While electricity shopping has increased throughout the year in Pennsylvania, an abundance of confusion remains on the finer points of Pennsylvania’s deregulated electricity choice market.

One of the biggest subjects of confusion is the new role of the incumbent utility companies – PECO Energy, Pennsylvania Power and Light, Met-Ed, Duquesne Light, and more.

Prior to the decision to make Pennsylvania an energy choice state, the utility companies were regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissison to serve all functions of electricity for Pennsylvania consumers; they were in charge of electricity generation, delivery, and the maintenance of the power lines and wires.

Today, after PA electric choice has been implemented, these companies are still regulated by the PUC to deliver power and control the maintenance of the power lines and wires. Their revenue streams are derived from the distribution charges found on your electric bill. The distribution charges remain regulated by the state and are the same no matter which electric supplier you choose.

The other parts of the electric bill (generation and transmission) have been opened up for competition allowing alternative power companies in PA to compete for customer enrollments. Customers who do not choose an alternative power company pay a default rate with their incumbent utility company. The utility company does not profit from the default rates and instead passes these charges on to other power companies who have won previously held auctions for the right to service default paying customers.

This brings up one of the most intriguing aspects of electricity choice in Pennsylvania; even if you haven’t selected an alternative power company, your money is already going to one through the default rates you pay. So if you can find a lower rate from an alternative power company on your own, there is no reason not to enroll with that company.

Enter your zip code to compare alternative power company prices in your area:

Electric rates for customers in the PECO territory are increasing for consumers who have elected not to shop for competitive energy prices. These default rate paying electric customers will see the PECO price to compare raise about 5% on October 1. The price to compare rates are regulated by the Pennsylvania Utility Commission and are determined by auctions held for wholesale energy companies wishing to serve the default pool of customers in the PECO region. Revenues from the price to compare rates are passed through PECO onto the winning bidders.

The decision to raise electricity prices is not made by the PECO Energy Corporation. Instead the prices are determined by the free market at the wholesale level. Since PECO does not earn profits from the increased default rates, they are encouraging their customers to shop for lower electric prices. PECO earns revenues and profits from distribution delivery charges that are still being regulated at the state level.

Residential PECO customers on the price to compare rate will pay $0.1114 cents per KWh in October, up from $0.1042 in September. Meanwhile competitive fixed electric rates are being offered that are below $0.0900 per KWh. For PECO customers who have not shopped they have a decision to remain on default service and pay $5-$15 more per month, or shop for competitive rates and save around 20% on their monthly electric bill.

Here are some current low electric prices available in Philadelphia and other areas serviced by PECO Energy:

Businesses and households in Allentown Pennsylvania have several electricity companies to choose from now that the state of Pennsylvania has been deregulated. Energy choice has given electricity consumers dozens of rate options to choose from, many of which are lower than the local utility default rates.

While citizens of Allentown have choices of who to buy the electricity generation from, they are all forced to receive that power through the electrical grid operated and managed by Pennsylvania Power and Light (PP&L). PP&L remains a regulated electricity delivery company who also continue to provide Allentown energy customers with their monthly electric bill. PP&L also provides default generation rates for those customers who do not choose an alternative energy supplier.

Pennsylvania Power and Light does not profit from the generation default rate that they charge customers who are slow to adopt to electric choice. Revenues from default service is transferred through PP&L to competitive electricity companies who have been granted the right to served default paying customers through a bid process. This contradicts one of the biggest reasons customers cite for not switching electric suppliers – customer loyalty to PP&L. The Pennsylvania electric choice law prohibits the PP&L utility from offering competitive electricity rates in their utility service area. Another company that falls under the PPL Corporation umbrella, PPL Energy Plus, offers competitive rates in the area. However, customers should understand that PPL Energy Plus is a different company than the PP&L they are used to getting their bill from.

While current PP&L residential default rates are low, competitive electricity rates have been found that are even lower. Commercial default rates in the PP&L area have been extremely high with savings as much as 30% available for businesses who shop for competitive electricity.

