Pielli’s data center regulation bill unanimously adopted in House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee
Legislation would prohibit data centers from obtaining public utility status
Rep. Chris Pielli September 29, 2026 | 10:43 AM
HARRISBURG, Sept. 29 – State Rep. Chris Pielli, D-Chester, announced today that his legislation to prohibit data centers from obtaining public utility status has unanimously been approved by the state House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee.
Pielli says that by obtaining public utility status, data center developers could preempt local zoning ordinances and be able to invoke eminent domain; operate as a regulated monopoly; and acquire development rights, rights-of-way and property for building, maintaining, or expanding infrastructure for data center projects that only benefit private, for-profit corporations.
“Since 2020, when data centers started to be constructed, Pennsylvania’s energy costs have risen by over 70%,” Pielli said. “With there being estimates up to 130 active data centers with an additional 55 data centers being proposed, planned, or under construction, this problem will only get worse without proper regulation. If data centers become a public utility, they could preempt local municipal zoning ordinances and reduce communities’ control over land-use decisions. We need to place guardrails on this issue and ensure that Pennsylvanians have a voice in where these data centers are developed.”
The bill, H.B. 2674, now goes to the full state House for consideration.