HB 2223

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2952, 3177  PRINTER'S NO.   3321
                THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
                    HOUSE BILL
                    No. 2223
                                          Session of
                                            2026
INTRODUCED BY FIEDLER, WAXMAN, HILL-EVANS, PROBST, PIELLI,
   GIRAL, MAYES, BOROWSKI, INGLIS, RIVERA, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
   MADDEN, K. HARRIS, BOYD, CURRY, HANBIDGE AND DOUGHERTY,
   MARCH 3, 2026
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
   APRIL 29, 2026
                               AN ACT
1 Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
2    Consolidated Statutes, in service and facilities, providing
3    for advanced transmission technologies.
4    The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6    Section 1.    Title 66 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
8 § 1504.1.   Advanced transmission technologies.
9    (a)   Applicability.--This section shall apply to each
10 transmission siting application filed with the commission under
11 52 Pa. Code Ch. 57 Subch. G (relating to commission review of
12 siting and construction of electric transmission lines) and each
13 letter of notification in lieu of application filed with the
14 commission under 52 Pa. Code Ch. 57 (relating to electric
15 service).
16    (b)   Evidence REPORT of evaluation.--An applicant shall        <--
17 provide to the commission evidence A REPORT DOCUMENTING that the <--
1 applicant evaluated and assessed the use of advanced
2 transmission technologies for any of the following:
3(1)   Existing transmission infrastructure.
4(2)   Proposed transmission infrastructure and upgrades
5    identified in the application or letter of notification,
6    including infrastructure for which the proposed voltage would
7    be increased above existing levels and infrastructure that
8    would be reconductored or reconstructed within the
9    jurisdiction of the commission.
10    (c)   Commission determination.--The commission may not grant   <--
11 an application or approve a letter of notification under
12 subsection (a), either as proposed or as modified, unless the
13 commission determines, in addition to any other applicable
14 requirements under State law, that the proposed transmission
15 infrastructure incorporates all technically feasible and cost-
16 effective advanced transmission technologies.
17    (C)   REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION.--WHERE AN APPLICANT INCLUDES AN   <--
18 ANALYSIS OF ADVANCED TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGIES, THERE SHALL BE A
19 REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION THAT THE ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
20 HAS CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE ADVANCED TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGIES
21 FOR THE PROPOSED TRANSMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE.
22    (D)   CONDITIONAL APPROVAL.--IF, UPON CONSIDERATION OF RECORD
23 EVIDENCE, THE COMMISSION DETERMINES IT IS IN THE PUBLIC
24 INTEREST, THE COMMISSION MAY, AS A CONDITION OF APPROVING AN
25 APPLICATION, AND IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER RELIEF GRANTED, ORDER
26 THE APPLICANT TO INTEGRATE ADVANCED TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGIES TO
27 HELP FULLY OR PARTIALLY RESOLVE THE NEED IDENTIFIED IN THE
28 APPLICATION.
29    (E)   COMPETITIVE BIDS.--FOR EACH TRANSMISSION SITING
30 APPLICATION SUBJECT TO A COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS, THE COMMISSION
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1 SHALL GIVE FULL CONSIDERATION FOR THE REGIONAL BENEFITS
2 IDENTIFIED IN THE APPLICATION.
3    (d) (F)   Commission requirements.--No later than one year       <--
4 after the effective date of this subsection, the commission
5 shall adopt regulations, orders or statements of policy
6 specifying the advanced transmission technology assessment
7 requirements and methods that an applicant shall use to satisfy
8 subsection (b).
9    (e) (G)   Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be        <--
10 construed to limit the commission's authority under any other
11 provision of State law to regulate a public utility service or
12 facility.
13    (f) (H)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following <--
14 words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
15 subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
16    "Advanced power flow controller."   A hardware or software
17 technology that modulates circuit impedance or other electrical
18 properties to reroute power flows.
19    "Advanced transmission technologies."    Any of the following:
20(1)   Grid-enhancing technologies, including dynamic line
21    rating, advanced power flow controller and topology
22    optimization software.
23(2)   High-performance conductors.
24(3)   Any other technology identified by the commission
25    that may avoid the construction of new transmission
26    infrastructure, increase the capacity, efficiency or
27    reliability of the transmission system, reduce transmission
28    system congestion, reduce environmental impacts or provide
29    other benefits to the transmission system.
30    "Aluminum conductor steel reinforced conductor."   A stranded
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1 overhead electrical conductor composed of one or more layers of
2 hard-drawn aluminum wire helically laid around a central core of
3 galvanized or otherwise coated steel strands, designed to
4 provide enhanced tensile strength and electrical conductivity
5 for transmission or distribution applications.
6    "Dynamic line rating."   A system that uses real-time and
7 forecasted weather and operating conditions, including wind
8 speed and direction, to determine the transfer capacity of a
9 transmission line.
10    "High-performance conductor."      A conductor used in an
11 electric transmission system, including a carbon fiber
12 conductor, composite core conductor or superconductor, that has
13 all of the following:
14(1)   A similar diameter and weight as a traditional
15    aluminum conductor steel reinforced conductor.
16(2)   A direct electrical resistance that is at least 10%
17    lower than a traditional aluminum conductor steel reinforced
18    conductor of a similar diameter and weight.
19(3)   An energy-carrying capacity that is at least 75%
20    greater than a traditional aluminum conductor steel
21    reinforced conductor of a similar diameter and weight.
22    "Topology optimization software."      Software that identifies
23 switching configurations to reroute electricity and alleviate
24 transmission constraints.
25    Section 2.   This act shall take effect immediately.
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