Here are current low electricity prices for PP&L residential customers in Allentown (updated daily):

Patriot Energy is an electricity brokering company.  They are currently offering electricity contracts to businesses in Pennsylvania with deceptive language that could cost your business thousands of extra billing expenses.

First, it is important to understand that electricity brokers should not be involved in the practice of offering their own electricity contracts.  The practice of electricity brokers in Pennsylvania should involve obtaining contracts from licensed electric suppliers for the client, negotiating the terms and conditions of those contracts for the benefit of the client, and then offering those contracts to their client.  Patriot Energy is not licensed to offer retail electric supply contracts to customers.

Patriot Energy uses their false electric supply contracts to mislead customers into thinking they are signing lower fixed rates than other competing electric suppliers.  In reality, the low fixed rate stated on the Patriot Contract is artificial and does not lock the customer into any guaranteed rate.

At the top of their contract in a big friendly box, their contract displays the words “Fixed Rate” followed by the rate.  However, at the bottom of the contract written is very small print surrounded by more small print reads the following sentence:

“This document is not a contract for electricity supply and that Patriot Energy Group Inc has not guaranteed that it will be able to place the above account with a competitive supplier on the terms and conditions set forth herin.”

Furthermore, the small writing also includes this sentence:

“The actual terms and conditions pertaining to electric supply……will be defined by the competitive electric supply contract entered into by Patriot Energy Group”

By signing the “Patriot Energy Contract” you are merely giving them the power to sign any type of electricity contract on your behalf.  Even though a rate is displayed on the “Patriot Energy Contract”, the contract language allows them to sign any rate for your business that they wish, with any set of terms which can include a number of hidden charges and pass through expenses that should be included in the rate but are not.

I highly advise businesses not to sign this “Patriot Energy Contract” on the simple fact that it does not guarantee the customer anything and instead only gives Patriot Energy the authority to sign your business into any type of electricity supply contract they wish.  Furthermore, Patriot Energy is not licensed as an electric supplier which means that they are not licensed to be offering electric supply contracts.

On June 1, generation electricity rates will increase by 33.4% for over 100,000 businesses who are serviced by the central Pennsylvania utility company PPL (Pennsylvania Power and Light).  Business customers who have not done their electric shopping and have taken the time to compare electric suppliers will see their generation supply rates increase as the state regulated default rate will increase to 13.028 cents per Kilowatt hour from the current rate of 9.766.

The default electric rate, termed price to compare by the Pennsylvania Utility Commission, was expected to have only increased to just over 11 cents.  However, due to a higher than expected last auction for the default customers, the rate was pushed up.  Authorities at the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission along with upper management officials at PPL are urging business customers who have not done electric price comparison to get out and find a lower electric rate.

PPL does not profit from the default price to compare rate that is charged to electricity customers who have not chosen an alternative supplier.  Instead that rate is passed through PPL by competitive electric suppliers who have won auctions to supply energy to a percentage of the default rate payers.  Many people who have not participated in electricity choice have decided to do so because they want to remain a PPL customer.  The reality is that they are already buying their electric power from other companies that are not PPL.  PPL simply passes through those revenues to the winning bidders at the auctions.  Furthermore, PPL remains the regulated utility company for all of their customers.  This means that no matter what rate a customers chooses, they will still receive their power by PPL through their transmission and distribution services.

The 33.4% electric bill increase will certainly be a shock to many business customers.  Even with the old 9.766 rate business customers were able to find lower electric rates below 8 cents that resulted in savings greater than 15%.  Electricity savings will be available for commercial customers.  However it is important to carefully review any electricity rate contract that you decide to sign.  Many suppliers have been offering rates that have hidden charges.   If you are comparing electric rate offers in Pennsylvania, ask to see a rate that includes the entire price to compare component, including the GRT tax.  The 13.028 cent default rate includes energy, transmission, capacity components, and the GRT tax.  The only thing that the rate shouldn’t include are the regulated distribution charges.

