Power companies who have taken notice to the success of electric choice in Pennsylvania’s largest cities are now targeting the smaller towns by offering competitive rates and instant bill savings. The Metropolitan Edison Company is the fourth largest electric utility in the state of Pennsylvania delivering power to more than 550,000 power users, all of whom are outside of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Meted customers have seen a surge in electricity competitive rate offers as power companies continue to enter the area looking for new customers.

The competitive power companies have been successful in their marketing efforts to Meted customers. Over the last year the residential switch percentage, the number of customers who are purchasing their power from a competitive supplier in relation to the total number of Meted residential customers, has surged to 35.9% as reported by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. The Meted switch rate is actually higher than the 32% switch rate of Pennsylvania’s largest electric utility, PECO Energy, where power companies have spent more efforts on gaining customers.

Residential customers in the Meted service area are learning that can save money on their monthly Meted electric bills by shopping for competitive low electric rates. Customers who do not shop for competitive rates pay a default electric rate through Meted. Though the Meted default rate recently went down, competitive rates in the area still remain lower. The majority of power companies offering service to Meted customers offer consolidated billing which means that the customer continue to receive the same familiar electric bill from Meted even after they switch.

A list of some of the more competitive rate offerings for Meted residential customers is below. Rate offers are updated daily.

Residential electricity customers in the PECO Energy service area will see a rate increase that will go into effect on December 1, 2013. The rate PECO customers pay for power supply, which includes generation and transmission charges, will increase from a current high rate of $0.0935 per KWh to an even higher $0.0972. The 4% increase comes at a time when residential customers in the area can find competitive power rates under $0.08 per KWh.

Competitive power companies in Pennsylvania have been able to offer lower electricity rates to PECO consumers since 2011. The PECO rate increase that will go into effect in December is only for residential consumers who have not shopped for competitive electricity rates. These customers pay a default rate that is determined by an auction process. Competitive rates, which are based on the energy wholesale buying strategies of competitive energy companies, have been able to offer attractive electric rates well below the PECO default rate.

At this point in time only about 31% of residential PECO customers are participating in Pennsylvania electricity choice by purchasing their power supply from a competitive electricity supplier. With current competitive prices yielding 19% savings versus the December 2013 PECO default rate there is no reason for a default paying customer to not start power shopping. The rate increase is expected to give a slight boost in competitive electricity company sales, however there is really no reason for everyone in the south eastern part of Pennsylvania to take five minutes and find a price plan that will substantially reduce their electricity bills. Online energy price comparison sites have made it easy for PECO customers to compare electricity rates on one platform. While many people just want to get the lowest possible fixe rate that is available, some consumers might opt to pay a slightly higher price in order to lock in a longer term so that they are protected from future price increases like the one about to take place. The online energy price comparison tool allows consumers to quickly compare prices and make a strategic decision.

Below are the lowest fixed electric rates available for PECO Energy customers. We recommend locking in fixed rate as opposed to a variable rate option as variable plans have been seen rising rather rapidly after the first month of service. Even though you can switch suppliers if the variable plan rises, it still takes up to two months for the switch to take place which will leave you in limbo with the variable price supplier free to charge whatever they want.

Electricity choice in Connecticut is clearly working as competition is forcing prices on a downward trend. Just a few short years ago consumers in Connecticut were paying the highest electricity rates in the country, causing state senators to draw up a Energy Bill to end electric choice. The bill was eventually vetoed by the governor, and with time prices have dropped.

Connecticut Light & Power customers have seen electricity deregulation and competition bring down their generation rates by more than 30%. In 2009, the generation default rate for CL&P residential customers was over $0.11 per KWh. Now, in 2012, that default rate has dropped to $0.0828, with competitive electricity rates as low as $0.0769.

Consumers who do not shop for competitive electricity pay the default rate that is offered by CL&P. Though they may not realize it, the drop is a result of increased competition. However, to maximize the benefits of Connecticut electricity choice, consumers should shop for low electricity prices.

Below are some current competitive electricity rates from Connecticut Power Companies offering service in the CL&P territory. Even after a competitive rate is chosen, the customer will still receive their monthly electric bill from CL&P, and CL&P will continue to respond to power failures and emergencies. The only thing that changes is the rate (i.e. you pay less on your monthly electric bill).

