En Banc Hearing on Interconnection and Tariffs for Large Load Customers

The five PUC Commissioners held an en banc hearing to seek information from industry leaders and interested parties concerning interconnection and tariffs for large load customers in Pennsylvania at Docket No. M-2025-3054271.

The en banc hearing was held on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 1:00 PM in Hearing Room 1 of the Commonwealth Keystone Building, located at 400 North Street in Harrisburg. The hearing was open to the public.

Motion - At the Public Meeting of March 27, 2025, a motion by Chairman DeFrank was approved to convene a public hearing exploring the growing impact of large-scale electric customers — including data centers and other high-energy users — on the state’s electric grid. Docket No. M-2025-3054271. (Press Release) 

Secretarial Letter - Notice sent to all Electric Distribution Companies and Statutory Advocates announcing the en banc Hearing on Interconnection and Tariffs for Large Load Customers at Docket No. M-2025-3054271. Dated April 12, 2025.

En Banc Hearing - April 24, 2025

Agenda

En Banc Testimony

Exhibit

Extracting Profits from the Public: How Utility Rate payers are Paying for Big Tech's Power - Exhibit of Vice Chair Barrow. A research paper from the Harvard Electricity Law Initiative and authored by Eliza Martin and Ari Peskoe. Dated March 2025.  

Large Load Customers

Amazon Data Services Inc. - Michael Fradette, Principal, Energy Services
Data Center Coalition - Lucas Fykes, Director of Energy Policy
Google LLC - Brendon Baatz, Energy Market Development
Vantage Data Centers - Shawn Smith, Vice President, Utility & Regulatory

Electric Distribution Companies

Duquesne Light Co. - C. James Davis, Director, Rate, Energy Procurement and Federal/RTO Affairs
FirstEnergy Pennsylvania - Kelly Gower, Vice President, State Finance & Regulatory
PECO Energy Company - Richard Webster, Vice President, Regulatory Policy & Strategy
PPL Electric - Joe Lookup, Vice President, T&D Planning & Asset Management

Statutory Advocates

Office of Consumer Advocate - Darryl Lawrence, Acting Consumer Advocate
PAPUC - Allison Kaster, Chief Prosecutor, Bureau of Investigation & Enforcement

En Banc Video

Comments from Commissioners and Large Load Customers Panel (1:47:37)
Electric Distribution Companies Panel (52:13)
Statutory Advocates Panel (48:41)

En Banc Hearing Comments & Reply Comments

Interested parties may file comments and reply comments to the En Banc hearing and testimony with the Secretary of the Commission at Docket Number M-2025-3054271. All comments are due on or before Friday, June 6, 2025.

At the conclusion of the comment period, interested parties may file reply comments with the Secretary of the Commission at Docket Number M-2025-3054271.  Reply comments are due on or before Monday, June 23, 2025.

• Secretarial Letter - The Secretarial Letter extending the the deadline for Comments and Reply Comments.  Dated May 15, 2025, at Docket Number M-2025-3054271.

All comments and reply comments should include the Docket Number M-2025-3054271 on the first page of your filing and be filed by opening and using an eFiling account through the Commission’s website or mailed to the Secretary by overnight delivery to:

Secretary
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
400 North Street
Commonwealth Keystone Building, 2^nd Floor
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

En Banc Hearing Topics

The intent of the hearing is to educate and inform the Commission on the prudent design of a
large load customer model tariff. The Commission seeks testimony and comment on topics such
as:

• Appropriate MW size designations for large load tariffs.
• Deposits or financial security from large load customers.
• Appropriate calculations of contributions in aid of construction.
• Minimum contract terms.
• Maximum times for interconnection studies and agreements.
• Appropriate fees or expenses for interconnection studies.
• Load ramping schedules for customers that may phase in their usage.
• Exit or early termination fees.
• Distinctions in tariff designs for firm service versus interruptible large load customers.
• Large customers bringing primary or back-up generation to serve their load, and any prudent standby rates.
• Transparent cost structures for interconnection.
• Optionality for infrastructure upgrades to be made directly by prospective interconnecting large load customers, and appropriate tariff subcategories to accommodate such option.
• Expedited interconnection for users willing to construct infrastructure or system upgrades at their own expense.
• Best practices learned from other jurisdictions.
• Any other procedures, rules, or tariff designs that can facilitate the efficient and timely interconnection of this unique category of electric customer.

eFiling Testimony in Advance of the En Banc Hearing

Each testifying panelist needs to open an eFiling account, if they don't already have one.

• Please include docket number M-2025-3054271 on the first page and cover letter of you filing.
• Combine entire filing into a single PDF.
• In eFiling:
• Begin a New Filing
• Under Case Type, select Existing
• Fill in docket number M-2025-3054271. Case description can be left blank.
• Click Next
• Under Document Type, select Exhibit
• Upload pdf.
• Click Next, then click Submit E-filing
• Make a note of your eFiling confirmation number
• If any issues arise with your eFiling, you will be contacted via the email address associated with your e-filing account.  Please check your spam folder or whitelist “@pa.gov” email addresses.