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
1 Establishing the Independent Energy Office; and providing for
2 powers and duties of the Independent Energy Office.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Independent
7 Energy Office Act.
8 Section 2. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 "Agency." Any department, departmental administrative board
13 or commission, independent board or commission, agency or other
14 authority of this Commonwealth now existing or hereafter
15 created. The term does not include the Senate or House of
16 Representatives, or any court, political subdivision, municipal
17 or local authority.
 1 "Office." The Independent Energy Office established under
2 section 3(a).
3 Section 3. Independent Energy Office.
4 (a) Establishment.--The Independent Energy Office is
5 established within the Independent Regulatory Review Commission.
6 (b) Energy Advocate.--The office shall consist of a director
7 to be known as the Energy Advocate. The Energy Advocate:
8 (1) Shall be appointed by the Consumer Advocate and be
9 confirmed by the Senate.
10 (2) Shall serve for a term of five years.
11 (3) May hire staff to fulfill the office's duties,
12 subject to appropriations by the General Assembly.
13 Section 4. Powers and duties.
14 The office shall:
15 (1) Be charged with protecting the reliability and
16 affordability of the electricity grid within this
17 Commonwealth and promoting the use of energy produced in this
18 Commonwealth.
19 (2) Evaluate regulations, policies, documents and
20 actions of an agency for the purpose of determining whether
21 the actions may harm energy reliability and affordability
22 within this Commonwealth.
23 (3) Notify an agency which takes an action that the
24 office finds may harm energy reliability and affordability
25 within this Commonwealth and request that the agency reverse
26 the action. If the agency does not reverse the action to the
27 satisfaction of the office, the office may reverse or block
28 the action of the agency.
29 Section 5. Effective date.
30 This act shall take effect immediately.
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