How to Switch Electricity Providers in Pennsylvania: PAPowerSwitch Guide

To switch electricity providers in Pennsylvania, compare supplier offers against your utility's Price to Compare on PAPowerSwitch.com, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission's official shopping site, then enroll with the supplier by phone or online. Your utility stays your electric distribution company, a switch can take effect in about three business days after the utility is notified, and you can rescind within three business days after receiving the supplier's disclosure statement.

Who regulates Pennsylvania electric choice and where to compare

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) oversees electric suppliers and runs PAPowerSwitch.com, which describes itself as "The Official Electric Shopping Website of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission" (PAPowerSwitch). The PUC's Bureau of Consumer Services takes reports about aggressive or suspicious sales at 1-800-692-7380 (PA PUC).

How electric shopping works in Pennsylvania

PAPowerSwitch is clear on the basics: "Your utility always remains your electric distribution company" (PAPowerSwitch). The utility, also called the electric distribution company (EDC), keeps delivering electricity over its lines. What you choose is the generation supplier.

If you never shop, you receive default service from your utility. You can go back to default service later by contacting your utility, though you should check your supplier contract for an early termination fee first (PAPowerSwitch FAQ).

Item	Before switching	After switching
Electricity generation (supply)	Utility default service	Your chosen supplier
Delivery, lines and meter	Your utility (EDC)	Your utility (EDC), unchanged
Benchmark price	Price to Compare	Your contract price
Contract terms	None	Set by the supplier's disclosure statement

Know your Price to Compare

PAPowerSwitch defines the Price to Compare (PTC) as "the price per kilowatt hour (kWh) your electric distribution company will charge" for generation (PAPowerSwitch FAQ). It is the number to beat. A supplier offer needs to be lower than the PTC, after any fees, for you to save on the supply portion of your bill. Delivery charges are not affected by your choice of supplier.

Fixed, variable and other rate types

PAPowerSwitch describes the main rate types this way (PAPowerSwitch):

• Fixed rate: a "predictable per kWh rate" that "stays the same for at least 3 billing cycles."
• Variable rate: "rates that can change by the hour, day or month - depending on market fluctuations."

The site also lists unlimited (subscription-style) and time-of-use plans. Pennsylvania adds protections for variable pricing. Suppliers offering a variable price must provide up to two years of historical pricing on request (PAPowerSwitch), and a supplier that places you on a variable rate must give advance notice of future price changes (PAPowerSwitch FAQ). Some introductory offers move to the supplier's "ongoing fixed or variable rate" afterward, so read what happens after the first period. For a deeper comparison, see our fixed vs variable rate guide.

Early termination fees and contract endings

• "Some plans include early-termination fees." These are waived in the last 30 days of a contract (PAPowerSwitch).
• You will receive contract renewal notices before your term ends. PAPowerSwitch stresses that "it is important that you respond to your notices and take action" (PAPowerSwitch FAQ).
• For residential customers, applicable taxes are included in the supplier's price; sales tax may apply to second homes or rental properties (PAPowerSwitch).

How long switching takes

Under Pennsylvania's accelerated switching rules, you "can likely change electricity suppliers in three business days" once your utility is notified (PAPowerSwitch FAQ). You do not need anyone to visit your home.

Your right to rescind

The PA PUC says customers "may rescind the transaction within three business days after receiving the disclosure statement" (PA PUC). The disclosure statement is the written terms the supplier must send you after you enroll. Read it as soon as it arrives.

Door-to-door sales: what Pennsylvania requires

The PUC lists specific rules for in-person sales (PA PUC):

• Suppliers must obtain criminal background checks on door-to-door agents.
• Agents must wear an identification badge that includes a customer-service phone number for the supplier.
• Agents must state their name, the supplier they represent and the reason for the visit, and make clear they are independent of your local utility.
• Agents must honor a request to be exempted from future door-to-door sales.
• You are not required to choose a competitive supplier.

Is switching worth it in Pennsylvania?

It can be, but only if an offer beats your Price to Compare after fees and for the whole term. A 2019 EIA analysis found that, nationally, residential customers had generally paid more per kilowatt-hour through competitive suppliers than through their utilities (EIA). That is not a reason to avoid shopping; it is a reason to compare carefully and read renewal terms. Switching also affects only the generation part of your bill. Your utility's distribution charges stay the same whoever supplies your power, so the dollar savings depend on how far below the PTC your new price is and how much electricity you use.

A quick way to check: subtract the offer price from your PTC, then multiply by your average monthly kWh. If the result is a few dollars a month, weigh it against any monthly fee, the contract length and the early termination fee. If your PTC changes during your contract, rerun the math.

What to have ready before you enroll

• A recent utility bill with your service address, Price to Compare and usage history.
• Your average monthly kWh and your highest-use month.
• Your current supplier's contract, if you have one, including the end date and cancellation fee.
• Notes on the offer you chose: price, term, rate type and renewal terms, so you can check them against the disclosure statement.

Reading your bill after the switch

Once the switch takes effect, your bill should show your new supplier as the supplier, with generation or supply charges based on the price in your contract. The delivery section, including your utility's distribution charges, should look the same as before. Compare the supply price per kWh on that first bill with your contract. If it does not match, contact the supplier first, and keep a record of the call. If the problem is not fixed, you can bring it to the Pennsylvania PUC.

Step-by-step checklist: switching electric suppliers in Pennsylvania

1. Find your Price to Compare and your monthly kWh usage on a recent bill.
2. Check your current contract, if you already have a supplier, for its end date and any early termination fee. Fees are waived in the last 30 days.
3. Compare offers on PAPowerSwitch.com for your utility. Sort by price, term and rate type.
4. Read each finalist's details: price per kWh, fixed or variable, contract length, monthly fees, cancellation fees and renewal terms.
5. Enroll by calling the supplier or signing up on its website.
6. Review the written disclosure statement when it arrives. If something is wrong, rescind within three business days.
7. Confirm the switch on your next utility bill, which should show the new supplier.
8. Respond to renewal notices before the contract ends, and compare again.

Red flags

• A door-to-door agent without a badge, or one who implies they work for your utility.
• Pressure to sign immediately without written terms.
• An introductory rate with no clear price afterward.
• A variable plan where the supplier will not share price history.
• A switch on your bill you never authorized. Call your utility and the PUC's Bureau of Consumer Services.

Next steps

See what Pennsylvania households typically pay on our Pennsylvania electricity rates page, then run a supplier's price through the electric bill calculator alongside your Price to Compare. You can also check which other states offer choice in our deregulated electricity states guide.