|
|
Dear Neighbor,
Last weekend’s snowstorm brought real disruption to our region. Schools closed, businesses adjusted their hours, and many community events were postponed or canceled. The effects lingered into the early part of the week, reminding us how quickly winter weather can upend daily routines.
While that storm is behind us, and it looks like the snow predicted for this coming weekend will stay well to the southeast, we are in for several more days of frigid temperatures. As we head into the weekend, be sure to check your heating sources, make sure your emergency supplies are in order, and keep an eye on local forecasts and alerts. If you are in need of assistance with food, shelter, or heat, please call 211 or scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for additional resources.
We have included a helpful graphic below with emergency contact information for key services and agencies in Chester County. It includes numbers for utility providers, road conditions, and emergency alerts. Please keep it handy in case conditions worsen. |
|
|
Energy Reliability and This Week’s PJM Alerts
As we continue to navigate this stretch of winter weather, it is also important to look at how extreme cold affects our regional power grid.
Alerts issued this week by PJM, the electric grid operator for Pennsylvania and 12 other Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states, underscore the need to diversify our power supply with reliable, renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and battery storage, as proposed in my Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) legislation, House Bill 501.
With temperatures in the single digits or below throughout the entire region this week, PJM warned that peak demand has the potential to exceed 130,000 MW for seven straight days, a winter streak that PJM has never experienced. Peak demand on Tuesday was expected to hit 147,200 megawatts, a wintertime record high.
With demand soaring, the cold temperatures this week also caused power-plant outages totaling about 20,000 MW, or about 15% of Sunday’s electricity demand, according to PJM. That’s because subfreezing temperatures can cause natural gas transmission lines, pipes, and valves to freeze and force shutdowns at well heads. We saw extreme impacts of this phenomenon during the ice storms that famously took huge portions of the Texas power grid offline for weeks in the winter of 2021.
To enable PJM to meet demand, the U.S. Department of Energy waived air pollution rules to allow power plants that remained online to operate at full capacity.
My PRESS legislation would help to ensure adequate power supply in extreme weather conditions without compromising air quality standards. By diversifying energy sources and adding more clean, reliable, and affordable energy to the grid, it would also help to insulate ratepayers from rising utility costs resulting from global instability, foreign wars, increased domestic demand, and shortages in the existing, fossil-fuel dominated capacity markets.
PRESS was reported out of the House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee in June 2025, but it has not yet come before the House for a vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Responding to ICE Attacks: At Home and in Harrisburg
I share the heartbreak, anger, frustration, fear, and alarm expressed by so many of my constituents after the latest murder of an American citizen in Minneapolis, the third fatal shooting in less than a month at the hands of masked and unaccountable federal agents. And I know that for every interaction captured on video, there are more incidents of brutality and violations of civil rights and human rights happening in neighborhoods and ICE detention centers here in Pennsylvania and across the United States.
As the events in Minnesota have demonstrated, the presence of ICE and CBP agents does nothing to keep our communities safe; in fact, it has had exactly the opposite effect.
As state legislators, my colleagues and I do not have jurisdiction over federal agencies, immigration policy, or any matter regarding immigration or deportation. But we do have some ability to regulate the way that federal law enforcement agents and agencies conduct themselves in our state and to hold these actors accountable for their actions.
There are multiple legislative solutions introduced in the House that would ensure due process, protect Pennsylvanians from unlawful detention or intimidation, create safer conditions for law-abiding immigrants and immigrant communities, and demand accountability from federal and state law enforcement agencies. I am a cosponsor on all of them.
The unfortunate reality is that even once we pass these bills in the House, they have very little hope of running in the Republican-controlled Senate. But what gives me hope in this moment is the knowledge that the resistance moves faster than a divided legislature. And the resistance is *people.* Neighbors, friends, and loved ones looking out for each other, stepping in when harm shows up, and refusing to let anyone stand alone.
Building community builds safety. Don’t let your friend, your neighbor, a stranger in need, go at it alone. Be community; be safety for others. Stand with vulnerable people, lend your privilege where and when you can. Have your brave friends’ back, the ones who find the courage to step out and use their privilege to help. Keep calling your elected officials. Advocate in every way that you can with what you have, where you have it. Do something brave today.
Bravery looks different for all of us. For some, it’s literally considering a different point of view, for trained responders and aid workers, it’s putting your own body on the line for others, and for many, it’s something in between. Ask yourself, what is accessible to me in this moment that is just outside of my comfort zone, and try that today. Reflect on how it felt, and do it again tomorrow. The graphics below show suggestions for concrete action all of us can take right now, without waiting for legislative action at the federal or state level. Please prioritize safety, both your own and the vulnerable communities we need to protect. Well-meaning people can cause unintentional harm.
I am in this fight with you, both inside and outside the House chamber. We save our country in community, all of us, being brave and doing something. Every small act of courage will add up, every day. Wherever you are, just start. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shop for the Best Electric Rate
We’ve talked a lot about the rising cost of energy in Pennsylvania and the PJM region and what I’m doing about it. With cold temperatures and rate increases sending electric bills through the roof, there are steps you can take right now to lower your monthly energy bills.
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.
Free Tax Filing Assistance Available in Chester County
Need help filing your taxes? The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is here to help. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is once again offering free, IRS certified tax preparation to eligible residents. By helping individuals keep more of their earnings and access essential tax credits, VITA provides a critical boost for families working to build long term financial stability.
For many households, maximizing this year’s refund is crucial. VITA supports working individuals who do not receive high wages by offering:
VITA sites across Chester County are now open for the season, with locations in Coatesville, Downingtown, Exton, Kennett Square, Phoenixville, Pottstown, Royersford, and West Chester.
To learn more about site locations, hours, and what to bring, click here. |
|
|
|
|
If you have questions or would like to provide feedback on any legislative or state-related issue, please contact my district office at repotten@pahouse.net. |
|
|
|
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period Now Open
The 2026 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period is now 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 will be available in my office soon, and we will update here when they come in. |
|
|
LIHEAP Application Window Now Open
The 2025–26 LIHEAP (Low‑Income Home Energy Assistance Program) season officially opened on December 3, 2025. 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. |
|
|
|
|
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. If you are planning a trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show at the end of February, please keep in mind that while the signup process only takes a few minutes in my office, the card will be mailed to you and can take a few weeks to arrive. Now is the perfect time to apply!
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. |
|
|
|
|
2-1-1 Southeastern Pennsylvania: Health and Human Services
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. |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
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!
Sincerely, |
|
|
Danielle Friel Otten |
|
|
|
Pennsylvania State Capitol 34 East Wing (717) 783-5009 |
|
District Office 631 Pottstown Pike |
|
.png)
|
|
Unsubscribe from future updates |