Bill > HB1834

This bill establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for commercial data centers in Pennsylvania, focusing on several key aspects. The bill defines a commercial data center as a facility with a peak electricity demand of 25 megawatts or more, used primarily for processing, storing, or transmitting data. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is tasked with creating regulations covering various aspects of data center operations, including financial security, infrastructure contributions, contract terms, and load management. The bill prohibits public utilities from recovering certain data center-related costs from ratepayers and requires that at least 25% of electricity supplied to data centers come from renewable energy sources. Additionally, the bill creates the Data Center LIHEAP Enhancement Fund, which mandates annual payments from data centers based on their peak demand ($250,000 to $500,000) to support the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), including a new summer cooling component. Public utilities must file contracts with the PUC for review, which will assess impacts on the electrical grid, reliability, and ratepayers. Violations of the act will be subject to enforcement by the PUC, and the bill will take effect 90 days after passage.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1834