Competitive PPL rates can save businesses as much as 35% against summer price to compare electric rates.  If ever a time to learn about electricity choice, now is that time for PPL businesses.

Here are some competitive electric rates and the savings compared to the high business PPL default rates:

PECO electricity customers will see an increase on their electric bills on June 1, followed by another increase on July 1.  Households who receive their electric bills from PECO, an electric utility company who serves most of Philadelphia and the surrounding areas, will be raising their electric rates for customer who are paying the default price to compare rate.

The PECO energy area transitioned to full electric choice at the beginning of the year (2011).  PECO still manages the maintenance of the lines and wires and continues to send their customers the monthly electric bill.  However, PECO is no longer in charge of providing low electric supply rates to their customers.  They only charge regulated fees for the delivery of the power.  They have also been given the responsibility by the state to provide customers who have tno shopped for electricity rates a default supply rate.

These default supply rates will be rising in the summer, however customers can protect themselves from these increases and save money compared to what they are currently paying by selecting a lower electric rate.  The great thing about electric choice in Pennsylvania is that even after a customer chooses a low electric rate, they continue to receive their monthly electric bill from their local utility company (PECO, PPL, Duquesne Light).    Pennsylvania residential electric rates options are available for customers looking to save money and enact their power of electric choice and competition.

Currently customers pay 9.99 cents for electric supply.  On June 1, customers who use more than 500 KWh, which is nearly everyone who lives in a home larger than one bedroom, will see their rates increase by 12% for all consumption above 500 KWh.  On July 1, another increase of about 3-4% on top of the June 1 increase will occur for every KWh consumed by residential customers.

Below are some current competitive offers, all of which are below the current 9.99 cents.  You will save between 10-18% versus the high summer PECO default rates by choosing one of the low electric rates below.  We recommend signing a fixed rate because savings will be guaranteed, as opposed to a variable rate where the rate can change in any given month.

New energy choice markets in the northeast (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut) as well as existing deregulated areas such as Texas and Illnois are making some business electricity companies household names as the battle for market share has heated up.

Electricity companies who offer electric service to commercial and industrial clients buy power commitments in advance for the businesses and then sell it back to them in the form of a monthly electric bill.  Essentially these business electricity companies act as banks for large energy users.  As retail electric suppliers, they buy blocks of power on the wholesale market and then sell it to the customer with a retail markup.  This is why electricity companies require businesses to sign electricity contracts that locks them into service with the supplier for the term of the contract.

However, some of these business electricity contracts can be confusing and misleading to executives who are looking at purchasing energy for the first time.  Some of the misleading practices include “passing through” part of the charge to other sections of the bill,  thus making the rate appear lower than it really is.  Also, electricity companies can add unnecessary meter charges that can add up for businesses that have multiple meters.

It is important for businesses to do their due diligence or work with a energy consulting company who has a clear expertise in the field of deregulated electricity.  Electricity brokering companies can compare electricity contracts, rates, and suppliers.

Businesses should be weary of electricity companies offering variable rates that are contract free.  Usually the offer will not guarantee any type of rate allowing the electricity supplier to charge whatever they want in any given month.

Customers of the Pennsylvania electric utility PECO energy will want to shop and compare electric rates very soon in order to prevent a large energy bill spike this summer.  With gas prices already on the rise and  expected to continue to increase, it is imperative to the personal finance of these energy customers to find lower electricity prices.

For a electricity consumer who uses 1000 KWh a month, the supply portion of the PECO electric bill will increase by more than 10% going from 9.99 cents to over 11 cents starting on July first.  Customers who use more than 1000 KWh will have even higher rates.  PA electric choice is providing savings opportunities for customers, but finding those deals has proved to be difficult for many consumers.

