BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Days after announcing Met-Ed customers would see their energy bills climb next year, the state Public Utility Commission is warning consumers that prices soon will adjust for all regulated electric utilities.
In a release Monday, the PUC said prices would adjust Dec. 1.
That means all customers will see changes in the price-to-compare from competitive suppliers against the rate of the default utility.
According to PUC, these are the changes in price expected:
- Citizens’ Electric, increase from 8.089 to 8.696 cents per kWh (+7.5%)
- Duquesne Light, decrease from 11.85 to 10.85 cents per kWh (-8.4%)
- Met-Ed, increase from 10.404 to 11.011 cents per kWh (+5.8%)
- PECO, virtually unchanged from 9.244 to 9.273 cents per kWh
- Penelec, increase from 9.744 to 10.474 cents per kWh (+7.5%)
- Penn Power, increase from 10.389 to 11.168 cents per kWh (+7.5%)
- Pike Co. Light & Power, estimated increase from 8.059 to 10.5758 cents per kWh (+31.2%)
- PPL, increase from 10.04 to 10.771 cents per kWh (+7.3%)
- UGI Electric, decrease from 11.064 to 10.637 cents per kWh (-3.9%)
- Wellsboro Electric, increase from 8.132 to 9.134 cents per kWh (+12.3%)
- West Penn Power, increase from 8.787 to 9.481 cents per kWh (+7.9%).
Understanding your electric bill
The “generation” charge on a utility bill is the part of the bill influenced if a consumer has chosen a competitive supplier or stayed with the default utility.
Consumers can shop for rates using the PUC’s official website — https://www.papowerswitch.com/ — and will be given the price-to-compare, or PTC, when shopping for energy services.
The “delivery/distribution charge” on a bill is the cost for the operation and maintenance of the utility grid, including poles, wires and other infrastructure delivering energy to a home or business.
“It is essential for utility customers to understand what they are paying for energy supply costs, either through default service from their utility or a contract with a competitive energy supplier,” the release said.
That’s because the price-to-compare averages 40-60% of a customer’s total utility bill, the PUC said, and prices are driven by the regional energy market.
The PUC recommends consumers regularly review their contracts and bills from electric suppliers for things like fixed and variable pricing, term length and fees, including any monthly fees or cancellation fees.
Consumers also are encouraged to sign up for rate change alerts and contact their utilities now to discuss impacts of higher energy costs as winter sets in.
“Direct conversations between customers and utilities are the best ‘first step’ in addressing outstanding bill balances and discussing utility assistance programs,” the release said.
