Advocates, residents discuss rising energy bills and solutions

A nonprofit group hosted a roundtable to address the causes of increasing energy costs and how to protect consumers in Pennsylvania.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A nonprofit group called Affordable Pennsylvania hosted a roundtable discussion on the rising energy costs affecting families across the state. The panel included renewable energy advocates and a political science professor who discussed the factors contributing to the price hikes, such as Pennsylvania's reliance on the PJM Interconnection grid, the retirement of coal plants, and the influence of the oil and gas industry on legislators. The group agreed that the public should educate themselves on energy legislation and advocate directly with their elected officials.

Why it matters

Energy costs have been a major burden for many Pennsylvania residents, with nearly everyone in attendance at the roundtable reporting increases in their utility bills. The discussion highlighted how the state's energy landscape and policies have contributed to these rising costs, which can have significant impacts on household budgets and the overall affordability of living in the state.

The details

The roundtable featured representatives from the Sierra Club and Penn Future, as well as a political science professor from the University of Scranton. They explained that Pennsylvania's electricity prices are higher than neighboring states due to its reliance on the PJM Interconnection grid, the retirement of coal plants, and the influence of the oil and gas industry on legislators. The panel also warned that data centers will put an even bigger strain on the grid, and they called for legislation to prevent data center operators from receiving discounted wholesale energy prices.

  • The roundtable discussion took place on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.
  • The panel discussed the impact of Winter Storm Elliott in 2022, which caused widespread power outages related to natural gas lines.

The players

Affordable Pennsylvania

A nonprofit group working to make life more affordable for Pennsylvanians.

Anthony Gratter

The regional organizer for Affordable Pennsylvania who moderated the roundtable discussion.

Sarah Corcoran

The deputy director for the Pennsylvania chapter of the Sierra Club.

Annie Regan

The senior campaign director at Penn Future.

Joyanna Hopper

A political science professor at the University of Scranton.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Pennsylvania is sort of a loser in a sense of an energy crisis, being less competitive, and the consumers are the ones that are paying the price.”

— Sarah Corcoran, Deputy Director, Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club (thetimes-tribune.com)

“Even if clean energy can come off as a partisan issue, we need a need a balanced grid, because we cannot rely on one power source like natural gas, which is what Pennsylvania's is mostly made out of, and the coal plants are retiring or trying to retire, but staying (online) longer, and we're paying more for these inefficient coal plants. So, clean energy plays a major factor here.”

— Annie Regan, Senior Campaign Director, Penn Future (thetimes-tribune.com)

“The oil and gas industry has a lot of influence on legislators, so it's not surprising to see legislators back (fossil fuel) projects' while renewable energy projects for wind and solar power are being bottlenecked.”

— Annie Regan, Senior Campaign Director, Penn Future (thetimes-tribune.com)

What’s next

The panel agreed that the public should try to educate themselves more on proposed energy-related legislation and lobby their elected officials, writing letters to them and requesting in-person meetings to voice their opinions.

The takeaway

This discussion highlights the complex factors contributing to rising energy costs in Pennsylvania, including the state's reliance on the PJM grid, the influence of the fossil fuel industry, and the need for a more balanced and resilient energy system. Addressing these challenges will require public engagement and pressure on policymakers to prioritize affordable and sustainable energy solutions.