Public Utility Commission To Hold Nov. 17 Technical Conference On Utility Costs Driven By A.I. Data Centers, Other Large Loads

On September 22, the Public Utility Commission announced it will convene a Technical Conference on November 17 to examine how costs associated with data centers and large new loads are identified and allocated..

“Time is of the essence when it comes to addressing costs driven by data center growth, because the costs for energy, capacity, distribution and transmission are already increasing for ordinary retail customers,” said PUC Vice Chair Kimberly Barrow. “This technical conference will help us vet issues of cost responsibility in a data center driven world and inform the Commission on how best to protect the public interest.”

The rapid buildout of data centers and other large-load facilities continues to fuel concerns about cost impacts on Pennsylvania households, along with growing worries about power grid reliability.

Following Gov. Josh Shapiro’s August 18 Executive Order, the PUC continues to examine measures which address the allocation of data center-related costs.  [Read more here]

This Conference enables utilities, consumer advocates, large-load customers and other stakeholders to participate in panel discussions on cost allocation associated with large computational loads.

As part of the informal educational process, Commissioners will pose questions to the panelists and will engage the panelists in discussions related to large computational load cost allocation in Pennsylvania.

How To Participate

Due to timing constraints of the Technical Conference, a limit to the number of panelists may be necessary. 

Interested parties who want to apply to become a panelist may do so by filling out an application and/or submitting it to CLCATechConference@pa.gov  no later than Oct. 14, 2026. 

The application can be found on the Commission’s website at Technical Conference on Large Computational Load Cost Allocation.

Pre-conference comments will be accepted until Nov. 13, 2026. Comments must be eFiled with the Secretary of the Commission by opening an eFiling account through the Commission’s website and accepting eservice at PUC Docket No.: M-2026-3065062.

Following the conclusion of the Technical Conference, comments will be accepted from members of the public. Comments must be eFiled with the Secretary of the Commission on or before Dec. 18, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. and will be posted on the Commission’s website. 

Any questions regarding this technical conference should be directed to CLCATechConference@pa.gov. 

Join The Conference

The Conference will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Hearing Room 1, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120. 

An agenda will be posted prior to the Technical Conference on the PUC’s website. 

The technical conference will be open to the public via livestream the morning of the event.

Documents related to the Conference will be available at PUC Docket No.: M-2026-3065062

Click Here for the PUC announcement.

Related Articles This Week:

-- Public Utility Commission To Hold Nov. 17 Technical Conference On Utility Costs Driven By A.I. Data Centers, Other Large Loads  [PaEN]

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