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The House energy committee chair is drafting legislation to give statutory teeth to some recent state actions to regulate data centers.
A proposal by Majority Chair Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Philadelphia, addresses Gov. Josh Shapiro's Aug. 18 executive order on data centers and actions by the state Public Utility Commission (PUC).
"If a data center requires new generation, transmission, distribution or other grid infrastructure, the costs should be borne by the companies creating that demand -- not spread across Pennsylvania's existing electricity customers," said Fiedler in a memo.
Fiedler said that applies to costs of new generation, transmission lines and other grid work.
Her proposal requires data centers to curtail electric use during grid emergencies to help preserve available energy.
Data centers would have to meet that obligation unless they have sufficient on-site generation to serve their operations without relying on the grid during emergencies under Fielder's proposal.
Shapiro's order directs the PUC to establish protocols to cut off electric service to data centers before other consumers when the grid is stressed.
The proposal requires electric utilities to adopt the PUC's new tariff on "large load" customers, including data centers.
The tariff makes large customers responsible for infrastructure and connection costs, requires financial deposits and collateral for financial security and requires utilities to complete interconnection studies within six months.
The PUC tariff is now voluntary.
Shapiro's order includes his GRID standards for data center development. These include requiring data centers to bring their own power supply.
The House passed House Bill 2650 sponsored by Rep. Joe Webster, D-Montgomery, containing the GRID standards last June, but the Senate hasn't acted on it.
The GRID requirement that data centers bring their own power supply will need legislative action and coordination with PJM, the regional electric grid operator and greater authority for the PUC to be effective, analyst John Quigley wrote last month.
The House and Senate return to session Monday. The chambers scheduled nine session days before final adjournment on Nov. 30.