Pennsylvania HB 2223: An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in service and facilities, providing for advanced transmission technologies.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2952, 3177 PRINTER'S NO. 3321
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2223
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY FIEDLER, WAXMAN, HILL-EVANS, PROBST, PIELLI,
GIRAL, MAYES, BOROWSKI, INGLIS, RIVERA, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
MADDEN, K. HARRIS, BOYD, CURRY, HANBIDGE AND DOUGHERTY,
MARCH 3, 2026
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
APRIL 29, 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) Applicability.--This section shall apply to each
transmission siting application filed with the commission under
52 Pa. Code Ch. 57 Subch. G (relating to commission review of
siting and construction of electric transmission lines) and each
letter of notification in lieu of application filed with the
commission under 52 Pa. Code Ch. 57 (relating to electric
service).
(b) Evidence REPORT of evaluation.--An applicant shall
provide to the commission evidence A REPORT DOCUMENTING that the <--<--
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applicant evaluated and assessed the use of advanced
transmission technologies for any of the following:
(1) Existing transmission infrastructure.
(2) Proposed transmission infrastructure and upgrades
identified in the application or letter of notification,
including infrastructure for which the proposed voltage would
be increased above existing levels and infrastructure that
would be reconductored or reconstructed within the
jurisdiction of the commission.
(c) Commission determination.--The commission may not grant
an application or approve a letter of notification under
subsection (a), either as proposed or as modified, unless the
commission determines, in addition to any other applicable
requirements under State law, that the proposed transmission
infrastructure incorporates all technically feasible and cost-
effective advanced transmission technologies.
(C) REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION.--WHERE AN APPLICANT INCLUDES AN
ANALYSIS OF ADVANCED TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGIES, THERE SHALL BE A
REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION THAT THE ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
HAS CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE ADVANCED TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGIES
FOR THE PROPOSED TRANSMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE.
(D) CONDITIONAL APPROVAL.--IF, UPON CONSIDERATION OF RECORD
EVIDENCE, THE COMMISSION DETERMINES IT IS IN THE PUBLIC
INTEREST, THE COMMISSION MAY, AS A CONDITION OF APPROVING AN
APPLICATION, AND IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER RELIEF GRANTED, ORDER
THE APPLICANT TO INTEGRATE ADVANCED TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGIES TO
HELP FULLY OR PARTIALLY RESOLVE THE NEED IDENTIFIED IN THE
APPLICATION.
(E) COMPETITIVE BIDS.--FOR EACH TRANSMISSION SITING
APPLICATION SUBJECT TO A COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS, THE COMMISSION
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SHALL GIVE FULL CONSIDERATION FOR THE REGIONAL BENEFITS
IDENTIFIED IN THE APPLICATION.
(d) (F) Commission requirements.--No later than one year
after the effective date of this subsection, the commission
shall adopt regulations, orders or statements of policy
specifying the advanced transmission technology assessment
requirements and methods that an applicant shall use to satisfy
subsection (b).
(e) (G) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to limit the commission's authority under any other
provision of State law to regulate a public utility service or
facility.
(f) (H) 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.
"Advanced transmission technologies." Any of the following:
(1) Grid-enhancing technologies, including dynamic line
rating, advanced power flow controller and topology
optimization software.
(2) High-performance conductors.
(3) Any other technology identified by the commission
that may avoid the construction of new transmission
infrastructure, increase the capacity, efficiency or
reliability of the transmission system, reduce transmission
system congestion, reduce environmental impacts or provide
other benefits to the transmission system.
"Aluminum conductor steel reinforced conductor." A stranded
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overhead electrical conductor composed of one or more layers of
hard-drawn aluminum wire helically laid around a central core of
galvanized or otherwise coated steel strands, designed to
provide enhanced tensile strength and electric