An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in restructuring of electric utility industry, providing for municipal consortium power purchasing.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Gary Day and 1 co-sponsor

Allows municipalities to form consortiums to pool electricity purchasing, enabling bulk buying to potentially lower rates and protect ratepayers.

Referred to Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities

Overview

House Bill 2156 (2025-2026 Regular Session, Pennsylvania) amends Title 66 (Public Utilities) to address restructuring of the electric utility industry and to provide for municipal consortium power purchasing. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Gary Day and co-sponsored by Rep. Jamie Walsh. The current action is referral to the House Committee on Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities (as of Jan. 26, 2026).

Purpose and Intent

Establishes a framework for municipalities to form and participate in consortium-based power purchasing.

Aims to empower local governments (and potentially municipal electric systems) to procure electricity more efficiently through collective bargaining and bulk purchasing.

Operates within the broader context of Pennsylvania’s restructuring of the electric utility sector, focusing on municipal relief and ratepayer protection through organized, cooperative purchasing arrangements.

Key Provisions and Changes (as implied by title and memo)

Amends Title 66 (Public Utilities) to authorize or regulate municipal consortium power purchasing.

Creates or formalizes mechanisms for municipalities to pool electricity demand for procurement purposes.

Aligns with the Municipal Electric Ratepayer Protection Act (MERPA) framework, as indicated by the memo reference, suggesting safeguards and consumer protections for ratepayers participating in these municipal purchasing arrangements.

Likely addresses governance, contract standards, pricing transparency, and consumer protections within a municipal consortium context.

May set criteria for eligible municipalities, responsibilities of participating entities, and oversight/approval processes for power purchase agreements entered by the consortium.

Who Would Be Affected

Municipalities and their electric utilities participating in consortium power purchasing arrangements.

Municipal ratepayers served by those municipalities, who may benefit from potential cost savings, greater purchasing leverage, or enhanced rate protections.

Public utilities and electric service providers operating within Pennsylvania, which could encounter new contracting dynamics or competition-related considerations.

Local governments and municipal authorities involved in energy procurement decisions.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Bill status: Referred to the House committee on Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities on January 26, 2026.

No floor votes or committee meeting records are provided in the available information.

If advanced, the bill would proceed through standard Pennsylvania legislative steps (committee hearings, potential amendments, floor votes in both chambers, and final approval/signature by the Governor).

Notes and Context

The bill’s short title and memo indicate a connection to MERPA (Municipal Electric Ratepayer Protection Act), signaling an emphasis on protecting ratepayers while enabling municipal-scale purchasing power.

Specific details such as exact definitions, eligible entities, contract terms, rate protections, and implementation timelines are not provided in the supplied text. A full bill text would clarify enforcement mechanisms, cost-sharing arrangements, and any limitations or carve-outs.

If you’d like, I can incorporate the full bill text to extract precise provisions (definitions, thresholds, procedure timelines, and fiscal impact) and provide a more granular subsection-by-subsection summary.