Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signs budget expanding advanced grid tech and data‑center oversight

On July 12, 2026, Governor Josh Shapiro signed Pennsylvania’s fiscal‑code budget, adding provisions for advanced transmission technologies (ATTs) that let existing power lines carry more electricity at lower cost, aiming to meet rising demand and lower consumer bills. The legislation, including House Bill 2223, was passed unanimously in the House and supported by a coalition led by Advanced Energy United.

The same budget also imposes new reporting requirements on data centers. Under House Bill 1924, data centers must annually submit detailed water and power usage, projected demand, and any on‑site generation measures to the state. Non‑compliance incurs $10,000 per day fines. The law gives the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission authority to review PJM Interconnection load forecasts and improve transparency, as highlighted by Sen. Gene Yaw’s statement that “the current process by which utilities submit information to PJM lacks transparency for policymakers, regulators and stakeholders.”