The people’s virtual power up for consideration in Pennsylvania

(The Center Square) – Energy affordability and grid reliability were again at the center of discussion in Harrisburg.

The House Energy Committee heard testimony on legislation that would use technology – including virtual power plants or VPPs – to add capacity and lower costs.

House Bill 2264 would require Pennsylvania electric distribution companies, like PPL and PECO, to submit regulator-approved VPP program proposals that use distributed energy resources – like battery storage, rooftop solar, and smart thermostats – to reduce peak demand and compensate participants.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Nathan Davidson, D-Lemoyne, said the same smart devices that are contributing to rising demand and costs can also be part of the solution. He also noted that similar legislation has drawn bipartisan support in Virginia.

Testifiers spoke about the practical aspects of VPPs, describing them as voluntary, customer-friendly programs that can produce measurable savings.

At the same time, ...