For Immediate Release
10/8/08

Piccola Lauds Senate's Passage of Energy Measure

Easing the Burden on State’s Consumers

HARRISBURG – Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15) praised today the Senate’s passage of House Bill 2200, legislation that can help to ease the effects of spiking energy costs when the rate cap expires in 2010, and also applauded the recent work of the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee of which he is a member.

“Coupled with the recent passage of the Alternative Energy Investment Act, it is clear the Legislature is acting on energy policy, promoting conservation, and supporting our families and small businesses,” Piccola said.

One major component of the legislation is new rules on energy procurement.  Under the bill, electric companies will be required to purchase their power through a portfolio of contracts over time, slowing spiking costs in the near future.  The bill additionally directs energy companies to reduce energy use by a certain percentage over the next five years through demand-side management.  Energy conservation will again reduce costs to the consumer.

Under the bill, consumers will also be able to request that their energy provider install a ‘smart meter’ – an advanced electrical meter that can identify energy consumption in more detail than a conventional meter – on their residences or businesses.  With a ‘smart meter,’ consumers will be able to know how much power they are using during certain times of the day and may be able to adjust their power usage to an ‘off-peak’ time, thus potentially lowering their monthly electric bill.

Several other provisions dealing with alternative fuels were also incorporated into the bill, including expanding the use of wood pulp (black liquor) and hydroelectric power.  Other provisions of the bill dealt with biomass energy, carbon sequestration, and a depreciation schedule.

“As we prepare for rate caps to come off in 2010, these provisions will certainly go a long way toward keeping energy costs lower for Pennsylvania consumers.  However, members of both parties also agreed that more work must still be done in the new legislative session to mitigate any possible rate hikes in 2010,” said Piccola.

“I was proud to participate in the hard work of the committee and forge this giant step forward for consumers of electricity in Pennsylvania,” he added. 


Contact:

Colleen Greer
(717) 787-6801

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