Pennsylvania Power Switch: Compare Rates & Save in 2026

PA Power Switch is Pennsylvania's official electricity shopping program, run by the PA PUC.

Pennsylvania opened its electricity market in 1996.^[1] That's nearly 30 years of shopping options most residents don't know about. Here's what it means: PECO, PPL Electric, and Duquesne Light still deliver your power through the same wires. They maintain poles, fix outages, and read meters. But you choose who generates your electricity.

The default rate is called the Price to Compare. Beat it, and you save money. Miss it, and you pay more. It's that simple. Dozens of licensed EGS (Electric Generation Supplier) providers compete for Pennsylvania customers. Some win on price. Some offer green energy. Some lock rates for years. You pick what matters to you.

Pennsylvania splits your electric bill in two. Only half is shoppable.

The generation portion covers electricity production. This is where competition happens. You can accept your utility's Price to Compare or find a cheaper option from a licensed supplier. This chunk typically runs 50-60% of your total bill.

The distribution portion covers infrastructure. Poles, wires, transformers, crews fixing downed lines. The PA PUC regulates these rates. Same charge no matter who generates your power.

When you switch suppliers, your utility still reads your meter and sends one bill. Only the generation line item changes. Same service quality. Same outage response. Different company name and rate on page two.

Typical Pennsylvania households use about 880 kWh monthly. A 1-cent-per-kWh difference saves roughly $105 per year. Not life-changing money, but why pay more than you have to?

The PA PUC licenses every electricity supplier in Pennsylvania. No license, no legal sales.

Getting licensed requires background checks and financial reviews. Staying licensed requires following marketing rules, providing clear contracts, and honoring cancellation rights. Suppliers who cut corners lose their license. The PA PUC has revoked them before.

Pennsylvania gives you 3 business days to cancel any new supplier contract.^[4] No penalty. No questions. Just call and say you changed your mind.

Problems with a supplier? Call the PA PUC at 1-800-692-7380. They investigate complaints and can order refunds. I've watched them force suppliers to refund thousands of dollars to customers who got burned by misleading contracts. The system works if you use it.

PAPowerSwitch.com lists every licensed supplier offer in Pennsylvania. Free to use. Run by the PA PUC.

Enter your ZIP code. See available plans. Each listing shows price per kWh, contract length, monthly fees, and cancellation penalties. Filter by price, contract length, or renewable percentage.

Every listing shows your utility's Price to Compare. Any plan below that number saves you money. Any plan above it costs extra. Simple comparison.

Two warnings. First: prices update monthly, so hot deals might disappear. Second: the lowest rate isn't always the best deal. A 5.8 cent rate with a $12 monthly fee costs more than 6.5 cents with no fee for most households. Read the fine print. For real-time comparisons, ElectricRates.org calculates total costs automatically.

Switching takes about five minutes. Your power never blinks.

Step one: grab your electric bill. Find your account number and current rate. Step two: compare offers on PAPowerSwitch.com or ElectricRates.org. Step three: enroll online or by phone with your account number, address, and ID.

Your new supplier notifies your utility. Takes one or two billing cycles to complete. You keep getting a single bill from your utility, but the generation charge drops to your new rate.

Switch as often as you want in Pennsylvania. One catch: existing contracts might have early termination fees. Check your terms first. Most fees run $50-150, which might still save money if rates dropped significantly since you signed.

Seven major utilities serve Pennsylvania. Where you live determines yours.

PECO covers Philadelphia and surrounding counties. About 1.6 million customers.^[3] PPL Electric serves central and eastern Pennsylvania: Allentown, Harrisburg, Lancaster. Duquesne Light handles Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

FirstEnergy runs four Pennsylvania utilities. Met-Ed in the south-central region. Penelec in northern and western areas. Penn Power in the northwest. West Penn Power in the southwest.

Each utility sets its own Price to Compare. Rates change quarterly based on wholesale market auctions. Your utility determines which suppliers serve your area, though most major suppliers operate statewide.

Pennsylvania bills have two charges: generation (shoppable) and distribution (fixed).

Generation is priced per kilowatt-hour. Your utility's Price to Compare changes quarterly through auctions. Beat it with a supplier and you save. Miss it and you lose.

Three plan types exist. Fixed-rate plans lock your price for 6-36 months. Predictable, protected from spikes. Variable-rate plans change monthly. Risky but sometimes cheaper during mild seasons. Indexed rates track wholesale markets with a markup. Transparent but volatile.

Average Pennsylvania residential rates run 16-18 cents total^[5], with generation making up half to two-thirds.

Do the math carefully. That 4.9 cent rate with a $9.95 monthly fee costs 6.0+ cents per kWh for average usage. Divide any monthly fee by your typical usage to find the true rate. Compare apples to apples.

Pennsylvania law protects electricity shoppers. Know what you're entitled to.

Suppliers must disclose all rates, fees, and terms before you sign. In writing. Get the contract document, not just verbal promises.

You get 3 business days to cancel any new contract. No penalty, no explanation needed. Just call and cancel.

Slamming (switching you without permission) and cramming (adding unauthorized charges) are illegal in Pennsylvania. Report violations to the PA PUC.

Your utility cannot shut off power during a supplier dispute. The PA PUC investigates complaints and orders refunds when warranted.

One thing to check: if you receive CAP or other low-income assistance, verify your benefits won't change before switching suppliers. Some programs have specific requirements.