How to Shop for an Electricity Supplier in Pennsylvania
The short answer: Find the Price to Compare on your electric bill, then compare supplier offers against it on the state's free site, PAPowerSwitch.com. Pick a fixed-rate plan with no cancellation, monthly or enrollment fees that beats that price, and sign up with the supplier. Your utility still delivers your power and sends your bill. Write down your contract end date so you can shop again before it runs out.
Pennsylvania lets most homes choose who supplies their electricity. Only the supply part of your bill changes. Here's how to do it yourself, step by step.
Step 1: Grab your latest electric bill
Your bill has everything you need to shop. Look for four things:
- Your Price to Compare, in cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
- How many kWh you use in a typical month.
- Your account number. PECO customers use a 10-digit Electric Choice ID instead. It's in the "Shopping Information" box on page 2 of the bill.
- Your current supplier, if you already have one.
Step 2: Know your Price to Compare
The Price to Compare is your utility's default price for electricity supply. An offer has to beat it for you to save. If you've never picked a supplier, this is the price you pay now. Most Pennsylvania utilities change it on June 1 and December 1, so check the next price too, not just today's.
See current and upcoming prices on our Pennsylvania Price to Compare page, or pick your utility: PECO, PPL, Duquesne Light, Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power and West Penn Power.
Step 3: Check your current contract
If you already have a supplier, find your contract end date and any early cancellation fee before you switch. Your contract summary or disclosure statement lists both. If you can't find them, call your supplier. The number is on your bill. Pennsylvania doesn't allow early cancellation fees in the last 30 days of a contract, so that's a safe time to switch.
Step 4: Compare offers on PAPowerSwitch
PAPowerSwitch.com is the PA Public Utility Commission's free, official comparison site. Enter your ZIP code, utility and rate schedule. Then use the filters to show only:
- Fixed-rate offers
- No cancellation fee
- No enrollment fee
- No monthly fee
- No introductory prices
If you find an offer somewhere else, check that the company is on the PUC's list of licensed suppliers.
Step 5: Do the math
Compare the offer's price per kWh to your Price to Compare, and add in any fees. A fixed rate stays the same for at least three billing cycles or the whole contract, whichever is longer. A fee changes the real price. For example, a $5 monthly fee on a home that uses 700 kWh a month adds about 0.7¢ per kWh.
The PUC says saving just 1¢ per kWh could save you more than $100 a year, depending on how much you use. Want a quick estimate? Try our savings calculator.
Step 6: Sign up and read your contract summary
Sign up directly with the supplier, by phone or on its website. Then read the contract summary it sends you. Every supplier must give you a one-page Electric Generation Supplier Contract Summary. It shows the price, whether it's fixed or variable, the contract length, any cancellation fee and what happens when the contract ends.
You have 3 business days after you get the disclosure statement to change your mind. This is called your right of rescission.
Step 7: Watch for the switch on your bill
Under Pennsylvania's accelerated switching rules, a switch can take about three business days once your utility is notified. Your power won't be interrupted. Your utility still delivers your electricity, reads your meter, fixes outages and sends your bill. Check your next bill to make sure it shows the new supplier and the rate you agreed to.
Step 8: Mark your contract end date and shop again
Put your end date on your calendar and shop again before it arrives. Your supplier must send two renewal notices. The first comes 45 to 60 days before the end date. The second, called the options notice, comes about 30 days before by U.S. mail. If you do nothing, your supplier can keep serving you on new terms, and a fixed rate may turn into a monthly variable rate.
Red flags to avoid
- Variable rates. The price can change with the market and can jump during extreme weather.
- Teaser rates. Introductory prices last only the first few billing cycles. Ask what the price will be after that.
- Cancellation fees. They make it costly to leave if prices drop or a better deal comes along.
- Monthly or enrollment fees. They raise your real price per kWh.
- Door-to-door pressure. A salesperson at your door must show a supplier ID badge, say which supplier they work for and say they don't work for your utility. They must leave when you ask. You don't have to sign anything on the spot.
Having trouble with a supplier? Contact the supplier first. If that doesn't fix it, you can file a complaint with the PUC.
Shop it yourself, or have it done for you?
Doing it yourself on PAPowerSwitch is free and works well if you like comparing offers and tracking dates. If you'd rather not, PA PowerShopper does the shopping for you.
| Do it yourself (PAPowerSwitch) | Done for you (PA PowerShopper) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | $10 a month |
| Who compares offers | You | We do |
| Plan types | Fixed, variable and flat-rate offers | Fixed-rate plans only |
| Fees | Use the filters and read each contract summary | Only plans with no cancellation, monthly or enrollment fees |
| Contract end dates | You track them and act on renewal notices | We track them and shop again before each contract ends |
| Best for | People who like to shop and track contracts | People who'd rather not think about it |
Want us to handle it?
PA PowerShopper is an independent membership service for homes served by PECO, PPL, Duquesne Light, Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power and West Penn Power. We find you a fixed-rate plan with no cancellation, monthly or enrollment fees, handle the paperwork, and shop again before every contract ends. Membership is $10 a month, and we never take commissions from suppliers. You can cancel anytime.
Your first 2 months are free with code FREE2MONTHS. Sign up here, or read our full comparison with PAPowerSwitch.
We can't take customer assistance program (CAP) accounts, homes with solar or net metering, or business accounts.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth switching electricity suppliers in Pennsylvania?
It can be. If a fixed-rate offer with no fees comes in below your utility's Price to Compare, you'll pay less for supply for the length of the contract. The PUC says saving 1¢ per kWh could save more than $100 a year, depending on your use.
Will switching suppliers interrupt my power?
No. Your utility keeps delivering your electricity, reading your meter, handling outages and sending your bill. Only the company that supplies the electricity changes.
How long does it take to switch?
Under Pennsylvania's accelerated switching rules, a switch can take about three business days once your utility is notified.
Is there a fee to switch suppliers?
It depends on your current contract. If it has an early cancellation fee, you may owe it for leaving early, but those fees don't apply in the last 30 days of a contract. Going back to your utility's default service is free.
Can I change my mind after I sign up?
Yes. You can cancel within 3 business days after you receive the supplier's disclosure statement. This is your right of rescission.
What happens when my contract ends?
You'll get two renewal notices, one 45 to 60 days before the end date and an options notice about 30 days before. If you don't act, your supplier can keep serving you on new terms, which may be a variable rate. That's the best time to shop again.
Have more questions? See our FAQ.