When casting remote attack spells...

[K]

The answer is "yes."

Most of the remote attack spells have a save that Penetration helps with. For every two levels above the min to cast a spell, you get +1 Penetration.

Several remote spells also have a larger effect when cast by a mage with higher paths. Beckoning, for example, affects more targets the higher the path, but it also is a Save spell that benefits from Penetration.

But, some spells don't have a save or special effect related to higher path.