Philadelphia Energy Authority staff described a consumer-protection focused Solarized Greater Philadelphia program that vets installers, enforces equipment standards, offers low/moderate-income support and a solar jobs training component for southeastern Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia City Council’s joint committees opened a hearing under Resolution 2550896 to examine why household energy bills have climbed, hearing state and regional officials on supply constraints, data centers, and local programs including community solar and weatherization.

The committee reported favorably on an ordinance authorizing the city to enter agreements to purchase electricity, natural gas and vehicle fuel for city accounts through fiscal years 2029–2031. City energy staff said the approach provides budget certainty and noted recent hedging saved roughly $3.4 million during a January storm.

PEA told the council it has driven $1.3 billion in investment and nearly 11,000 jobs over the last decade and asked for an FY27 allocation larger than the mayor’s $1.3 million proposal to scale home repairs, workforce training and energy projects.