Pa. House advances Friel Otten bill to establish public-interest standard for utility decisions
Rep. Danielle Friel Otten September 29, 2026 | 4:17 PM
HARRISBURG, Sept. 29 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today passed legislation introduced by state Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, that would require the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to explicitly consider the public interest when making decisions that affect utility customers across the commonwealth.
Friel Otten’s legislation, H.B. 2184, would establish a statutory definition of "public interest" and require the PUC to consider factors such as affordability, reliability, resilience, economic impacts, energy efficiency, sustainability, transparency, public safety and equitable treatment of customers in utility proceedings. The bill would also require the commission to explain how its decisions align with the public interest.
The bill passed the House with bipartisan support by a vote of 150-53. Today's action reflects growing concern among lawmakers about rising utility costs and the need for greater transparency and accountability in decisions that directly affect utility customers, businesses and communities across Pennsylvania.
"The increasing cost of almost everything in life right now is one of the first things people bring up to me, whether it's at the grocery store, the soccer sideline, or the carpool group chat," Friel Otten said. "According to United Way's ALICE report, 40% of Pennsylvania households are already living on the financial edge. For those families, a sudden spike in utility costs isn't just an inconvenience, it's a crisis."
"House Bill 2184 ensures that when the Public Utility Commission makes decisions about utility rates and infrastructure, the public interest is part of the equation. It doesn't tell the PUC what to decide, but it does require the commission to consider how those decisions affect the people who ultimately pay the bills and to provide a transparent explanation of how the public interest is being served. Most importantly, it gives ratepayers a seat at the table and helps ensure that the people paying the bills have a voice in decisions that directly affect them."
The bill now heads to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration. Friel Otten said that she is encouraging residents who support H.B. 2184 to contact their state senator and Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman to urge them to bring the measure up for a vote and advance legislation that prioritizes the interests of Pennsylvania ratepayers and communities.