Fortunately, electricity price comparison web sites like www.electricrate.com give PECO energy customers a variety of energy choices with savings and promotions easily identifiable.

Finding a lower electric rate will not take you away from being a PECO energy customer.  PECO energy will continue to serve as your local utility delivering the power to your home or business.  With the Electric Choice Act in effect, PECO no longer is involved in the business of offering competitive generation rates.  They instead only focus on the reliability and maintenance of the power lines and wires.  They are however, mandated by the Public Utility Commission to offer default rates to customers who do not shop for competitive rates.

Electricrate.com provides an easy platform for customers to do energy shopping and compare electric rates being offered to the PECO price to compare default rate.  Current savings of 10-16% are available versus the summer PECO default rates.

Electric bill savings can also be found for Pennsylvania electricity customers who are serviced by the utilities PPL Energy in central Pennsylvania and Duquesne Light in the Pittsburgh area.  As is the case with PECO energy, these energy consumers will remain customers of their respective utility companies no matter which electric supplier they choose.  It is simply about saving money on the electric bill; if you can find a lower rate compared to the default rate then you should switch.

Even after a customer chooses a lower electric rate, they will continue to get their monthly electric bill from their local electricity utility company (PECO, PPL, Duquesne Light).

Electricity rate savings are also available for small businesses throughout the state.  Small business customers of PPL in particular have huge savings potential.  Businesses who have not switched suppliers, and thus are still on the PPL default service, will see their electric bills increase by 15% on June 1 if they do not take action.  If they do shop, they can find savings of about 15% off of current default rates.  If nothing is done the business electric rate will be above 11 cents.  If they shop and compare rates, then they will find competitive electric rates below 8.7 cents.

Small businesses serviced by the utility PPL in central Pennsylvania will see their electric rates increase by 33% on June 1, 2011.  The current default electric rate of 9.766 will increase to 13.028.

Business customers who have participated in the PA electric choice program will not be effected by the electric rate increase.  The higher price is for the price to compare, or the default electric rate given to consumers who have not yet chosen a competitive electric supplier.  Cheap business electric rates are available for PPL customers who have not yet shopped for competitive electricity rates.

PPL Competitive Commercial Electricity Rates

The higher energy prices in the summer are expected to increase electricity shopping in the PPL region.  As of April 1, 56% of small businesses serviced by PPL had not switched suppliers and instead remained on the PPL price to compare electric default rate.  With current saving of 10% and more in the competitive electric market, the increased default rate will present and even bigger energy savings opportunity for businesses who won’t be able to afford to allocate more money on their electric bills.

Electric choice is still a new concept to many consumers.  Many business owners do not fully understand the benefits of choice and would rather stay with PPL, a company who they are familiar with.  The important fact that these commercial energy customers are missing is that PPL, as the local utility, continues to deliver the power to their customers regardless of the electric supplier chosen.  This distinction between electricity supplier and electricity utility (delivery company) has caused confusion to many customers in energy deregulated markets.

Though residential electric rates lowered in 2011 for PPL electric customers, the lowest electricity rates in the PPL territory are being offered by competitive electric companies.  The PPL area contains about 1.2 million residential electricity customers in central Pennsylvania.  The majority of these customers are paying the default rate for their electric generation service known as the price to compare.

Customers paying the PPL default rate can find better electricity prices by shopping for competitive rates.  Those consumers who have taken the time to learn about electricity choice have realized that it makes sense as the end result is a lower electric bill.

Despite the price to compare rate coming down from 10.44 in 2010 to 9.27 in 2011, PPL customers can save an additional 9% if they lock in a fixed electricity rate by going here.  Even after choosing another electricity supplier, customers continue to receive their electricity bill from PPL.  PP&L is a local utility company.  Even though Pennsylvania has deregulated the electricity market, PPL continues to serve at the electric delivery company for all of their customers, as well as continues to send the monthly electric bill to all of their customers, even the ones who have switched suppliers.

Current Competitive Residential PPL Rates: