Pennsylvania SB 1291: An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in service and facilities, providing for advanced transmission technologies.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1642
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1291
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY KEARNEY, FONTANA, COSTA, CAPPELLETTI, VOGEL,
SAVAL, MILLER, STREET AND PISCIOTTANO, APRIL 23, 2026
REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
APRIL 23, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in service and facilities, providing
for advanced transmission technologies.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 66 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 1504.1. Advanced transmission technologies.
(a) Submission of evidence.--The following shall apply to
each transmission siting application or letter of notification
filed with the commission under 52 Pa. Code Ch. 57 Subch. G
(relating to commission review of siting and construction of
electric transmission lines):
(1) An electric distribution company shall provide
evidence to the commission of the electric distribution
company's evaluation and assessment of implementing advanced
transmission technologies on existing transmission
infrastructure and all proposed transmission infrastructure
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within the jurisdiction of the commission identified in the
application or letter of notification.
(2) The application or letter of notification under
paragraph (1) shall not be granted, either as proposed or
modified, unless the commission determines, in addition to
any other existing criteria, that the proposed transmission
lines incorporate all technically feasible and cost-effective
advanced transmission technologies to achieve at least two of
the following:
(i) Avoid construction of new transmission
infrastructure in whole or in part.
(ii) Increase capacity, efficiency and reliability
of the transmission system.
(iii) Reduce transmission system congestion.
(iv) Reduce environmental or aesthetic impacts.
(b) Cost recovery.--Any additional costs borne by the
electric distribution company in compliance with this section
shall be recovered in accordance with a commission-approved
tariff.
(c) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to limit the commission's authority under any other
provision of law to regulate a public utility service or
facility.
(d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Advanced power flow controller." A hardware or software
technology that modulates circuit impedance or other electrical
properties to reroute power flows and relieve congestion.
"Advanced transmission technologies." A software or hardware
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technology that increases the capacity, efficiency, reliability
or safety of an existing or new electric transmission system,
including grid-enhancing technologies such as dynamic line
rating, advanced power flow controllers and topology
optimization software, high-performance conductors and other
technologies designed to reduce transmission congestion.
"Dynamic line rating." A system that uses real-time or
forecasted weather and operating conditions, including wind
speed and direction, to determine the transfer capacity of a
transmission line.
"High-performance conductor." A conductor used in an
electric transmission system, including carbon fiber conductors,
composite core conductors and superconductors, to which the
following apply:
(1) The conductor has a direct electrical resistance
that is at least 10% lower than aluminum-conductor steel-
reinforced conductors of a similar diameter and weight.
(2) The conductor has an energy carrying capacity at
least 75% greater than aluminum-conductor steel-reinforced
conductors of a similar diameter and weight.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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