House adopts Steele resolution to conduct study on underground power lines
Rep. Mandy Steele June 24, 2025
HARRISBURG, June 24 – State Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny, said the House has adopted her resolution to look into how the state can protect its utility infrastructure against more frequent weather events.
Steele’s resolution requires the Joint State Government Commission to study the efficacy of burying electric and other utility lines in Pennsylvania. This resolution follows the powerful April storms in Allegheny County, which left some residents without power for over two weeks.
“I had hundreds of constituents without power, seniors, and others who are sick and dependent on electricity to operate their life-saving devices. People truly suffered, and they want to know how it can be prevented,” Steele said.
According to the state Public Utility Commission, Pennsylvania ranks fifth in the nation for weather-related outages. And the extreme weather events that have occurred since the year 2000 have cost the state up to $5 billion.
“Completing this study is a critical step in ensuring we can assist our communities in times of crisis,” said Steele.
Following the adoption of H.R. 254, the Joint State Government Commission must report cost, viability, geographic and topographic limitations, right-of-way issues, and other land usage issues to the legislature within one year.