PA House Energy Committee chair: After historic election, Pennsylvania must act on energy affordability
Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus November 6, 2026 | 4:21 PM
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 6 – State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, chair of the Pennsylvania House Energy Committee, issued the following statement in response to Tuesday’s election:
“The results of this week's election have created a historic opportunity to deliver real progress for Pennsylvania families. With Democrats now holding a governing trifecta, voters have entrusted us with the heavy responsibility to act on the pocketbook issues that affect their daily lives: lowering costs, strengthening our economy, creating the next generation of careers, and improving quality of life for working people. With a majority in both chambers, we now must work quickly to transform those campaign slogans into meaningful legislation that betters people’s lives.
“Few issues are more important to that mission than energy affordability.
“Across Pennsylvania, families are facing rising utility bills and increasing uncertainty about the cost of keeping their homes heated in the winter and cool in the summer. For many households, energy costs are not a manageable expense. They are a monthly burden that can force difficult choices between paying bills, buying groceries, seeking medical care, and meeting other basic needs.
“As chair of the House Energy Committee, I believe the next legislative session presents a unique opportunity to address these challenges head-on. Over the past two years, our committee has advanced meaningful legislation to modernize our energy system, support emerging technologies, regulate large data centers, and strengthen Pennsylvania's electric grid. While some progress has been made, much more work remains.
“In the coming session, the Energy Committee will focus on three core priorities: expanding affordable energy supply, modernizing our energy infrastructure, and protecting residents and small businesses from unnecessary costs.
“Pennsylvania must embrace a forward-looking energy strategy that brings more affordable energy onto the grid and ensures we remain an energy leader for generations to come. We have an opportunity to accelerate the development of new energy projects, including renewable and next-generation technologies, while leveraging tools such as the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority to attract investment and create family sustaining jobs.
“At the same time, we must recognize that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, data centers, and other energy-intensive industries is placing unprecedented demands on our electric system. Pennsylvania should welcome innovation and economic development, but working families should not be forced to subsidize the infrastructure costs of the AI boom. Large technology companies and data center operators must pay their fair share, and we must ensure that ratepayers are not left holding the bill for new transmission lines, generation projects, or grid upgrades built primarily to serve corporate demand.
“We also need to think differently about the future of our energy system. For too long, our grid has been built around centralized generation and top-down control. The future should be more distributed, more resilient, and more empowering for consumers. Expanding rooftop solar, battery storage, microgrids, community energy projects, and other distributed energy resources can give Pennsylvanians greater energy freedom while improving reliability and reducing costs over the long term.
“Along with infrastructure changes, we must ensure that utility companies are held accountable. Pennsylvanians deserve safe and reliable service at a fair price. That means examining utility rate structures, preventing predatory practices in the retail energy market, and ensuring consumers are not paying more than necessary to keep the lights on.
“The challenges before us are significant, but so is the opportunity. Citizens are demanding real change from a status quo that has left too many families paying more and getting less. We have a chance to build a more affordable, reliable, resilient, and consumer-focused energy system that serves the people of Pennsylvania, not entrenched interests, while creating thousands of good-paying jobs and long-term careers in the industries that will power our future.
“Voters have given us a mandate to tackle the cost-of-living challenges facing working families. In the next session, the House Energy Committee stands ready to deliver solutions that lower energy costs, hold powerful interests accountable, and secure an energy future defined by affordability, reliability, and energy freedom.”