‘People over profit margins’: PA House Democrats renew commitment to energy affordability with bill package to protect consumers
Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus October 7, 2026 | 12:31 PM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 7 — As electric costs and household shutoffs reached historic highs this year, PA House Democrats introduced a bold series of bills in April intended to lower costs for everyday Pennsylvanians, hold big corporations accountable and get more energy out of Pennsylvania’s existing infrastructure. On Wednesday, House members gathered again to urge action on this crisis and renew focus on their Energy Affordability bill package.
The bills in the package are:
House Bill 1457, introduced by state Rep. Tarah Probst, D-Monroe/Pike, would save consumers money by prohibiting companies from charging Weather Normalization Adjustments, which charge customers for energy they never use.
“We’re talking today about energy affordability, but how can we expect Pennsylvanians to afford their utility bills when they can be charged more for using less energy?” Probst said. “Weather normalization adjustments can leave families with higher-than-expected bills simply because the weather was different than anticipated or they made the responsible choice to conserve energy. I’ve heard directly from constituents in Monroe and Pike Counties who have experienced this firsthand. House Bill 1457 would put an end to this practice and make sure Pennsylvanians aren’t punished for turning down their heat, conserving energy or simply experiencing an unusually warm winter.”
State Rep. Heather Boyd, D-Delaware, introduced H.B. 2131 to protect ratepayers from predatory business practices by automatically returning them to their initial service contract, unless they explicitly choose a new company. Pennsylvania’s retail energy market promises low “teaser” rates, but research shows that these contracts cost ratepayers far more than default service.
“Pennsylvanians shouldn’t have to be energy experts just to make sure they’re not paying more than they should for electricity,” Boyd said. “I introduced H.B. 2131 because consumers deserve transparency and a real choice when their energy contract ends. Families are already struggling with rising costs. They shouldn’t be hit with an unexpected increase because they missed the fine print. House Bill 2131 is about protecting consumers and making sure Pennsylvania’s energy market works for the people who rely on it every day.”
The package also includes H.B. 2224, which passed the House unanimously in June, that would lower consumers’ bills by limiting how much excessive profit utility companies can derive from ratepayers.
“Households in Pennsylvania should pay the appropriate cost for safe and reliable utility service, and not a dollar more,” said state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila, the sponsor of H.B. 2224. “House Bill 2224 will set a clear rule that utilities can only earn what their actual operating costs justify. This bill could save everyday people a lot of money, potentially hundreds of dollars a year. By restoring balance to the ratemaking process, we can put an end to unjustified rate hikes, protect affordability and make sure every dollar paid by ratepayers goes toward serving the public — not lining the pockets of giant corporations.”
House Bill 2264, introduced by state Rep. Nathan Davidson, D-Dauphin/Cumberland, would allow ratepayers to connect home energy devices like smart thermostats to the grid to slightly reduce their energy usage during peak demand, or to send energy they generate directly to the grid. The implementation of these “virtual power plants” reduces grid strain, which provides more reliable service for all ratepayers. As of February 2026, electric distribution companies in 35 states administered at least one virtual power plant program, which saved ratepayers hundreds of dollars annually.
“Everyday Pennsylvanians are feeling the squeeze of rising electric bills, and they deserve practical, modern solutions that put money back in their pockets,” Davidson said. “Virtual power plants empower everyday households to take control of their energy costs. This will modernize our system, so consumers are not stuck paying for expensive, outdated infrastructure when smarter, cost-saving alternatives are already at our fingertips.”
New to the package since the April announcement is the battery storage bill, HB 2380, introduced by state Rep. Nikki Rivera, D-Lancaster. Grid-scale battery storage improves efficiency and demand response by storing electricity when demand and prices are low and discharging it during peak periods, which helps to lower costs. This bill passed the House on Monday with a bipartisan vote of 116-86.
“Battery storage is a practical, proven solution to keep our lights on and our electricity bills affordable,” Rivera said. “Battery storage would help lower energy costs, reduce strain on our grid and help prevent blackouts caused by extreme weather. It’s time for Pennsylvania to modernize its aging power grid and join our neighbors — Maryland, New York and New Jersey — in setting battery storage targets.”
Finally, the package includes H.B. 1834, introduced by state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver, which would prohibit utilities from passing on the cost of data center development and related infrastructure upgrades to consumers. It also requires that data center developers support energy assistance for low-income Pennsylvanians by funding a new LIHEAP summer cooling program. The bill passed the House in March with bipartisan support but has not moved in the Senate.
After a unanimous House vote, Fiedler’s Advanced Transmission Technologies bill (H.B. 2223), which was originally in the package, was enacted in June as part of the budget package.
The full press conference is available at this link: https://www.youtube.com/live/3sMLcIW7dV0.