Pennsylvania PUC Will Hold Technical Conference On Cost Allocation For Capacity Costs From PJM Backstop Auction, & Other Large Load Cost Allocation Issues

The Pennsylvania PUC adopted a motion from Vice Chair Kimberly Barrow to hold a technical conference this fall concerning cost allocation issues arising from large loads

The technical conference is to, "vet issues of cost responsibility in a data center driven world," Barrow said in a statement

"Time is of the essence as costs for energy, capacity, distribution, and transmission are already increasing for ordinary retail customers, largely driven by new large computational load customers," Barrow said in a statement

"Ensuring that new costs are allocated to the customers driving the increases is central to the Commission's mission to protect the public interest," Barrow said in a statement

During today's meeting, PUC Chair Stephen DeFrank said that cost allocation is going to be, "challenging"

Although the technical conference will address the full spectrum of cost issues arising from large loads, Barrow specifically cited a previously reported Executive Order from Pa. Governor Josh Shapiro which encourages the PUC to establish rules, procedures, and orders relating to the allocation of PJM backstop reliability (RBP) costs

Barrow noted that the Executive Order encouraged the PUC to prevent traditional retail customers from being charged for any backstop capacity costs.

The date for the technical conference has not yet been set