PA Power Switch Alternative: Electric Choice in Pennsylvania

PA Power Switch (or PAPowerSwitch) is the official shopping site for the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. But there are so many plans to pick from! How do you choose? That’s where we come in.

ElectricityPlan.com is a PA Power Switch alternative that does the hard work for you. We provide an electric supplier rate comparison and review electricity plans and providers. We read the fine print and highlight the information you need to know. Here are energy rates in the largest PA utility markets. Or enter your zip code to see rates near you.

If you prefer to shop on the state shopping site, here’s a link!

How to Shop for an Electricity Supplier in PA

Since Pennsylvania electricity is deregulated, your transmission and distribution charges from your utility will be the same no matter what provider you choose. With PA energy choice, you can compare electric supply rates in PA.

Shopping for electricity rates in Pennsylvania isn’t hard. However, it’s time consuming wading through all those offers. There are over 100 electricity rates to choose from. That’s a lot of rates to compare.

ElectricityPlans was created to make it easy to shop for your supplier.

Here are some basics to keep in mind, whether you shop for a licensed electric generation supplier (EGS) using PAPowerSwitch or an alternative like ElectricityPlans.

1. Decide the type of plan you want. In Pennsylvania, you can choose from fixed rate, variable rate and renewable energy fixed rate plans. We always recommend fixed rate plans (traditional or renewable energy) because they give you rate stability. After all, if you want a variable rate, just stay with the utility and watch your rate change every 2-4 months.
2. Look for the lowest rate per kilowatt hour. It really is that simple. Sort by lowest to highest to find the best rate. Make sure to read the details of the rate to see if its a buy-back plan with a monthly fee (which we highlight in the plan summary)
3. Read the fine print. The details of your electricity plan matter. How long is the contract term? What’s the early termination penalty if you want to switch away or go back to the utility?
4. Enroll with your new supplier. Once you’ve selected an electricity plan and provider, it takes less than 10 minutes to enroll online.
5. Your rate changes automatically. There’s nothing left to do. Your utility manages the switch for you. Nothing changes other than the rate on your utility bill.

TIP: Have a copy of your electricity bill available when you enroll. You will need to know your account number to enroll for service. Moving to a new house? Call the local utility company to get your account number and lights turned on, then choose a supplier with a lower rate.

About PA Energy Choice

Today, multiple states have decided to deregulate their energy markets, creating an environment where customers can browse plans and rates from several electric and gas providers.

However, up to the mid-1990s, consumers didn’t have a choice. They signed up with their local gas or electric company and started receiving bills soon after.

In 1996, Pennsylvania opted to shake up this model. They experimented with a free market structure that invited competition among electricity providers: Customers could remain with the local utility company or select an alternative for a potentially lower rate. Residents and business owners liked being able to shop around, and by 1999, the state implemented a similar structure for natural gas.

Into the 2020s, over 2.5 million Pennsylvania households have switched electric or gas providers to secure a lower rate, to turn the lights on without a deposit or to invest in renewable energy.

What Is PA Power Switch?

PA Power Switch is Pennsylvania’s effort to help customers evaluate all the choices available to them. Managed by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the site lists all competing suppliers along with their rates, services and plans.

It’s estimated that about 1.5 million customers use PA Power Switch to explore energy alternatives. However, we’ve noticed the following concerns:

• PA Power Switch has no quality control: Instead, all plans are listed, and it’s up to you to do your research, read the fine print and check out reviews.
• Customers often don’t know the details of their plan until they sign up. In several cases, they get lured in by teaser rates or restrictive deals that don’t lead to long-term savings. In fact, they might even pay more than if they remained with their local utility company.
• Companies who continue to engage in deceptive practices or have a history of poor service remain listed on PA Power Switch.

Want more information on how to shop? Check out this article on How to Compare Electricity Rates in Pennsylvania.