New Poll: Pennsylvanians Demand Energy Affordability

Voters strongly oppose Gov. Josh Shapiro’s top priorities, including RGGI, mass transit bailout, and government energy mandates.

Harrisburg, Pa., May 29, 2025 — Two-thirds of Pennsylvanians are unaware of looming double-digit electricity rate hikes taking effect June 1st, while nearly three in four voters oppose government mandates driving these higher prices. New polling from the Commonwealth Foundation reveals that Pennsylvania voters are already feeling the pain of rising energy costs, remain deeply concerned about access to affordable energy, and strongly oppose policies that would impose additional taxes and costs.

The statewide survey measured Pennsylvanians’ sentiment on energy issues. A majority (67 percent) believe that energy affordability should be a higher priority for elected officials than combating climate change (33 percent). An overwhelming bipartisan majority (85 percent) want lawmakers to work together and reduce regulations that stifle Pennsylvania energy production.

“Amid skyrocketing electricity rates and the prospect of climate policies that will further exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis, voters want access to more affordable energy,” said Erik Telford, Commonwealth Foundation’s Senior Vice President of Public Affairs.

Key findings from the poll include:

Opposition to Energy Tax: Sixty-five percent oppose Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Also, nearly six in ten (59 percent) oppose Shapiro’s lawsuit seeking to overturn the Commonwealth Court’s ruling that RGGI constitutes an unconstitutional “illegal tax.” Three-fourths of voters oppose Shapiro’s imposition of new taxes without legislative approval.
Unpopular Mass Transit Bailout: Sixty-two percent oppose using tax dollars to bail out mass transit agencies in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Support for Regulatory Relief: Four out of five Pennsylvanians support major regulation reform, such as legislative approval of costly regulations typically imposed by unelected bureaucrats. Nearly three-fourths of voters support the Pennsylvania legislature voting and approving regulations with an economic impact of more than $1 million, while 68 percent back the U.S. Congress voting on federal regulations costing more than $100 million (known as the REINS Act).

“Misguided energy policies continuously cripple Pennsylvania families and endanger Pennsylvania’s energy future,” said André Béliveau, senior manager of energy policy for the Commonwealth Foundation. “Rather than listen to the voices of Pennsylvanians who vehemently oppose costly and unreliable energy proposals, Governor Shapiro instead chooses to stand by his bad policies to the detriment of the entire commonwealth.”

The Commonwealth Foundation also released a recent analysis revealing the staggering cost of Shapiro’s energy proposals: the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act (PACER) and the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS). If enacted, PACER and PRESS would more than double the average home electricity bill by 2035.

Additional findings include:

Seventy-eight percent of Pennsylvanians report experiencing increased energy bills over the past two years.
Seventy-six percent worry about the future availability of affordable energy within the state.
Sixty-three percent are unwilling to personally spend any money to combat climate change.
Seventy-seven percent support expanding natural gas infrastructure in Pennsylvania to “ease the strain on our electrical grid, reduce emissions, and lower energy costs.”

The poll surveyed 800 registered Pennsylvania voters from May 16 through May 21, 2025.

Read the complete poll findings and crosstabs here.

Commonwealth Foundation experts are available for comment. Please contact Giana DePaul at gmd@commonwealthfoundation.org or (215) 859-0384 to schedule.

###

The Commonwealth Foundation transforms free-market ideas into public policies, empowering all Pennsylvanians to thrive.