PUC Publishes Proposed Rule Regulating Electric Distributed Energy, Aggregation Resources, Virtual Power Plant Participation In Wholesale Energy Markets

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the April 11 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a proposed rule regulating electric distributed energy, aggregation resources and virtual Power plant participation in wholesale energy markets.

The PUC notice provides extensive background on how the rule was developed through an advanced notice of rulemaking published in November 2023 as well as a stakeholder process and outlines related Federal Energy Regulatory Commission actions impacting the rule.

The PUC will accept comments on the proposed rule for 60 days following this notice.  A 90 day period will follow for filing reply comments.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for background and instructions on how to submit comments.

Related Articles This Week:

-- House Energy Committee To Meet April 13 To Consider GeoThermal Energy, Advanced Transmission Line Technology, PA Energy Development Authority Bills; Sets April 14 Hearing On Net Metering  [PaEN] 

-- City Of Pittsburgh To Develop Solar Energy Facility On Steel Slag Disposal Area In Swisshelm Park To Cut Energy Costs By $2.6 Million At 4 Public Schools  [PaEN]

-- PA Solar Center, Partners Host April 17 Webinar On How Energy Storage, Solar Energy Create Resilient Communities Featuring DEP's Report On Microgrids, Energy Storage  [PaEN]  

-- PUC Raises Cost, Other Concerns With Proposed 222 Mile Kammer Juniata Electric Transmission Line Project Going Through 10 PA Counties [To Help Feed A.I. Data Center Demands In Eastern PA]  [PaEN]

-- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Seeks Comments On Environmental Impacts Of Proposed Constitution Natural Gas Pipeline Project Impacting Susquehanna County, PA; New York And Delaware  [PaEN] 

-- Local Governments: Apply To DEP’s Community Energy Development Program By April 15 For Help In Developing Energy Transition Plans  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Hosts April 15 Webinar On How To Do Trenchless Pipeline Construction Safely After Major Incidents In 2025 Causing The Release Of 1.2 Million Gallons Of Drilling Fluids Into Abandoned Mine Voids In Washington County. 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

-- PA Extends Low-Income Energy Assistance Program Application Period To May 8; President Calls For Eliminating The Program Next Year  [PaEN] 

-- DEP State Water Plan Program Hosting 4 Upcoming Webinars On Dry Cooling; Developing Local Climate Action Plans; Overview Of The PUC Water Programs; Coastal Zone Grants  [PaEN]

-- EPA Moves To Weaken Rule To Reduce Methane Emissions From Oil & Gas Operations  [PaEN] 

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-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation Joins Lawsuit Over Federal Repeal Of Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- Williamsport Sun: Panelists Compare Coming A.I. Data Centers To What Shale Gas Did To The Region; ‘This Isn’t Something That You Stop’ Said PPL President ‘It’s Something You Are Responsible With’ [PDF of Article] 

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: PA A.I. Data Centers: How State Lawmakers Are Responding, From Electricity  And Water Use To Proposing More Tax Breaks

-- Utility Dive: Pennsylvania DEP Seeks Potential Fast-Track Energy Storage, Generation Projects In Response To PJM Expedited Interconnection Track

-- The Center Square: Non-Disclosure Agreements With Local Officials On A.I. Data Centers Spur Talk Of ‘Secret Deals’ 

-- TribLive: Duquesne Light Asks FERC To Lower PJM Price Cap From $325/MW/Day To The Current Floor Of $175/MW/Day To Save Customers $10/Month 

-- WHYY: Gov. Shapiro Calls PECO ‘s Proposed 12.5% Electric, 11.4% Natural Gas Increase ‘Pure Greed’

-- WPXI: Family Says Duquesne Light Power Surge Fried Their Appliances, Affected 20 Neighbors

-- PATownHall.com Guest Essay: PA Manufacturers’ Association Opposes Caps On Price Of Electricity, Energy - Because The Competitive Market Works  [PDF of Article]

-- Inquirer: Energy Prices Are Up, These Smart Moves Can Help Your Business Save Money

-- WESA/Allegheny Front: Shell Petrochemical Plant Draft Air Permit Finds Support, Opposition At DEP Hearing 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: DEP Hearing On Proposed Emission Limit Increases For Shell Petrochemical Plant A Temperature Check For Residents, Union Workers In Beaver County

-- Public Source Pittsburgh: DEP Hearing On Shell Petrochemical Plant Air Permit Brings Out Economic Benefits And Health, Compliance Concerns

-- TribLive Letter: Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County Continues To Pollute - By Clara Jane Mack, Oakland, Pittsburgh 

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: DEP Fines Eureka Resources $100,000 For Oil & Gas Wastewater Spills, Other Violations In Bradford, Lycoming County

-- TribLive - Joe Napsha: CNX Midstream Seeks To Tap Beaver Run Drinking Water Reservoir For Fracking Water In Westmoreland County  

-- York Daily Record: Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant Wants To Draw More Water From Susquehanna River For Its Restart 

-- TribLive: Solar Energy Facility Planned In Swisshelm Park Would Power 4 Pittsburgh Public Schools 

-- TheDerrick.com: Oil City Hears From Solar Energy Company On Proposed Installation Near High School In Venango County

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Green Group Gives Pennsylvania ‘F’ On Solar Energy Facility Permitting

-- PennLive: Pennsylvanians Could Lose Millions Used To Help People Pay Heating Bills Under President’s Proposed Budget Cuts  

-- AP: President Promised To Cut Electric Bills In Half, Bills In Energy-Rich West Virginia Now Top Mortgages  

-- TribLive Letter: PA’s Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee An Example Of Effective Taxation - By Jeff Smith, Butler  [For The Industry Only, Not As A Reliable Source Of Revenue To Pay Local Governments, Others For The Damage Done By The Industry]

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: PA Helped Build US Energy Future Once, We Need To Do It Again With More Natural Gas Power Plants - By former State Senator John Peterson [Leaving Us Vulnerable To Price Spikes, With 1,000s Of Abandoned Wells]

-- Commonwealth Foundation Guest Essay: Pennsylvania LNG Natural Gas Key To American Energy Independence [Making Pennsylvanians Compete For Their Own Gas With High-Priced Overseas Markets]

-- Ohio Capital Journal: More Natural Gas Generation Coming To Ohio To Feed A.I. Data Centers [But Will Not Increase Generation Diversity To Avoid Price Spikes For ‘Ordinary People’]

-- Utility Dive: Supply Crunch For Natural Gas Power Plant Turbines Set To Raise Prices 195% By 2027; 5 Year Wait For Large Turbines, Report

-- Bloomberg: Electricity Prices Went Deeply Negative In France, Germany Over Easter Weekend Due To A Surge In Renewable Energy Output Colliding With Reduced Demand

-- Reuters: US EIA: Record Electricity Use As A.I. Data Centers Surge; Increase In Renewables, Drop In Natural Gas, Coal Generation; Increasing Price Of Natural Gas 

-- US EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook As Of April 7

-- The Guardian: Oil And Natural Gas Crisis From US President’s War On Iran Worse Than 1973, 1979 And 2022 Together, Says IEA

-- NYT: It Will Take Months To Get Oil And Natural Gas Flowing Again From The Gulf

[Posted: April 10, 2026]  PA Environment Digest