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Dear Neighbor,
This week was all about tackling energy affordability head-on!
As the House returned to Harrisburg for the start of fall session, we were focused on one of the biggest challenges facing Pennsylvania families, businesses, schools, and local governments - rising energy costs. I spent this week fighting to ensure that the people paying the bills have a voice in the decisions that affect them. Too often, decisions about utility rates and energy infrastructure are made without adequate consideration for the families, workers, and communities who ultimately bear the cost.
That's why I was proud to see the Pennsylvania House pass my legislation requiring the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to explicitly consider a defined public interest test when making decisions that affect utility customers across the Commonwealth. It's also why I continued my work with lawmakers from across the PJM region to push for greater transparency, accountability, and public representation in decisions that affect electricity prices and reliability for millions of people.
In Harrisburg, I'm advancing legislation to make sure the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission considers the impact of its decisions on the families, businesses, schools, and communities that pay the bills. At the regional level, I'm working with lawmakers from across states in the PJM footprint to push back against efforts that prioritize corporate interests over consumers. Whether the decisions are being made by the PUC or PJM, the stakes are the same, ensuring that the people who rely on our energy system have a meaningful voice in the process and that people are prioritized over profits when decisions affecting affordability are made.
At a time when too many Pennsylvanians are struggling with the rising cost of nearly everything, we need leaders who are willing to tackle affordability head-on. I will continue fighting to ensure that utility and energy decisions put people before profits, protect the public interest, and help deliver a more affordable future for the communities we serve.
PA House advances Friel Otten bill to establish public-interest standard for utility decisions
On Tuesday, the PA House passed my legislation that would require the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to explicitly consider the public interest when making decisions that affect utility customers across the commonwealth.
Specifically, HB 2184, would establish a statutory definition of "public interest" and require the PUC to consider factors such as affordability, reliability, resilience, economic impacts, energy efficiency, sustainability, transparency, public safety and equitable treatment of customers in utility proceedings. The bill would also require the commission to explain how its decisions align with the public interest.
The bill passed the House with strong bipartisan support, by a vote of 150-53. This action reflects growing concern among lawmakers about rising utility costs and the need for greater transparency and accountability in decisions that directly affect utility customers, businesses and communities across Pennsylvania.
The increasing cost of almost everything in life right now is one of the first things people bring up to me, whether it's at the grocery store, the soccer sideline, or the carpool group chat. According to United Way's ALICE report, 40% of Pennsylvania households are already living on the financial edge. For those families, a sudden spike in utility costs isn't just an inconvenience, it's a crisis.
HB 2184 ensures that when the Public Utility Commission makes decisions about utility rates and infrastructure, the public interest is part of the equation. It doesn't tell the PUC what to decide, but it does require the commission to consider how those decisions affect the people who ultimately pay the bills and to provide a transparent explanation of how the public interest is being served. Most importantly, it gives ratepayers a seat at the table and helps ensure that the people paying the bills have a voice in decisions that directly affect them.
The bill now heads to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration. Please contact your state senator and Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman to urge them to bring the measure up for a vote and advance legislation that prioritizes the interests of Pennsylvania ratepayers and communities. Watch my full remarks before the House floor here. |
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PJM Members Back Governance Proposal That Expands Industry Control as FERC Deadline Expires
On Wednesday, I spoke on behalf of the bipartisan PJM Legislators' Collaborative and the constituents we collectively represent, ahead of a vote on proposed governance reforms at PJM, the organization responsible for managing the electric grid serving 67 million people across 13 states and the District of Columbia.
For the past year, I have worked with legislators from across the PJM region to advocate for reforms that protect ratepayers and increase transparency, accountability, and public representation in PJM's decision-making process.
Back in June, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairwoman Laura Swett described PJM as facing a "grave legitimacy crisis" and called for reforms that would increase PJM's independence from the industry stakeholders that make up its voting membership, reduce barriers to action, and give states real input on decisions affecting their constituents.
Chairwoman Swett gave PJM until September 30 to either fix the problem itself or have FERC impose its own reforms on PJM.
Unfortunately, the PJM Members’ governance proposal approved by the PJM Members Committee at Wednesday’s deadline falls far short of those goals. Rather than strengthening independence and accountability, it expands the influence of PJM’s industry members, giving them veto power over state proposals and expanded power over critical decisions.
