Archive for the ‘Deregulation’ Category
Two Suppliers Offer Cheap Green Energy
November 29th, 2010 by Clay
Trying to beat PECO’s PTC of 9.92 cents per kilowatt but want to go green? BlueStar Energy Solutions and Energy CooperativeAssociation of Pennsylvania may be the choice you’re facing as both suppliers are offering 100% renewable energy for less than PECO’s PTC. BlueStar comes in 5%+ cheaper than PECO’s default rate, while the Energy Cooperative Association of Pennsylvania is about 2.5% cheaper than PECO. A few percentage points may seem like negligible savings, but to be able to go 100% renewable and get a better price than you can get from a non-renewable supplier is quite the deal.
- PA Energy Org -
Posted in Deregulation, Policy, Utilities
PECO Customers: New Energy Supplier Numbers to Know
November 29th, 2010 by Clay
9.92 cents per kilowatt-hour, PECO’s Price to Compare (PTC) come January, is also the price to beat for PA electricity consumers trying to save money by switching to a new energy supplier this winter. Residential consumers who switch suppliers can expect to save between $100 and $180 annually; and with at least eleven suppliers offering rates 10% lower than PECO’s January PTC choosing a new supplier may be more difficult than finding a good deal. Rob Powelson, PUC Commissioner encourages households to evaluate their options even if many of the suppliers are not familiar names,
“Customers should have the peace of mind knowing that these companies are approved to do business here in Pennsylvania by the Public Utility Commission. They have bonding requirements. They have to post certificates of insurance.”
Check out my past post Choosing a New Energy Supplier to brush up on the shopping process.
- PA Energy Org -
Posted in Deregulation, Policy, Utilities
Pennsylvania Electricity Generator Environmental Comparison
November 22nd, 2010 by Clay
If you’re going to factor environmental impact into your generator choice then one big thing to consider is how the electricity is generated. Clean energy is more expensive to generate so expect to see higher prices from generators who have a low environmental impact.
The chart below utilizes 2006 data, rating impact on the following categories in a 100 point scale (100 being the most negative impact) to compare overall environmental impact of generation for Pennsylvania Electricity Generators.
- Climate Change
- Acid Rain
- Ozone (smog) and Fine Particulates
- Air Toxics (Mercury)
- Water Use
- Water Quality
- On-site Land Impacts
- Off-site Land Impacts
Data Source: http://www.powerscorecard.org/
- PA Energy Org -
Posted in Deregulation, Policy, Uncategorized, Utilities
Choosing an Energy Supplier in Pennsylvania
November 22nd, 2010 by Clay
Pennsylvania's most famous electricity generating plant, Three Mile Island.
Today I’m going to review how to choose an energy supplier since this is a new experience for many of us in Pennsylvania. There are a few key factors that go into picking an energy supplier, but before we get into those lets just lay the foundation with some basics.
First off, energy service is comprised of three parts:
1. Generation
2. Transmission
3. Distribution
Deregulation has made generation a competitive business, so when you’re shopping for an energy supplier you are choosing where your electricity comes from and how it is generated. Regardless of your electricity generator the same distribution company will still deliver your energy, so you can rely on the service you’ve come accustomed to in the past.
Price often becomes the main focus when people are evaluating energy suppliers, but it’s important to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. When reviewing price per KwH, make sure that the quote includes transmission costs if you are a customer of PECO Energy, PPL Electric Utilities, UGI, Duquesne Light, Citizens’ Electric or Wellsboro Electric. If you are a customer of Allegheny Power, Penn Power and Pike County Light & Power Company then transmission costs will be billed by these companies and not by a new supplier.
Energy suppliers are required to provide a written copy of your service agreement. In these agreements you’ll find details such as price per kWh for generation and transmission; variable pricing; agreement start date and ending date; sign-up bonuses, add-ons, limited time offers or other promotions you’ve agreed to; prices, terms and conditions for special services; cancellation and renewal provisions; penalties, fees or exceptions; customer contact information. It’s important to review the service agreement closely and promptly as you’ll only have three business days to cancel the agreement after it arrives. Breaking an agreement after the three day window may result in penalties.
If you use a significant portion of your electricity during daytime hours it’s important to understand if your agreement includes peak pricing. Peak pricing refers to variable pricing based on daily electricity demand. When the demand is high (usually afternoon hours) prices are increased, so peak pricing can become quite costly given the right, or wrong, circumstances.
As people become more aware of the environmental effects of electricity generation there is a growing interest in understanding how the energy you use is being generated.
- PA Energy Org -
Posted in Deregulation, Utilities
Brushing Up On Your Electricity Bill Vocabulary
November 22nd, 2010 by Clay
By now you’re probably accustomed to seeing the same handful of terms on your electricity bill, so what exactly do they mean?
Customer Charge Monthly charge for customer service costs such as meter reading, billing, and equipment maintenance.
Generation Charge Charge for production of electricity.
Transmission Charge Federally regulated charge for moving electricity from a generation plant to the distribution network via high voltage transmission lines.
Distribution Charge This is the toll you pay for your electricity to travel through the local wires, transformers, and substations that connect your home to the high voltage transmission lines.
Transition Charges A charge on every residential customers’s bill designed to recover an electric utility’s transition or stranded costs as determined by the Public Utilities Commission.
KWH – (Kilowatt Hour) The basic unit of electricity for which most customers are charged. Using one thousand watts (think 10 100w light bulbs) for a duration of one hour is equal to a kilowatt hour.
- PA Energy Org -
Posted in Deregulation, Utilities
