Legislation would prohibit data centers from obtaining public utility status
Rep. Paul Friel October 20, 2026 | 9:40 AM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 20 – State Rep. Paul Friel, D-Chester, said today that he was proud to sponsor and vote for legislation that would prohibit data centers from obtaining public-utility status in Pennsylvania.
House Bill 2674 passed the state House by a bipartisan vote of 202–1. It now needs to be passed by the Senate and signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro to become law.
Without the change, data-center developers can attempt to invoke eminent domain and operate as a monopoly, acquire property through rights-of-way, and generally expand with little or no public oversight.
“Without H.B. 2674, decisions about data centers will be made behind closed doors and likely benefit corporate profit holders first,” Friel said. “We need to enact what guardrails we can to protect against reckless data-center development in Pennsylvania. This is the bill we need in the Commonwealth right now.”
The bill also defines what a commercial data center is, drawing a clear distinction between them and utility companies that provide electricity to the public. It also protects consumers and communities by preventing data centers from receiving regulatory treatment intended for public utilities.
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