PUC Announces Increase In Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee For Calendar 2025

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the January 24 PA Bulletin announcing an increase in the calendar year 2025 per well Act 13 shale gas drilling impact fee as calculated according to a formula in law.

The formula uses the average price of natural gas and the Consumer Price Index to calculate the fee.

The per well fee will increase about 15% from $51,800 in 2024 for first year wells to $59,700 for 2025.

The per well fees decline as wells age so by year 10 the fee will be $12,100.

PUC noted the number of new wells drilled increased from 309 in 2024 to 444 in 2025.

As a result of the 51% increase in the price of natural gas over the last year and the increase in the number of new wells drilled, the Independent Fiscal Office estimated in December the Act 13 impact fee would generate about $239.9 million-- $75.3 million more than the 2024 fee. Read more here.

The increase in revenue is welcome, because revenue had also been down in 2023 to $179.6 million, off the record revenue in 2022-- $278.9 million-- putting a hole in county and municipal budgets across the state.

The proceeds from the per well fee will be collected in April 2026 and distributed by the Public Utility Commission in July.

Visit the PUC Act 13 Impact Fee webpage for more information on distributions.

Related Articles This Week:

-- Shale Gas & Public Health Conference -- Our Work, Our Health: Building A Future Beyond Sacrifice To Be Held Feb. 19 In Pittsburgh, Online  [PaEN]  

-- PJM Interconnect Issues Cold Weather Alert For Western Region Jan. 23 Expanding To Entire PJM Area Jan. 24-27; Regional Grid Could Exceed Winter Demand Record on Jan. 27 & 30  [PaEN] 

-- Aboveground Water Pipelines Feeding Shale Gas Drilling Operations Beginning To Freeze Due To Cold Temperatures; Range Resources Incident Reported In Washington County; Notify DEP Of Pipeline Problems  [PaEN]

-- House Energy Committee Meeting To Consider Bill Giving PUC More Authority To Regulate A.I. Data Centers Moved To Feb. 2  [PaEN]  

-- Gov. Shapiro: Major Utilities, Power Producers, Tech Companies, Experts Endorse Federal/Northeast PJM Governors’ Plan To Meet Surging A.I. Data Center Energy Demands - Will PJM Listen?  [PaEN] 

-- PA House Committees Hearing: Witnesses Agree - A.I. Data Centers - Real And Purely Speculative - Are Driving Up The Cost Of Electricity; Without Effective Action Energy Increases Will Not End   [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- Bloomberg: Cold Blast Threatens To Cut US Natural Gas Output By Most Since 2021 Over Next 14 Days, Energy Aspects Says

-- Reuters: PJM Interconnection Expects All-Time Record Winter Electricity Demand Jan. 27 

-- WITF: PA Consumer Advocates Urge House Committees To Tax A.I. Data Centers, Offset Home Energy Spikes At Hearing

-- Post-Gazette: PA House Members Hear Warnings On A.I. Data Centers, Rising Electric Costs At Hearing

-- Tribune-Democrat: Electric Grid Concerns Aired By PA Lawmakers As Frigid Weather Settles In

-- Reuters: PJM Interconnection Expects All-Time Record Winter Electricity Demand Jan. 27 

-- Utility Dive: PJM Considering $1.7 Billion Transmission Line Project Across PA Based On Year-Old A.I. Data Center Demand Forecasts Is A ‘Poster Child’ For Overbuilding, According To PA Consumer Advocate

-- Inside Climate News: Clean Energy Advocates Criticise ‘Glaring’ Omission In White House/Northeast Governor’s Plan To Fuel A.I. Data Centers In PJM Region

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Beyond NIMBY vs. Progress: How Pennsylvania Can Secure A ‘Durable Yes’ For A.I. Data Centers [Honestly Address Issues Of Concern] - By Desmond Daley, Pittsburgh Resident

-- WHYY: As Electricity Rates Soar, PECO Adds $2.5 Million In Aid For Low-Income Customers 

-- Bloomberg: Natural Gas Prices Soar 75% In 3 Days As Arctic Cold Grips The US

-- Reuters: US Refineries Brace For Disruptions As Arctic Blast Hits

-- Reuters: US Energy Secretary Calls For Doubling Global Oil Output In Davos

[Posted: January 23, 2026]  PA Environment Digest