help with any other state-related service.

Earlier this month, Jacob from my team had the chance to meet the members of a Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps youth group from Philadelphia and help them with some trail work at Marsh Creek State Park. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps, which is run by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) in partnership with the Department of Labor and Industry and the Student Conservation Association.

The Outdoor Corps is a youth conservation workforce development and training program. The program began 10 years ago with five youth crews and has since expanded to include 11 adult crews and 18 youth crews. The mission of the Outdoor Corps is to provide hands-on personal and professional development opportunities toward careers in conservation and outdoor recreation.

To date, more than 60 Outdoor Corps members have been hired into DCNR, with many others hired into conservation organizations in Pennsylvania and across the country. By engaging underserved citizens in conservation, the program helps to strengthen DCNR’s workforce and build the next generation of Pennsylvania’s conservation leaders.

Thanks to Marsh Creek, DCNR, and the Outdoor Corps for letting us come out to see your hard work in action, and thank you, Jacob, for pitching in to help!

Protecting Pennsylvanians from AI Scams and Financial Exploitation

Over the past several weeks, my team has received a concerning number of calls from constituents who have been the targets of attempted scams or identity theft.

Earlier this month, Governor Shapiro signed SB 649 into law, creating new criminal penalties for anyone who uses artificial intelligence (AI) to produce non-consensual “forged digital likenesses” — like deepfakes or voice clones — to defraud or harm Pennsylvanians, protecting Pennsylvanians from AI scams and financial exploitation. Under the new law, prosecutors can now charge bad actors with a third-degree felony if they use AI-generated fake content to commit fraud or cause injury — including schemes like faking a grandchild’s voice to trick older adults into sending money.

This legislation builds on actions previously taken by the administration to protect consumers from fraud. In May, the Governor launched a new, centralized consumer protection hotline, website, and email address to make it easier for Pennsylvanians to report scams, resolve financial and insurance issues, and get help from the Commonwealth—all part of a commitment to step up consumer protections at the state level as federal protections are rolled back.

To get help with a consumer issue, Pennsylvanians can now:

Call: 1-866-PACOMPLAINT (1-866-722-6675)

Visit: pa.gov/consumer

Email: consumer@pa.gov

No matter the issue, Pennsylvanians will now be routed to the agency that can best assist them. And of course, as always, please reach out to my office with any questions or concerns. My team and I are here to help!

If you have questions or would like to provide feedback on any legislative or state-related issue, please contact our district office at repotten@pahouse.net.

Trails & Transportation Plan Open for Public Comment

Do you use the region’s Circuit Trails – including the Struble Trail, Chester Valley Trail, or Schuylkill River Trail? If so, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) wants to hear from you!

The DVRPC has opened public comment on its draft transportation and infrastructure plan, which maps out investments and funding through 2050. The plan emphasizes safety, environmental sustainability, and community input.

Let the DVRPC know your thoughts about funding trails, green transportation, safety, and more. Comments can be submitted online or by mail until August 20. The final plan will be considered for adoption in September. Review the plan and share your feedback here.

2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Deadline Extended

The deadline to file Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications, for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2024, has been extended to December 31, 2025. The state began issuing rebate checks on July 1, so the sooner you file, the sooner you will receive your rebate if eligible!

Thanks to changes passed in 2023, more people are eligible, with income limits adjusted to keep pace with Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has made it easier for seniors in Chester County to stay in their homes and afford groceries, medicine, and so much more.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older.

Please call or stop by my office to find out if you’re eligible and get assistance applying for your rebate. We’d be glad to answer any questions and set up an appointment to help you complete your application online!

For those who prefer to file by mail, paper applications are available in my office.

SEPTA Senior Key Cards and Card Renewals

If you have a SEPTA Senior Key Card that has expired or will expire within the next month, we can renew it in our district office. To renew your card before it expires, please stop by my district office, or call us to make an appointment.

My office can also process applications and take photos for new SEPTA Senior Key ID Cards, which allow seniors 65 and older to travel for free on all SEPTA Regional Rail and transit routes within Pennsylvania. Just stop by my district office and bring a form of ID with your date of birth on it, such as a PA driver’s license or non-driver ID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate. We’ll enter your information into SEPTA’s online system, take a quick photo, and then SEPTA will mail your new card to you directly.

2-1-1 Southeastern Pennsylvania: Health and Human Services

211 SEPA is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide health and human services for everyday needs and those in crisis situations.

2-1-1 works with county governments and provider agencies to ensure important local program information is easily accessible.

Visit 211sepa.org for more information.

Mental Health Resources: Call 9-8-8

Chester County residents experiencing mental-health-related crisis or distress can dial 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.?This system is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people in crisis to a trained mental health professional.

Chester County offers additional resources for those in crisis, including Chester County’s warm line, 1-866-846-2722, operated by Certified Peer Specialists, who are individuals in recovery with a lived experience of mental health challenges.

Chester County’s Teen Talk Line ensures seamless referral to Mobile Crisis for youth in need of immediate or higher-level support. The call line is 855-852-TEEN (8336), and the text line is 484-362-9515.

Visit the?Department of Human Services website for more information about the 988 system and other state and local mental health resources.

If you or someone you love is in crisis, please don’t give up hope, and please know that you do not need to walk this path alone. We are here and we will do whatever we can to help.

My staff and I are here to help make state government work better for you! For assistance with the above programs or any other state-related services, please email repotten@pahouse.net, call 484-200-8259, or visit my district office in Exton.

Please don’t hesitate to call, email, or contact us through my website and let us know how we can help!

Sincerely,