The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has issued a warning to residents about an impending increase in electricity prices. Starting from December 1, energy supply prices for all PUC-regulated electric utilities will adjust upwards. The exact impact on total bills will vary based on several factors, including weather, the efficiency of heating systems, and individual customer usage. The PUC does not regulate prices for the generation portion of electric bills, which are driven by the regional energy market.
The PUC is encouraging Pennsylvanians to explore ways to manage their winter energy bills. These include shopping with competitive suppliers, reducing energy usage in homes and businesses, and taking advantage of assistance programs. The commission has also highlighted the #SaveInPA initiative, which provides tools for energy shopping, conservation tips, and information on assistance programs.
For small business customers, most Electric Distribution Companies (EDCs) are also adjusting their Price to Compare (PTC) on December 1 in their small commercial rate classes. The changes in default service rates for small businesses will vary among the state's major EDCs. For instance, PPL small business customers will see a PTC increase of more than 13%, while PTC increases in the FirstEnergy service territories range between 1% and 9%. Conversely, small businesses in the Duquesne Light service territory may see a PTC decrease of more than 12%, and UGI small business customers will see a PTC drop of approximately 4%.
The PUC's official electric shopping website, PAPowerSwitch.com, provides residential and small business energy shoppers with valuable information on how to shop for supply services. It enables consumers to quickly compare offers from competitive suppliers against the default service rates from their local utilities. The website operates independently of competitive supplier websites and is a neutral source for power shopping information.