Bucks Lawmakers Speak Out Against PECO Request For Gas, Electric Price Hikes

Bucks County state lawmakers, including Democratic Reps. Tim Brennan, Tina Davis, Brian Munroe, Jim Prokopiak, and Perry Warren, have voiced strong opposition to PECO's recent filing with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) to increase electric rates by 12.5 percent and natural gas rates by 11.4 percent, effective in 2027. If approved, the hikes would add an average of $20.08 monthly for electricity and $14.52 for natural gas to family bills. The lawmakers specifically cited the growing energy demands of AI data centers as a contributing factor to rising PECO costs, arguing that these centers are currently not compensating consumers for the electricity they consume. Rep. Brian Munroe stated that PECO's decision would worsen the economic burden on struggling Pennsylvanians. All five representatives supported H.B. 1834, a bill that aims to mandate data centers to pay for their own electricity, which successfully passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives last week. However, the bill's fate in the Republican-majority Pennsylvania Senate remains uncertain, as does the progress of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s GRID plan. The lawmakers have initiated a petition to rally public pushback against PECO’s proposal, encouraging residents to file formal complaints with the PUC.