Price to Compare (PTC) is your utility's default electricity supply rate. It's the benchmark you use when shopping for competitive suppliers. If a supplier offers a rate below the PTC, switching could lower your bill. If the rate is above the PTC, you'd pay more than staying with default service.
Definition verified January 2026
In deregulated electricity markets like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, you can choose your electricity supplier. The Price to Compare helps you make that decision:
Switching to this supplier could save you money compared to your utility's default rate.
You'd pay more than the utility's default. Only makes sense if you value other benefits (green energy, price stability).
Price to Compare (PTC) is your utility's default electricity supply rate. It's the benchmark rate you use to compare offers from competitive electricity suppliers. If a supplier offers a rate lower than the PTC, switching could save you money.
Your Price to Compare appears on your utility bill, usually near the supply charges section. You can also find it on your utility's website or on state comparison sites like Ohio's Apples to Apples, Pennsylvania's PA Power Switch, or Massachusetts' Energy Switch.
Not always. While a rate below the PTC often indicates potential savings, you should also consider contract length, early termination fees, and whether the rate is fixed or variable. The PTC changes periodically, so a variable rate that's lower today might exceed the PTC later.
If you don't choose a competitive supplier, you automatically receive electricity at the Price to Compare rate from your utility's default service. There's no penalty for staying with default service—it's simply the rate the utility charges if you don't shop.