The decisions made at PJM affect electricity costs and reliability for families, small businesses, school districts, and municipalities throughout Pennsylvania and across the 13-state region. Those decisions should be guided by transparency, accountability, and the public interest, not by efforts to protect industry profits.
What the PJM Members are proposing is an unserious answer to a deeply serious crisis. Following the vote, PJM notified FERC that while the PJM Members’ proposal represents an agreement among PJM’s voting Members, the proposal is not satisfactory to the other stakeholders in this dispute resolution process.
As we await FERC’s next move, and as electricity prices continue to rise, I will continue to fight alongside my legislative colleagues and consumer advocates for a system that puts ratepayers first, demands accountability from the institutions making these decisions, and ensures that the voices of the people paying the bills are heard.
Our families, businesses, schools, and local governments deserve an energy system that works for them, not one that puts corporate profits ahead of the public interest.
Read more here.
Important Election Dates and Deadlines
November 3 is Election Day. Here are the dates and deadlines you need to ensure that you are prepared to vote.
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Election Resources
For accurate and up-to-date information, rely on your county election office or vote.pa.gov, the official website of the Pennsylvania Department of State. |
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Please contact my district office at repotten@pahouse.net if you have questions or would like to share your thoughts on any legislative or state-related issue. |
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Upcoming Events
FREE Paper-Only Shred Event
Join Team Otten for a FREE Paper-Only Shred Event!
Bring your confidential documents to be destroyed! Each car will be limited to 4 file-size boxes. Small paper clips and staples are OK, but please no binder clips, binders, or cardboard (plan to take your boxes home with you).
The shredding event will take place in the parking lot of the North Brandywine Middle School, 256 Reeceville Rd, Coatesville, PA.
This event is first-come, first-served. When the truck is full, the event will end. All shredded paper will be recycled!
If you have any questions, please contact Rep. Otten’s district office at 484-200-8259 or email repotten@pahouse.net . |
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Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period Extended
The 2026 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period has been extended through December 31, 2026. The Department of Revenue began sending rebates on July 1, so submit your application now to get your rebate as soon as possible!
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older.
Please call or stop by my office to find out if you’re eligible and get assistance applying for your rebate. We’d be glad to answer any questions and set up an appointment to help you complete your application online!
For those who prefer to file by mail, paper applications are available in my office. |
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SEPTA Senior Key Cards and Card Renewals
If you have a SEPTA Senior Key Card that has expired or will expire within the next month, we can renew it in our district office. To renew your card before it expires, please stop by my district office, or call us to make an appointment.
My office can also process applications and take photos for new SEPTA Senior Key ID Cards, which allow seniors 65 and older to travel for free on all SEPTA Regional Rail and transit routes within Pennsylvania. Just stop by my district office and bring a form of ID with your date of birth on it, such as a PA driver’s license or non-driver ID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate. We’ll enter your information into SEPTA’s online system, take a quick photo, and then SEPTA will mail your new card to you directly. |
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2-1-1 Southeastern Pennsylvania: Health and Human Services
211 SEPA is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide health and human services for everyday needs and those in crisis situations.
2-1-1 works with county governments and provider agencies to ensure important local program information is easily accessible.
Visit 211sepa.org for more information. |
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Mental Health Resources: Call 9-8-8
Chester County residents experiencing mental-health-related crisis or distress can dial 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This system is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people in crisis to a trained mental health professional.
Chester County offers additional resources for those in crisis, including Chester County’s warm line, 1-866-846-2722, operated by Certified Peer Specialists, who are individuals in recovery with a lived experience of mental health challenges.
Chester County’s Teen Talk Line ensures seamless referral to Mobile Crisis for youth in need of immediate or higher-level support. The call line is 855-852-TEEN (8336), and the text line is 484-362-9515.
Visit the Department of Human Services website for more information about the 988 system and other state and local mental health resources.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, please don’t give up hope, and please know that you do not need to walk this path alone. We are here and we will do whatever we can to help. |
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My staff and I are here to help make state government work better for you!
For assistance with the above programs or any other state-related services, please email repotten@pahouse.net, call 484-200-8259, contact us through my website, or visit my district office in Exton and let us know how we can help.
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District Office 631 North Pottstown Pike |
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Pennsylvania State Capitol 34 East Wing PO Box 202155 (717) 783-5009 |
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