Pennsylvania Has a Competitive Electricity Market — Most Residents Haven’t Used It

Ohio deregulated electricity market – shop and compare suppliers

If you’re ready for a Pennsylvania electricity supplier comparison, this guide is for you. Pennsylvania has one of the most competitive electricity markets in the country. It also has one of the highest rates of households still on their utility’s default plan.

Pennsylvania Electricity Supplier Comparison: What You Need to Know

Here’s the disconnect: PA deregulated electricity back in 1997. PECO, PPL, West Penn Power, Met-Ed — all of them have a “Price to Compare” that licensed alternative suppliers routinely beat. Yet most PA households have never once shopped their electricity supply.

The shoppable portion of your bill (the generation charge) represents 40–50% of what you pay each month. If you haven’t compared it against what a competitive EGS supplier would charge you, you’re essentially leaving a coupon on the table every single month.

Natural gas is also deregulated in PA — so if you heat with gas, you can shop that too.

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Compare PA electricity suppliers at Utility Search Marketplace

Helpful Resources:  EIA – Pennsylvania Energy Profile  |  PA Power Switch – Official PA Consumer Site

Frequently asked questions

What is a PECO bill and what part of it can I shop?

PECO is one of Pennsylvania’s electric distribution companies (along with PPL, West Penn Power, and Met-Ed), and it owns the wires and handles delivery and outages in the Philadelphia area. Your PECO bill splits into a delivery charge and a generation (supply) charge — the generation portion, roughly 40–50% of the bill, is the piece you can shop with a licensed alternative supplier while PECO still delivers your power.

How do I switch electricity suppliers in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania deregulated electricity back in 1997, so you can replace your utility’s default supply with a licensed Electric Generation Supplier (EGS) while PECO, PPL, West Penn Power, or Met-Ed keeps delivering your electricity. Compare offers against your utility’s “Price to Compare” using the official PA Power Switch consumer site, then choose a supplier — your delivery service and outage response never change.

Why haven’t most Pennsylvanians shopped their electricity supply?

Pennsylvania has one of the most competitive electricity markets in the country, yet it also has one of the highest rates of households still sitting on their utility’s default plan — many PA residents have never once shopped their supply. Because licensed EGS suppliers routinely beat the utility “Price to Compare” and the generation charge is 40–50% of the bill, staying on the default effectively leaves money on the table every month.

Can I shop natural gas in Pennsylvania too?

Yes — natural gas is also deregulated in Pennsylvania, so if you heat with gas you can shop that supply alongside your electricity. Comparing both your electric and gas supply against your utility defaults, using resources like PA Power Switch for electricity, lets gas-heated households stack savings on two parts of their utility spend.

How do I get help with a high electric bill in PA while I shop?

Pennsylvania utilities and the state offer customer-assistance and hardship programs for households struggling with electric bills, and enrolling doesn’t stop you from also shopping your supply. Since the generation charge is 40–50% of the bill and licensed EGS suppliers often beat the “Price to Compare,” switching suppliers through PA Power Switch is a lasting way to lower the shoppable portion on top of any assistance.