PA PowerShopper vs. PAPowerSwitch: Which Is Right for You?
Do it yourself, or have it done for you?
PAPowerSwitch is a great tool if you want to compare electricity offers yourself. PA PowerShopper is for people who'd rather have it done for them. Here's how they compare.
Two ways to shop for electricity in Pennsylvania
Most Pennsylvania households can choose who supplies their electricity. Your utility (PECO, PPL, Duquesne Light, Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power or West Penn Power) still delivers it. If you don't choose, you pay your utility's default rate, called the Price to Compare.
PAPowerSwitch.com is the official electric shopping website of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. It lets you compare offers from competing suppliers against your utility's Price to Compare. PA PowerShopper is a membership service that does that shopping for you. The difference is who does the work.
PA PowerShopper vs. PAPowerSwitch, side by side
| PAPowerSwitch | PA PowerShopper | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free. | $10/month. Your first 2 months are free with code FREE2MONTHS. |
| Who runs it | The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC). It's the state's official, neutral shopping site. | PA PowerShopper, an independent membership service. We aren't part of the PUC or any utility. |
| Who does the comparing | You do. Enter your ZIP code, utility and rate schedule, then sort and compare the offers yourself. | We do. We review your current rate and shop Pennsylvania's licensed suppliers for you. |
| Plan types shown | Fixed, variable and unlimited/flat-rate offers, plus renewable options. | Fixed-rate plans only. |
| Fee screening | Filters let you hide offers with cancellation, enrollment or monthly fees, or intro prices. You still read each contract summary yourself. | Every plan we pick has no cancellation fee, no monthly fee and no enrollment fee. |
| Contract end and re-shopping | Up to you. Your supplier mails renewal notices, and you decide what to do. | We track your end date and shop again before your contract ends. |
| Who you deal with | You sign up directly with the supplier, by phone or on its website. | We email you before anything is switched. Your utility still delivers your power and sends your bill. |
| Best for | People who like to compare offers and track contracts themselves. | People who'd rather have it done for them. |
What PAPowerSwitch does well
Where doing it yourself takes work
PAPowerSwitch is a shopping tool. It doesn't pick a plan or manage your contract, so a few jobs land on you:
When PAPowerSwitch is the better choice
When PA PowerShopper is the better choice
You can use both. Browse PAPowerSwitch to see what's out there, then decide whether you'd rather do the work yourself. Whether $10 a month is worth it for you depends on how much electricity you use and how far the rates we find come in under your Price to Compare.
Price to Compare guides by utility
See every utility's Price to Compare on one page ›
Or go straight to your utility's guide for its current Price to Compare, the December 1 change and how switching works:
Frequently asked questions
Is PAPowerSwitch free to use?
Yes. PAPowerSwitch.com is the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission's official electric shopping website, and there's no charge to search or compare offers.
Is PA PowerShopper part of PAPowerSwitch or the PUC?
No. PA PowerShopper is an independent membership service. We aren't affiliated with PAPowerSwitch, the PUC or any utility.
How does PA PowerShopper get paid?
Only by our members. Membership is $10/month, and your first 2 months are free with code FREE2MONTHS. We don't take commissions from suppliers.
Can't I just filter out fees on PAPowerSwitch?
Yes. PAPowerSwitch lets you hide offers with cancellation, enrollment or monthly fees or with introductory prices, and that's a good habit. You still choose the plan, read the contract summary, sign up with the supplier and watch for your contract's end date. We do those steps for you.
What happens when my supplier contract ends?
Your supplier must send a renewal notice 45 to 60 days before the end and an options notice by mail at least 30 days before. If you don't act, your rate may change. A fixed rate may become a monthly variable rate. PA PowerShopper members don't have to watch for this, because we shop again before the contract ends.
Will my utility change if I switch suppliers?
No. Your utility still delivers your electricity, sends your bill and handles outages. Only the company that supplies your electricity changes.
Do you guarantee savings?
No. We look for fixed-rate plans that beat your current rate. Supply rates and your utility's Price to Compare change over time, so what you save depends on the market and how much electricity you use.
Rather not do the shopping yourself? We'll do it for you.
PA PowerShopper compares Pennsylvania's licensed electric suppliers for you and enrolls you only in fixed-rate plans with no cancellation fee, no monthly fee and no enrollment fee. We take no supplier commissions, so the only thing we're working for is a good rate for you. Before your contract ends, we shop again so you don't roll onto a variable rate.
Membership is $10/month, and your first 2 months are free with code FREE2MONTHS.