Bill > HB782

This bill modifies Pennsylvania's public utility regulations in two key areas: advertising expenses and regional transmission organization (RTO) membership. First, regarding advertising expenses, the bill expands reporting requirements for public utilities with over 75,000 customers, mandating detailed annual reports about lobbying and political activities. These reports must include costs from parent companies, employee time spent on such activities, third-party vendor payments, and other relevant information. The bill also introduces new definitions for "lobbying or political activity" and "prohibited costs," which include expenses like trade association memberships, certain advertising aimed at creating goodwill, travel and entertainment expenses for directors and officers, and investor relations costs. Second, the bill requires electric distribution companies to be members of a regional transmission organization (RTO) and submit annual reports detailing any recorded votes cast by the company or its affiliates during RTO meetings, including an explanation of how each vote serves the public interest. The bill defines key terms like "affiliate," "meeting," "recorded vote," and "regional transmission organization" to provide clarity. These changes aim to increase transparency in public utility operations and governance. The bill will take effect 60 days after its enactment.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=782