The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission created PA Power Switch to provide residents with an easy way to find energy suppliers in their area. Its simple search portal allows residents to enter their zip codes and learn about varying rates.
However, the website only requires that energy providers list their rates without providing additional information such as BBB ratings, customer service complaints, or PUC violations. This leaves room for questionable companies to make misleading claims.
Shop Around
If you live in Pennsylvania, you can choose who supplies your electricity. This gives you more control over your energy costs and the ability to save money by shopping around for a new provider. The state-monitored website PA Power Switch makes this easy by giving consumers access to competing suppliers and their rates. It also has information and tips to help residents shop for the best plan and contract terms for their needs.
Created to coincide with deregulation, PA Power Switch is an online portal meant to help area residents learn more about their electricity buying options and rates. It features a search tool that allows customers to find electric suppliers. It offers resources and additional information on different considerations, such as tips on saving energy costs and how to shop for the best plan.
Unfortunately, PA Power Switch only requires energy providers to list their rates on the site without any further details about reputations, customer service complaints, PUC violations, or BBB ratings, which can lead unsuspecting consumers to sign up with questionable companies that lure them in with an introductory rate, only to jack prices up after just a few months.
Consumers should be aware of other charges on their energy bills, such as state taxes and regulatory fees. By examining their complete energy bill, they can determine the exact price per kWh and whether it is worth paying more for a better deal.
Reduce Your Consumption
There are two main ways to reduce your energy costs: using less power and finding a company with affordable per-kilowatt-hour rates. While the latter can be difficult, the former is surprisingly easy. You need to know where to look for the correct rates, what to look for in a provider, and a few simple tips to make your consumption more efficient.
Pennsylvania residents can choose their electricity supplier thanks to deregulation, and PA Power Switch is the place for area consumers to learn about the benefits of this system. The site also provides tools to help consumers compare rates and find the best home electricity offers. The site even sends alerts when residential rates change, making shopping easier.
Another excellent tool for comparing energy rates offers detailed information about each plan, including pricing structures, contract terms, and additional fees. This gives residents a much more transparent view of available options, which is especially helpful when navigating complicated rates and confusing terms like kilowatt-per-hour prices. It can also be used to find business rates for areas served by regulated utility companies and compare commercial electricity providers. These tools can help residents save money on their energy bills and keep them as low as possible.
Get a Digital Account
Consumers have two ways to save on energy bills in areas with regulated electricity: curbing consumption or choosing a power company with affordable per-kilowatt-hour rates. Since 2010, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s PA Power Switch website has empowered residents with energy choices to shop for an electricity supplier.
The website allows customers to enter their ZIP Code and view a list of available suppliers with rates in their area. Customers can then select the plan that works best for them. The site is easy to use and provides step-by-step instructions for maximizing your energy options.
Before signing up for a new provider, it’s essential to understand how your bill is calculated and the different charges on your statement. A typical residential electric bill is split between the cost of the electricity and delivery charges, which are charged utilities for transporting the energy to your home or business through their transmission and distribution system.
One of the benefits of PA Power Switch is that it encourages competition among energy suppliers. However, this benefit is offset by the fact that any licensed provider can place offers on the site regardless of its reputation, customer service complaints, PUC violations, or BBB rating. As a result, some unscrupulous companies on the website offer plans with hidden fees and confusing terms.
Turn Off the Lights
Turning off the lights when you leave a room, unplugging chargers, and setting timers on lights will go a long way toward saving energy. These simple habits can also help reduce your electric bill and support environmental goals.
Many utilities offer a Standard Offer Program (SOP), allowing you to switch suppliers. This program is available for most regulated Pennsylvania utilities’ residential and small commercial customers.
The winter months can bring high electric bills for many Pennsylvania families. Consider switching to natural gas for heating to avoid high electric bills during the winter. Switching to natural gas can save you money on your electric bill and reduce your dependence on fossil fuels. Depending on your home’s size and heating system, you could break even on the cost of a natural gas heating system in 9.96 years in Pennsylvania – and you’ll be saving money on your electric bills forever!
