Compare Electricity Rates in Pennsylvania

About PECO

PECO Energy Company provides electricity and natural gas service in the Greater Philadelphia region. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PECO serves customers across its service territory and provides energy delivery, billing, account services, and outage support.

PECO Electricity & Gas Options

PECO delivers electricity and natural gas to customers in its service territory. Pennsylvania customers can also purchase their electricity and natural gas supply from competitive energy providers. Customers can use PECO’s Price to Compare when reviewing offers from competitive suppliers.

Utility vs ESCO: What’s the Difference?

Energy Deregulation in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s deregulated energy market allows residents to choose who supplies their electricity and natural gas instead of being limited to their utility’s default supply rate. Your local utility continues to manage the delivery of energy to your property and responds to outages, while the supplier you select is responsible for providing the actual energy.

With several suppliers competing for customers, you have access to different pricing and plan options rather than being limited to one utility-set supply rate. Changing suppliers is optional. If you decide not to switch, your utility will continue providing energy at its default rate, which can fluctuate as market conditions change.

For those looking to make their energy expenses more predictable, CPG offers fixed-rate plans that keep your supply price locked for the length of your chosen term. You can select a 3, 6, 9, or 12-month plan, along with affordable, renewable-friendly pricing options. This gives you flexibility when choosing a plan and can make it easier to plan your energy budget.

FAQs 

1. Is PECO a utility or an ESCO?

PECO is a utility, not an energy supplier. It delivers electricity and natural gas through its infrastructure and handles utility services such as outages, billing, and account support. In Pennsylvania’s competitive energy market, customers can choose a competitive supplier for their electricity supply while PECO continues to provide the delivery service.

For electricity, Pennsylvania generally refers to these competitive suppliers as Electric Generation Suppliers (EGSs). The basic distinction is:

• PECO: delivers electricity and natural gas through its utility system.
• Competitive supplier: provides the energy supply you purchase.
• Customer: can compare available supply offers and choose whether to switch.

Choosing a competitive supplier does not mean replacing PECO as your utility.

2. Why do PECO’s rates change?

PECO’s electricity supply rate can change because its default service price is based on the cost of obtaining electricity for customers who do not choose a competitive supplier. The supply charge is separate from PECO’s delivery charges.

PECO’s tariff defines Default Service as electricity supplied by PECO to customers who do not obtain competitive energy supply, return to default service, or are otherwise placed on default service.

Your total bill can therefore change because of changes in supply costs as well as changes in how much energy you use.

If you are comparing a competitive supplier, look at:

• The supplier’s price per kWh
• PECO’s current Price to Compare
• Fixed or variable pricing
• Contract length and applicable fees

A fixed-rate plan can provide a set supply rate for the contract period, but the actual terms of the supplier agreement should be checked before enrolling.

3. What does PECO cover if I switch to an ESCO?

Switching to a competitive energy supplier changes who provides your energy supply, but PECO continues to deliver the electricity or natural gas to your property. Your physical utility connection does not change simply because you select a different supplier.

PECO continues to operate its delivery system and provide outage and emergency support. PECO’s customer materials state that it maintains the infrastructure and responds to outages across its service territory.

In simple terms:

• Competitive supplier: supplies the energy.
• PECO: delivers the energy.
• PECO: continues to handle utility outages and delivery-related issues.

Your service therefore does not require a new physical connection when you switch suppliers.

4. Can I switch back to PECO after choosing an ESCO?

Yes. You can return to PECO’s default service after choosing a competitive supplier, subject to the terms of your supplier agreement. PECO’s tariff specifically includes customers who return to default service after obtaining competitive energy supply.

Before switching back, check your current supplier agreement for any cancellation requirements or applicable fees.

Returning to PECO’s default service does not mean changing your physical connection. PECO remains the utility responsible for delivering your electricity or natural gas.

5. Does choosing an ESCO affect my PECO bill?

Yes, choosing a competitive supplier can change the supply portion of your bill, but PECO’s delivery charges continue to apply. PECO’s tariff allows for consolidated billing arrangements where PECO can include an EGS’s competitive energy supply charges on the customer’s bill.

It helps to separate the bill into two parts:

• Supply charges: what you pay for the electricity or natural gas itself.
• Delivery charges: the charges associated with delivering that energy through PECO’s system.

If you choose a competitive supplier, its supply price applies to the supply portion of your electricity costs. PECO’s delivery service remains in place.

When comparing plans, look at the total cost, not just the advertised supply rate.

6. What areas does PECO serve?

PECO provides electricity and natural gas service across southeastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia and surrounding counties. Its electric service territory includes Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, with PECO also serving portions of other nearby areas.

PECO currently reports approximately 1.7 million electric customers and 553,000 natural gas customers.

Its service territory determines which PECO rates and delivery charges apply to your account, while eligible customers can still choose a competitive supplier for their energy supply.