Pennsylvania Power Company (Penn Power)

Pennsylvania Electric Choice
In the past, Penn Power, your electric distribution company (EDC), provided every aspect of your electric service – supplying the generation and delivering it to your home or business. 

Through the Pennsylvania Electric Choice program, you have the opportunity to choose your electric generation supplier – and perhaps save money on your electric bill. Penn Power will continue to deliver the electricity to you and maintain the same poles and wires.

Whether you're looking for a supplier based on price, the terms of the contract or the options offered by that supplier, the choice is yours.

• Price
  Electricity is priced by the kilowatt-hour. Electric generation suppliers should be able to quote you their price per kilowatt-hour so you can compare prices. You can look at your latest Pennsylvania Power Company (Penn Power) bill to see how many kilowatt-hours you used during the last billing period. Simply multiply the supplier’s price times the kilowatt-hours to see how much the generation portion of your bill would be.
• Options
  Electric generation suppliers might offer a number of options for you to consider. For example, they might offer one price for daytime use and another price for evening use, so it would be important to know when you use your electricity most. Other factors to consider include the source of energy used, whether the supplier offers other services like appliance repairs, and how easy it is to get help with billing problems.
• Terms
  It is important to understand the terms of your agreement when you sign up with a supplier. You might be required to buy service for a specified number of months, and there might be a fee or penalty for breaking the contract.

Licensed Electric Generation Suppliers
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PaPUC) is responsible for licensing electric generation suppliers. All licensed suppliers must post bonds to help ensure their financial responsibility and the supply of electricity to satisfy their contracts or agreements. Here is a list of licensed electric generation suppliers (pdf) who have met all requirements to serve Penn Power customers.

When Shopping, Use Your Price to Compare
The Price to Compare is the price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) your electric distribution company will charge for the generation part of your electric service. It is used as a comparison tool to help you decide if you can save money by choosing another electric generation supplier.

If a competing supplier’s price per kWh is less than your listed Price to Compare, you can save the difference on every kWh you use by choosing that supplier. Your Price to Compare – which is an estimate based on an average kWh for your rate – can be found on your Penn Power electric bill. More information about your Price to Compare (pdf).

Eligible customer list
A customer list that includes your name, address and usage information is made available to electric generation suppliers. If you do not wish to be included on this list, please complete the online form. If you recently decided not to be included on the list and would like to reverse that decision, simply check the appropriate box on the online form.

Service Reliability
Many customers wonder how or if their electric service will change when they choose an electric generation supplier. As your electric distribution company, Penn Power is committed to delivering your power safely and reliably, no matter which electric generation supplier you choose.

When the storms hit, we'll work just as hard to repair the lines. If something happens to your supplier, we'll make sure your lights stay on and supply your electric generation until you choose another.

Penn Power will not disconnect your service if you are unable to pay your supplier’s bill.  If your supplier elects to discontinue your electric generation service, you will have the opportunity to choose a different supplier. Until you do that, Penn Power will become your supplier.

If you're having difficulty paying your bill, we're always available to work out payment arrangements for your Penn Power charges. But remember, you will still owe your original supplier for the electric generation supply you bought from it.

Additional Information and Useful Links
We want to make it easy for you to participate in the Pennsylvania Electric Choice program. If you need more information:

• Call our Retail Choice Center toll-free at 1-888-478-2300.
• Call the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission's Electric Competition Hotline toll-free at 1-888-PUC-3228, or visit the PaPUC's PA Power Switch website.
• Visit the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate's website for an introduction to retail choice and information on how to shop for an electric generation supplier. The Web site features a shopping guide pamphlet and price comparison charts to help you make a better choice.

We have speakers who are happy to meet with your group or organization to talk about competition and answer your questions. To schedule a presentation, call us at 1-888-478-2300 or 1-800-720-3600.

(08/09/2010)