September 29, 2026 · CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND UTILITIES · 1,472 words · 5 speakers · 25 segments
Good morning. I'd like to call the meeting of... I drank too much coffee this morning. I'd like to call this meeting of the House Consumer Protection Technology and Utilities Committee to order. Ms. Brooks, please call the roll.
Cameron Burgos. Here. Representative Benham. Representative Borowski. Representative Cephas. Designation. Representative Gallagher. Designation. Representative Haddock. Here. Representative Hohenstein. Designation. Representative Isaacson. Representative Malagari. Designation. Representative Mullins. Here. Representative Monroe. Designation. Representative Nelson. Designation. Representative Peele. Representative Steele. Designation. Chairman Metzgar. Here. Representative Hogan. Designation. Representative Kale. Representative Kaufman. Designation. Representative Kozak. Representative Kutz. Representative Major. Representative Mahaffey. Representative Mahalik. I'm sorry. Designation. Representative Mahaffey. Representative Wrenkavage. Designation. Representative Tomlinson. Designation. Representative Williams. Representative Hogan is present.
We have a quorum. Representative Hogan did dinner. Quorum being present, we will proceed with our agenda. Chair calls House Bill 2480, sponsored by Representative Ortiz High. Staff will read a summary of the bill.
This bill requires utilities to ensure that at least one automated external defibrillator, or AED, is readily available and operable at each work site.
On the bill, Amendment 04305, Metzger Amendment. Okay. The chair, Mr. Representative Tita, would you like to speak on your bill?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The bill is pretty simple to explain. Line workers do some of the toughest and most dangerous work out there. They're up on poles, working on live power lines, out in every kind of weather. The amount of storms that we've had across the state, I'm sure everyone has experienced that. And with that kind of work comes a real risk of sudden cardiac arrest, whether it from electrical shock or just the physical strain of doing the work Right now Pennsylvania already requires AEDs Those devices are in schools hotels gyms coal mines but there never been a requirement at a utility work site. So this bill fixes that. It says utilities have to have an AED ready or readily available wherever their crews are working, whether that's a fixed location or a mobile crew out in the field. And the reason for that is because of timing. For when someone's heart stops every minute without treatment cuts their chance of survival by about 10%. And as a lot of you know, in some of the rural areas, a hospital or a facility could be pretty far away. So having that device right there can make a big difference in saving someone's life. I also want to give credit to how we got here. This bill with the amendment will look different than what we first introduced. And I think it's better because of that. We sat down with the utility companies, the IBEW, and worked through some of the issues over the last few weeks and what we have in front of us today reflects that work. I also want to thank Chairman Metzger for his work and David, too. I know we've been talking a lot over the last couple weeks to get this nailed down. And thank you, the chair, for calling this up. This is an important piece. Also, too, training is covered at no cost to the worker through recognized programs like the Red Cross and the American Heart Association. And I just simply ask for your support on the bill today. So thank you.
Thank you, Representative. Chairman Metzger on the amendment.
Yeah, so just to add on to what Representative Ortita said, we've worked on this bill, and I thank the majority chair's office for their assistance, the IBEW in particular, that we came to an amendment that actually just addresses some of the practical concerns of trying to make this happen with regard to where the device is placed on the trucks, who has to do that, and making sure that the contractors do in fact have to comply with it as well. So it's just generically an amendment to make the issue practically work. So we appreciate everyone's help on that.
Thank you. Thank you, Chair. Any additional discussion on the amendment? Do we have any negative votes on the amendment? Hearing none, the amendment passes. On the bill as amended, any additional discussion? Any negative votes? Hearing none, the bill passes as amended unanimously. Thank you, Representative. Next, Chair calls House Bill 2584. Representative Fiedler, Chairwoman Fiedler, Tim, read the bill.
All right. Absolutely. This bill establishes a user-friendly, centralized public database maintained by the Public Utility Commission to provide clear, accessible information on utility rates and proposed rate increases.
Chair calls up amendment 804230.
Tim, read a summary of the amendment. This amendment excludes the rates of telecommunications carriers from the bill.
General Metzger Yeah just one quick question I didn know if it represented PLA or the amendment to PLA Had any inclination to explain why are we excluding telecom carriers
The focus of this bill, my understanding from the author, and I see we have the executive director here from Energy, just in case, to clarify, but it's supposed to be the utilities. The focus of this bill is for gas, water, electric, and it really doesn't encompass a broad umbrella to include this group of folks. this is an agreement with the author of this bill of this amendment thank you
representative on the amendment we have any negative votes hearing on the amendment passes on the bill do we have any further discussion on the bill do we have any and And on the bill as amended, do we have any negative votes? Hearing none, the bill passes unanimously. Was the Second Amendment pulled?
Yes. Yes. Yeah.
All right. Pardon. Right. And here we go. This one. At the request of the prime sponsor, House Bill 2590, we will be going over this bill. It will not be heard today. The next chair calls up Bill 2596, Representative Howard. Tim, read a summary of the bill.
House Bill 2596 requires public utilities to offer customers the option to opt in and at any time opt out of having their timely payments reported to a nationwide credit reporting agency.
Do we have any discussion on House Bill 2596? Do we have any negative votes? Hearing none, the bill passes unanimously. Next chair calls up House Bill 2674, Representative Piele. Tim, would you summarize the bill?
This bill amends Title 66, the public utility code, to define commercial data centers and refine the statutory definition of a public utility.
Chair recognizes Representative Piele. Comments?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, members and committee. I'm here today to ask for your affirmative vote of House Bill 2674, a critical piece of legislation designed to protect Pennsylvania ratepayers and ensure our local communities maintain control over their own land use decisions. Since 2020, as data center construction has accelerated across our Commonwealth, Pennsylvania's energy costs have surged by more than 70 percent. Right now we have up to 130 data centers with another 55 proposed planned or actively under consideration Without proper guardrails this rapid expansion will continue to drive up electricity costs for everyday families and small businesses Recently, AI and tech companies have begun floating the narrative that data centers should be classified as public utilities, and we need to cut off that exploitable loophole before it takes root. If data centers were to achieve public utility status, these four profit entities could, one, preempt local municipal zoning laws, taking away a community's ability to decide where facilities are built. Two, exercise eminent domain to acquire land, property, and rights of way. And three, operate as regulated monopolies, all to support private corporate interest at the expense of local taxpayers. House Bill 264 draws a clear line in the sand by explicitly prohibiting data centers from obtaining public utility status. This bill isn't about halting innovation. I want to make that clear. It's about establishing common-sense guardrails, protecting ratepayers, and ensuring local residents maintain a voice in how their communities are developed. So I urge a yes vote on House Bill 2674 today and stand with me in protecting our Pennsylvania communities. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Representative. The chair calls up Amendment A04235. Sam, summarize the amendment?
Yes, this amendment clarifies the term public utility does not include a commercial data center.
On the amendment, any discussion? Pretty straightforward. Do we hear any negative votes on the amendment? Hearing no negative votes on the amendment, the amendment passes. On the bill, are there any discussion as amended? Bill as amended. Hearing no negative votes, the bill passes unanimously. The chair calls up House Bill 2648 and moves to re-refer to the insurance committee. Any discussion on the bill? Any negative votes on that motion? Hearing no negative votes, the motion passes. There being no further business before the committee, we are adjourned. Thank you, everyone. Thank you.