PA Electric Rates: Changing Suppliers Can Help You Save More

The main reason for conserving electricity is to save money. Hence, people have come up with many ways to save electricity at home. One way for saving such is to shop around for suppliers and compare their electricity rates.

Pennsylvania is one of the states that give its consumers the benefit of choosing their energy suppliers. Thus, if you are from Pennsylvania, you have the liberty to change your suppliers if you feel like saving money on electricity at home.

Energy Deregulation

Now, many homeowners can choose their energy suppliers without getting stuck with those regulated by the government. This is the principle of energy deregulation. Here, there is a restructuring of the energy market that seeks to prevent any monopoly with energy supply. This system allows consumers to look for a supplier that fits their energy needs and budget.

The majority of the states in the U.S. are still regulated. Among those with energy deregulation are Texas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Montana, Delaware, and a few others. As mentioned, if you’re living in Pennsylvania, you have the privilege to change your electricity supplier if you need to.

Pennsylvania deregulated its energy in 1997 through the Electric Choice and Competition Act. Pennsylvania utility companies provided some rate caps to protect their consumers from the fluctuation of prices during the transition period. However, such rate caps were lifted to give way for the competition among energy suppliers.

How Changing Suppliers Will Save You Electricity

Switching electricity suppliers is one of the best-known ways to save on electricity. It can save you a few hundred dollars per year, and you can reduce the amount of electricity you use. Aside from saving up on electricity, other reasons for switching would be better bill accuracy, better customer service, better complaint handling, and lesser carbon footprint.

More states are opening up to deregulation. Opening to deregulation means there are more competitors for suppliers. The competition will demand a change in prices. Thus, this drives them to make conducive offers and decrease their process, which in turn will mean savings on the part of the consumer.

If you are a lover of the environment,  switching to providers with renewable energy may also save you a few bucks. The global demand for fossil and nuclear energy will decrease soon, which will make energy more expensive. Switching to suppliers that use green energy, such as wind and solar, will cut your electricity expenses.

Process of Changing Suppliers

What makes it more compelling is the ease of switching electricity suppliers. You don’t need to worry and stress about how to make a switch. It is much faster and easier to switch with everything going online. You can switch suppliers with only a few clicks of a button.

The very first thing you need to do is to shop around for suppliers. Make a comparison of the kind of energy they use, the locations they cater to, and check their electricity rates.

There are a bunch of websites that compare electricity rates online. These websites will also inform you of what your potential expenses and electricity rates are. You only need to type in a few details on your energy use estimate, current energy provider, and your home. After a few clicks, a list will be presented to you.

Second, once you’ve decided on your energy supplier, you will need to confirm such with your potential supplier. You will only need to provide the new supplier with pertinent information needed. Everything will be processed by your new supplier.

Lastly, once your application to switch is confirmed, you should wait for a confirmation of the actual switch. Since your new supplier will process everything, all you need to do is wait for the new electricity bill to arrive at your doorstep. Do not worry, as there will be no power interruption during the switch.

Other Ways to Save Electricity at Home

If you think that checking on electricity rates and switching suppliers is not enough to save on electricity, there are more ways to save. You can also save the environment while doing the following:

1. Unplug devices that are not in use. This is the most common tip if you want to save on electricity. Many people fail to realize the amount of energy they burn by plugging in devices they do not use. The electricity that these unused devices consume might be small, but they can quickly accumulate over time.

1. Always check your insulation. Broken insulation during hot and cold weather would mean bigger electricity consumption. Well-maintained and proper insulation will protect your system from unnecessary loss of warmth during the winter and insufficiency of coolness in the summer.

1. Adjust your light use. Like the devices mentioned above, you should turn off lights that are not in use. It would also be beneficial to switch light bulbs with lower wattage. A great substitute would be compact fluorescent lamps and LED bulbs.

Takeaway

Everyone wants to save electricity, especially at home. One of the easiest and fastest ways to do so is to check on electricity rates and switch suppliers. The process is easy, considering that everything is online. You can make a switch without all the hassle it brings.