PA Power Companies Choice - PECO alternatives

[Dave A.]

Was really bummed out with my last electric bill and noticed that my provider American Power Partners rate was only a few fractions of a cent less than the PECO rate to compare.

When I switched from Con Ed about a year or so ago APP had about the lowest rate at the time without having to pay a penalty to make an early switch. Unfortunately it wasn't a guaranteed locked in rate but rather is variable and it didn't take long for the rate to go up. Every time PECO would raise their rates (even over the summer months) APP would quickly follow and the differential between the two got less and less.

I just switched back to Con Ed today because that was about the lowest rate I could see 7.95 and locked it in until Jan 2016. Problem is PECO seems to take their sweet time in making the switch. Last time it took them about 3 months. I couldn't find the regular site with choices but rather found a pdf file from the office of the PA consumer advocate so am not even sure that the Con Ed rate is the best.

 

[woodgeek]

I switched a year ago to a 100% wind plan for 8.4 cents, locked for 24 mos. I am still coming in a bit less than the PECO, but the amount varies from 1 cent to nothing. Looks like all the plans now (green and conventional) are a penny higher than a year ago.

I too was frustrated by the switch time, but I don't think we can blame PECO for that....if you switch in the middle of a billing period, the switch happens at the end of the next period (i.e. 6 weeks later), but you don't see it on your bill for a month after that. That's the way the law is written.

the old thread.....https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/change-power-companies-in-pa.100066/

Edit: Just checked and my wind plan is coming in 1.3 cents/kWh cheaper than PECO power. I'm getting 12.5 cents all in.

 

[maverick06]

after taking a while to get to it i change to coned too. (i started the referenced thread). i technically should be burning con-ed juice now.... havent seen the bill yet. Dec was a bad electric bill for me (heat pump, 2 electric space heaters for the kid's rooms (they are 1, and 2), christmas lights, kids got sick so we have to do LOTS of wash, with hot water etc... $250... $50 mote than expected this month. ugh.

anyways, the switch was painless, lets see how it plays out in the long run.

 

[Dave A.]

I guess $250 might be expected if you're heating a lot with a heat pump and those extras (though it would prolly be a lot higher without the wood heat). I just started using an elec space heater vs. turning on the boiler to warm up the bathrooms. I'll have to see what the damage is on that.

The point was I got the notice of confirmation from Con Ed on the 27th. And they pointed out it was up to PECO to make the switch and PECO has 14 business days to do it. If PECO did it in a couple days then it would come before the Feb meter reading and my next bill could be Con Ed at the lower rate. But PECO will take the maximum and it won't be until after the Feb meter reading so it will take at least an extra month.

Finally found the actual choice web site and for some reason Con Ed isn't even listed there as an option. In fact there were quite a few co.'s listed with rates several cents HIGHER than PECO's rate to compare including my current provider APP. Apparently APP charges people different rates because my current rate with APP is still lower than PECO's.

But I did get a recent cryptic email from APP indicating that because of the cold weather and shortage of elec they would be raising their rates, though there was no new rate listed in the email, the way they usually do it before the rate goes up. But they sort of suggest that they are changing their procedures -- haven't read my agreement with them so dunno if they can just jack up their rates without notifying me beforehand, but I am a little concerned. So maybe that explains why their rate on the site is higher than PECO's. It looks like PECO is actually dropping their own rates about $.01 pretty soon, though that is still higher than the locked in rate with Con Ed.

Just got a letter from Con Ed indicating they're still waiting for PECO and they make it sound like it's up to PECO to allow the switch or not, not sure what that's about. But all of this makes the prospect of having your own PV array look a lot more appealing.