PA SB616

Public utilities are prohibited from passing lobbying or political activity costs to ratepayers, expanding the current ban on political advertising expenses to include influencing legislation, supporting political campaigns, and funding policy research

Utilities with more than 75,000 Pennsylvania customers must file annual reports by December 31 itemizing all lobbying and political activity costs, including employee salaries, hours worked, and third-party vendor payments

"Prohibited costs" that cannot be charged to ratepayers include trade association dues, executive travel and lodging, entertainment, gifts, corporate aircraft use, and investor relations expenses

Electric distribution companies must be members of a regional transmission organization and submit annual reports by February 1 disclosing all recorded votes cast at RTO meetings, with explanations of how each vote serves the public interest

The act takes effect 60 days after enactment