PRINTER'S NO. 3624
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2573
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY STRUZZI, KAUFER, FRITZ, CABELL, HOGAN, OWLETT,
E. NELSON, GILLEN, GREINER, OBERLANDER, SMITH AND STENDER,
SEPTEMBER 19, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
UTILITIES, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024
AN ACT
Establishing the Independent Energy Office; and providing for
powers and duties of the Independent Energy Office.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Independent
Energy Office Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Agency." Any department, departmental administrative board
or commission, independent board or commission, agency or other
authority of this Commonwealth now existing or hereafter
created. The term does not include the Senate or House of
Representatives, or any court, political subdivision, municipal
or local authority.
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"Office." The Independent Energy Office established under
section 3(a).
Section 3. Independent Energy Office.
(a) Establishment.--The Independent Energy Office is
established within the Independent Regulatory Review Commission.
(b) Energy Advocate.--The office shall consist of a director
to be known as the Energy Advocate. The Energy Advocate:
(1) Shall be appointed by the Consumer Advocate and be
confirmed by the Senate.
(2) Shall serve for a term of five years.
(3) May hire staff to fulfill the office's duties,
subject to appropriations by the General Assembly.
Section 4. Powers and duties.
The office shall:
(1) Be charged with protecting the reliability and
affordability of the electricity grid within this
Commonwealth and promoting the use of energy produced in this
Commonwealth.
(2) Evaluate regulations, policies, documents and
actions of an agency for the purpose of determining whether
the actions may harm energy reliability and affordability
within this Commonwealth.
(3) Notify an agency which takes an action that the
office finds may harm energy reliability and affordability
within this Commonwealth and request that the agency reverse
the action. If the agency does not reverse the action to the
satisfaction of the office, the office may reverse or block
the action of the agency.
Section 5. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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