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Dear Neighbor,
In March, PECO filed a request with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to raise electric rates by 12.5% and gas rates by 11.4%, beginning in 2027.
Last week, I joined my colleagues in the Southeast Delegation in sending a letter to PUC Chairman Stephen DeFrank opposing PECO’s request for a rate increase, and hundreds of ratepayers across Chester County signed the petition my colleagues and I circulated in opposition to the rate increase. And on Thursday, PECO announced that it has withdrawn its rate case request. Thank you to all the constituents who joined me and my colleagues in calling on state regulators to reject the increase. |
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In 2025, PECO raised gas and electric prices on Pennsylvanians while posting a record $814 million in profits. At the same time, one in five Pennsylvania households reported difficulty affording their utility bills, and more than 300,000 households statewide experienced a gas or electric shutoff.
While I am thrilled that PECO customers have been spared yet another double-digit increase on the heels of last year's rate hike, Pennsylvania can and must do more to protect the interests of ratepayers and the public from future rate hikes. Seniors and working families should not be forced to subsidize soaring corporate profits, and no one should have to choose between paying their utility bills and putting food on the table.
In February, I introduced legislation that would require the PUC to explicitly consider the public interest in every utility proceeding, deliberation, and decision. My public interest bill would specifically require the PUC to consider the affordability of utility rates for current and future residential customers and would require utilities to demonstrate that before seeking a rate increase, they have taken steps to reduce costs through improved energy efficiency and grid reliability, as well as steps to protect public health and the environment.
In plain terms, my bill (HB 2184) would require the PUC to deny rate increases when a utility is making record profits on bills that are unaffordable for the average household. My bill applies to all utility proceedings, so it would also require the PUC to consider the public interest in its decisions on things like water rates and water utility mergers.
Over the past several months, in my newsletters and on Substack, we’ve talked at length about the impact of data centers on Pennsylvanians’ electric bills, water bills, and clean water supply. My legislation would require Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission to make decisions in the interests of ratepayers, public health, and the environment, and that our regulatory system protects the public interest, not corporate profits.
HB 2184 is currently assigned to the House Consumer Protection Committee, and we hope to see action on it in the coming months. |
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Your Water, Your Bill, Your Rights: A 7-Part Series
Last week, I shared Part 2 and Part 3 of my seven-part series on water rights in Pennsylvania, where I looked at how the proposed AQUA and American Water Merger would impact water rates for households and how data center development in Virginia is increasing electricity bills (and potentially water bills too!) here in Pennsylvania.
Part 2 examined what this merger means for households with public water and for municipal water authorities and how upcoming PUC hearings give the public a chance to weigh in on the future of our water.
Part 3 looked at how shared grid rules in the PJM region drive up costs, how water utilities operate differently from electric utilities, and what steps Pennsylvania can take to protect both our water resources and our water customers.
In Part 4 of my seven‑part series on water rights in Pennsylvania, I look at how data centers use water, why evaporative cooling consumes so much of it, and what it means when up to 80 percent of that water is lost to the atmosphere instead of returning to the local system. More than 20 campus‑scale data center projects are currently planned in northeastern Pennsylvania, and with no statewide efficiency standards or review of large groundwater withdrawals, each one of these facilities could have a daily water-use footprint larger than many towns.
Part 4 of 7: “Five Million Gallons a Day, and Nobody’s Counting.”
Clean running water is one of the modern conveniences most of us rarely think about, especially in a water‑rich state like Pennsylvania. But the systems that supply our homes with safe, reliable water took thousands of years to form and decades to build, and they depend on careful management to stay sustainable. While the average Pennsylvanian uses about 62 gallons of water per day, a single hyperscale data center can withdraw as much as five million gallons per day, with no limits on consumption and no requirements to use water efficiently.
This week, the House took a first step toward creating accountability for data center water use and understanding the scale of these massive withdrawals, but much more work is needed to protect our watersheds and the ratepayers who depend on them.
Read my full post on Substack to learn how consumptive use affects local water supplies, why transparency matters, and what steps Pennsylvania can take to uphold its constitutional duty to conserve and protect our clean water for the benefit of all the people. |
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Weigh in on the AQUA and American Water Merger
The proposed merger between Essential Utilities (the parent company of Aqua America and Peoples Natural Gas) and American Water Works Company (better known as American Water) is subject to approval by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
The PUC has the ability and authority to approve or reject the merger and to impose conditions including rate protections, affordability commitments, and infrastructure investment guarantees. The upcoming hearings give the public an opportunity to be heard.
How To Participate:
As your state representative, I will be urging the PUC to either reject this merger or impose strict, enforceable requirements including rate protections, transparency requirements, and service quality guarantees as a nonnegotiable condition of approval. Chester County residents and all water utility customers deserve safe, reliable water at an affordable rate.
For more information, see the PUC hearing announcement. |
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If you have questions or would like to share your thoughts on any legislative or state-related issue, please contact my district office at repotten@pahouse.net. |
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Shop for the best electric rate with PA Power Switch
PA Power Switch makes it easy to compare electricity rates and plans, including plans that save you money while sourcing energy from 100% renewable suppliers. PA Power Switch is Pennsylvania’s official electricity shopping website managed by the Public Utility Commission, so you can be assured that offers are verified and legitimate, and the website makes it easy to review and understand the terms and duration of each offer.
In addition to unbiased comparison shopping, the site provides information about your rights as a utility consumer, plus a helpful explainer about understanding your electric utility bill so you can better see which costs are within your control. (PECO will still be your electric utility; PA Power Switch just allows you to choose the company that supplies your electricity.)
Electricity prices fluctuate, so be sure to check back periodically to make sure you are signed up for the program and rate that best suits your household’s needs and budget. Consider selecting a plan with a fixed, non-introductory rate, or setting a reminder on your calendar or phone to reevaluate plans in a few months, especially if the initial program you select has an introductory period.
Taking a few minutes a few times a year to review your options can save money and ensure your energy plan fits both your values and your budget. |
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Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period Open
The 2026 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period is open and accepting applications for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2025. 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.
This program has made it easier for seniors in Chester County to stay in their homes and afford groceries, medicine, and so much more. 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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LIHEAP Application Window Open through May 8
The 2025–26 LIHEAP (Low‑Income Home Energy Assistance Program) season will remain open through May 8, 2026. LIHEAP is a federally funded DHS program that helps eligible households pay their heating bills by sending payments directly to their utility company or fuel provider. Grants of up to $1,000 are available to income‑qualified households.
Eligible families are encouraged to apply early. Assistance is available while funds last and is distributed on a first‑come, first‑served basis. LIHEAP also provides support in crisis situations and weatherization services, ensuring no one has to choose between staying warm and meeting other essential needs. |
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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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