Despite falling natural gas prices the PECO electricity price to compare, the rate that PECO customers pay for electricity who do not choose an alternative energy supplier, will be going up on April 1, 2012. PECO Energy is the electric utility company who serves the majority of Philadelphia and the surrounding area. Their responsibility is the maintenance of the power lines and wires, and providing default generation supply rates for electricity customers who have not yet caught on to electricity choice.

Customers who have not power shopped are being urged to do so in order to find a lower electric rate for their home. With the tough economy it makes sense to spend 5 minutes comparing electric rates and choosing a cheaper energy price plan. The truth is, even if it wasn’t a tough economy there is no reason not to shop for a low fixed rate that will save you money; the quality of the power remains the same, PECO continues to send the monthly electric bill and respond to power emergencies, and the customer saves money.

The PECO price to compare is based on a series of auctions held by PECO Energy for competitive energy suppliers who wish to serve a portion of default paying consumers. With the default rate going up in spring during a time of historically low natural gas prices, many analysts believe the default price will go up even further in the summer. Finding a low fixed electric rate can not only guarantee immediate savings, but it provides price security that my result in even more savings in the coming summer months.

Here are current PECO competitive energy rates:

Energy consumers in Illinois are quickly learning that they now have the ability to find savings by shopping for competitive electricity and natural gas prices. The Illinois Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Act of 1997 opened up the energy supply component in the state to choice, allowing alternative suppliers to offer service to customers.

Over the last several years the majority of large businesses serviced by Commonwealth Edison and Ameren shopped for competitive power supply contracts in order to get off high default rates. With falling energy prices, now competitive energy companies are moving in and offering low electricity rates to Illinois residential customers.

Though the supply side of the power business has been deregulated, the utility distribution side is still regulated. This means that no matter which competitive supplier the consumer chooses, the electricity is still delivered by the same regulated utility company that has always serviced them, which in Illinois is either ComEd or Ameren. The Illinois utility companies also continue to manage and maintain the power lines and wires, take the monthly meter read, respond to power failures and other power related emergencies, and send out the monthly electric bill to their customers.

The end result of shopping simply allows for the consumer to find a lower electric rate, or choose to buy a specific generation source for the power they consumer such as wind power. They also have the choice to lock in a fixed rate for a specific term offered by the competitive electric company or choose to ride a monthly variable electric rate. The competition is resulting in abundance of savings for Illinois energy customers.

If you are a ComEd customer, you can find competitive electric rates below (rates updated daily):

Atlantic City Electric customers are finding that they can lower their electric bill by shopping for competitive priced power. The southern New Jersey utility serves over 480,000 residential customers. However with the passage of the New Jersey Energy Competition and Choice Act, the role of Atlantic City Electric has changed.

Prior to New Jersey energy choice Atlantic City Electric was responsible for all phases of power consumption for almost all citizens living in the bottom half of the garden state. This included the purchasing of electricity generation for their customers, and then the delivery of the power to businesses and homes. Atlantic City Electric was also of course responsible for responding to power failures and emergencies, as well as reading the meter and billing.

Now that energy choice is in full effect, Atlantic City Electric still maintains the majority of the roles they had before. They are still responsible for power delivery, responding to emergencies, meter reading, and billing. The aspect that has changed is that they are no longer responsible for buying the electricity generation supply for their customers. Energy choice allows customers to purchase their own generation supply, meaning that they can shop for the lowest electric rate or choose to buy power that comes from a specific generation type, such as wind power.

Customers who do not shop for low electric rates pay a default rate for their electricity supply through Atlantic City Electric. This default rate is determined by auctions held by Atlantic City Electric for competitive energy companies. ACE does not profit from the default rate and instead passes on the revenues to the competitive energy companies who have won the previously held auctions to serve default paying customers. This is why ACE does not care if their customers switch electric suppliers. ACE does not care if their customers pay less for electricity supply because their revenues and profits are derived from the regulated electricity delivery charges.

For customers looking to lower their Atlantic City Electric bill, they can compare electric rates below to find low offers: