PUC says clean-heat rules stalled; fuel-dealer registry and data requirements left in limbo

The Public Utility Commission told the Natural Resources & Energy committee that rules required by Act 18 for the state's proposed clean heat standard are not moving forward, and that several implementation duties remain in a pause while the Legislature decides next steps.

PUC Chair Ed McNamara said the agency received funding in fiscal 2024 to stand up three positions tied to implementation but that funding was only for that year. "FY24 provided three positions for the PUC, two permanent, one limited service," McNamara said. The PUC carried two of the positions into FY25, he said, but for FY26 the proposal before the Legislature assumes at least one vacancy because the funding was not included in the next budget.

Why it matters: Act 18 imposed continuing obligations beyond rulemaking, including registering field fuel dealers, appointing a default delivery agent and maintaining advisory groups. McNamara told the committee there is currently no active rulemaking path and that some duties, notably a requirement to approve a budget and plan for a default delivery agent, still carry a statutory or scheduling deadline. "There is a deadline September first of this year to approve a budget and plan for…