Pennsylvania governor seeks role in case to make PPL data centers pay grid upgrade costs
A consumer advocate complaint asks state regulators for a separate data center rate class with interruptible service; the governor sought full party status on October 15.
Data center developers planning to connect to PPL Electric Utilities in Pennsylvania face a pending case that could put them in their own rate class, on interruptible service, and on the hook for the transmission upgrades they cause. On October 15, 2026, Governor Josh Shapiro petitioned the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (“PUC”) to intervene as a full party in Pa. Consumer Advocate v. PPL Elec. Utils. Corp., Docket No. C-2026-3065756, a complaint the Office of Consumer Advocate (“OCA”) filed on October 2, 2026 under 66 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1309.
Pa. Consumer Advocate v. PPL Elec. Utils. Corp., Docket No. C-2026-3065756 (Pa. Pub. Util. Comm'n filed Oct. 2, 2026) (Petition to Intervene of Governor Josh Shapiro, filed Oct. 15, 2026); 66 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1309; 52 Pa. Code § 5.72