Many Pittsburgh consumers are surprised to learn the Duquesne Light is not the only power company in the area. This is because the Pennsylvania electric choice law allows alternative power companies to offer competitive pricing to power users in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area.

Consumers who have not participated in Pennsylvania’s competitive electricity market pay a default rate with Duquesne Light labeled the “Price to Compare”. Regardless of which Pittsburgh power company chosen, Duquesne Light continues to deliver the power to the homes and businesses of Pittsburgh. This is because Duquesne Light is the area’s regulated electric utility company, which means they are responsible for the maintenance and management of the power lines.

Selecting a competitive power company can lower the electric bill for Pittsburgh consumers substantially. Here are some current electric rate offers by Pittsburgh power companies:

As the competitive electricity market takes shape in New Jersey, customers of PSEG are seeing more options as more power companies compete for market share. Electricity customers of PSEG can now compare power companies in order to find cheaper electric rates. While this still might be a new concept for some, the NJ BPU is in full force in monitoring the active electricity shopping market that was created by the New Jersey Electricity Choice and Competition Act.

Electricity customers of PSEG are able to shop for lower rates on the supply section of their electric bill. Savings versus the default electric rates for residential customers have been seen as high as 20%. The delivery section of the PSEG electric bill remains the same no matter which electric supplier is chosen. While electricity choice deregulated the generation supply portion of the electricity business, the delivery (distribution) of electricity has remained regulated. This means that PSEG remains responsible for the power lines and wires of their territory, and is in charge of responding to power emergencies.

Electricity choice in PSEG and other New Jersey utilities (JCPL, Atlantic City Electric, Rockland Electric) simply allows consumers to compare power companies and purchase electricity at lower prices and terms that meet a customer’s specific needs.

While electricity shopping has increased throughout the year in Pennsylvania, an abundance of confusion remains on the finer points of Pennsylvania’s deregulated electricity choice market.

One of the biggest subjects of confusion is the new role of the incumbent utility companies – PECO Energy, Pennsylvania Power and Light, Met-Ed, Duquesne Light, and more.

Prior to the decision to make Pennsylvania an energy choice state, the utility companies were regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissison to serve all functions of electricity for Pennsylvania consumers; they were in charge of electricity generation, delivery, and the maintenance of the power lines and wires.

Today, after PA electric choice has been implemented, these companies are still regulated by the PUC to deliver power and control the maintenance of the power lines and wires. Their revenue streams are derived from the distribution charges found on your electric bill. The distribution charges remain regulated by the state and are the same no matter which electric supplier you choose.

The other parts of the electric bill (generation and transmission) have been opened up for competition allowing alternative power companies in PA to compete for customer enrollments. Customers who do not choose an alternative power company pay a default rate with their incumbent utility company. The utility company does not profit from the default rates and instead passes these charges on to other power companies who have won previously held auctions for the right to service default paying customers.

This brings up one of the most intriguing aspects of electricity choice in Pennsylvania; even if you haven’t selected an alternative power company, your money is already going to one through the default rates you pay. So if you can find a lower rate from an alternative power company on your own, there is no reason not to enroll with that company.

Enter your zip code to compare alternative power company prices in your area:

Residential customers who receive their monthly electric bill from JCPL can find savings above 10% by taking the time to shop and compare electricity rates in the competitive NJ energy market. The New Jersey Electric Choice and Competition act is providing power options for both residential and commercial customers. There are variety of options in the New Jersey competitive market. Customers can choose to lock in a fixed rate for savings and price certainty, or they can choose a variable rate with the option to switch suppliers at any time. Green power options are also being offered because of the NJ Electric Choice act.

Having the power to shop power companies is still a new idea to most electricity customers in New Jersey. Less than 8% of JCPL residential customers have switched electric suppliers despite competitive rates that are more than 10% lower than JCPL residential default rates. New Jersey is hoping that their electricity market matures like the Texas market did over the last decade. In Texas, Houston energy customers can choose between over twenty electric companies and over 50 electric rate offers.

The default rates offered by JCPL are generation supply rates that JCPL charges to customers who have not participated in energy choice. These rates are determined by a series of auctions that begin three years prior to the current current year. In other words, default rates being offered in 2011 are determined by auctions that occurred in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Switching electric companies does not end the customer relationship with JCPL. JCPL remains the electricity delivery company for all of their customers regardless of which competitive electricity generation supply company is chosen.