Frequently Asked Questions

Just like you shop for any household item, you can shop for an electricity supplier that has the best offer for your needs. Saving just one cent per kWh could translate into more than $100 a year in savings, depending on usage. Even though competitive offers may not be available in all areas, it's worth taking a look. 

You may also be interested in renewable and alternative energy, or different products like time-of-use.

With Pennsylvania’s accelerated switching rules, you can likely change electricity suppliers in three business days once the electric distribution company (EDC) is notified of the switch.

This depends on the agreement you have with your current supplier. Review your agreement with your current supplier to see if there are any penalties for early cancellation. If you are not sure, call your current supplier.

Yes. Your utility always remains your electric distribution company, and you can choose to have them supply your electricity as well. Just contact your utility and ask to return to default service. Check your current supplier’s contract first. Some plans include early-termination fees. If you are within the last 30 days of your contract, these fees are waived.

Your disclosure and contract summary should tell you the price you agreed to pay when you enrolled with your supplier. If you have any questions, contact your supplier. Their phone number is on your bill.

Historical pricing information may not be available for all products. However, Pennsylvania regulations require suppliers to provide up to two years of historical pricing data upon a customer's request if the supplier is offering you a variable price. 

For residential customers, all applicable taxes are included in the price presented by the supplier. However, if the service is for a second home or property that you rent out, sales tax may apply.   

The process is the same with all supplier switching – go shopping – and select the supplier of your choice. Your new supplier will then put into motion the switch. But before shopping for a new supplier, review your agreement with your current supplier to see if there are any penalties for early cancellation. If you are not sure, call your current supplier.

Time of use is a program offered by some electricity suppliers. It allows you to pay a lower rate when using power during off-peak hours and a higher rate during on-peak hours.

A time of use program could help lower your electricity bill. These programs encourage you to use electricity during off-peak hours. It takes planning to shift your energy usage to off-peak hours. But if you have the flexibility to do so, then this unique pricing structure may save you money.

Times differ by electricity supplier. Off-peak hours with lower rates may be early morning (for example: 6am - 9am) and late night (for example: 9pm to 6am). On-peak hours with higher rates may be during the day (for example: 9am to 5pm) and evening (for example: 5pm to 9pm) Timeframes for on- and off-peak hours may change on weekends or during different seasons. You’ll need to check with your supplier for the specific time of use times in your area.

You may be able to reduce electricity costs if you charge your electric vehicle during the off-peak hours of your supplier’s time of use program.

If you enroll in a time of use program, your electricity supplier will use data from your meter to differentiate your electricity usage by time frame. Your off-peak usage will be charged at a lower rate. Your on-peak usage will be charged at a higher rate. The off-peak and on-peak charges will be combined to calculate your total bill. Check with your supplier for more details about time of use billing.

Check your distribution company’s website or call their customer service number to see if they have a time of use program.

Through Act 129 legislation, large electric distribution companies (EDCs) must offer time of use programs. Additionally, suppliers may also offer these programs. Time of use rates, times, and eligibility criteria vary and should be confirmed with each EDC or supplier.

Learn more about Act 129

All existing customer notification requirements apply, including notices relating to any proposed changes in the contract between the supplier and customer. Customers will receive contract renewal notices prior to the end of the standard offer period. At that time, they may have three options:

1. Remain with their current supplier, most likely at a different rate.
2. Switch to a competitive supplier.
3. Return to the default service offered by their EDC.

If a customer fails to respond to the notices regarding their one year contract, they will automatically remain with the current supplier on a month-to-month basis without any early termination fees, but most likely at a different rate.

Customers who enroll with a participating supplier are free to leave the Standard Offer Program at any time during the 12 months with no termination/cancellation fee imposed.

Check your disclosure or contract summary to see if there is an early cancellation fee.  You can also contact your current supplier and ask – their phone number is on your bill.  If you do have an early cancellation fee, you can still switch suppliers, but if you do this before the end of your contract you may have to pay the early cancellation fee (early cancellation fees do not apply in the last 30 days of your contract – so you are free to shop during this time). 

Yes, you just have to contact your electric utility and request to return to your default service.  You should review your agreement with your current supplier to see if there are penalties for early cancellation if you wish to do this in the middle of your current contract. If you are not sure, call your current supplier.

You will receive your first notice depending upon how you agreed to receive notices from your supplier – check your disclosure or call your supplier if you have questions about this.  You will receive your second notice in writing by U.S. postal mail.  

It is important that you respond to your notices and take action.  If you do not respond to your contract expiration notices, your supplier can continue to provide you with service – but it may be at different terms and prices.  Your notices will explain these new terms and prices.  

If your contract with your supplier expires and you do not respond to your expiration notices, your supplier can continue to serve you – but your terms and price may change.  The supplier may even place you on a variable rate – but if they do, they must then provide you with advance notice of any future price changes. 

“New Customers Only” plans are available only to customers who have not had an active supply contract with that supplier within the supplier’s required eligibility period. An “Introductory Price” is based on how the rate is structured. It’s a temporary promotional rate that applies for the beginning of a contract. After the introductory period (typically the first several billing cycles) the price changes to the supplier’s ongoing fixed or variable rate, as described in the supplier’s disclosure statement. A supplier may offer a standard (non-introductory) rate that is only available to new customers, or an introductory rate that is available to both new and returning customers.

The price to compare (PTC) is the price per kilowatt hour (kWh) your electric distribution company will charge. When asked, the competitive supplier also will provide you with a PTC, allowing you to make an apples-to-apples comparison on price for the generation portion of your bill. Be sure to ask how long the price is effective.

The basic unit of electric energy for which most customers are charged and is used to determine how many kilowatts an electric device uses per hour. Customers are usually charged for electricity in cents per kilowatt-hour.

The Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) is a Pennsylvania state tax imposed on the gross receipts from sales of electric energy within Pennsylvania and is included in the PTC. The Gross Receipts Tax is paid by both the electric distribution company (EDC) and the EGS on the basis of the company’s or the supplier’s gross receipts from the sale of generation supply within Pennsylvania. EDCs and EGSs include the GRT as part of the cost of electric generation supply.