In Pa., you can pick an electricity provider. Did the Texas storm make you rethink your choice?

Pennsylvania says its rules would prevent price spikes

Anne Danahy

Recent Stories

Anne Danahy has been a reporter at WPSU since fall 2017. She was a reporter for nearly 12 years at the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pennsylvania, where she earned a number of awards for her coverage of issues including the impact of natural gas development on communities.

She earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and a master's in media studies from Penn State.

She worked as a writer at Penn State, including with the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute. She’s a volunteer host at C-NET, Centre County's government-education access station.

Stan Honda / AFP/Getty Images

Towers carrying electricity in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania from the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, a nuclear power plant in Delta, Pennsylvania.

May 12, 2021 | 1:05 PM

In Pennsylvania, you can pick the company that generates the energy that powers your home or business.

Texas is another state where consumers can opt for variable-rate energy providers: the price isn’t set, which could mean savings, but it could also mean spikes. That’s what some people saw after a February winter storm led to power shutdowns — electricity bills for thousands of dollars.

Pennsylvania now has rules in place intended to help protect consumers from getting stuck with unexpected bills or getting locked into contracts with rising prices. But making an informed choice can still mean sorting through lots of options and information.

While most residents in Pennsylvania stay with their “default” provider, about 29% have enrolled with a competitive supplier, according to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. The goal could be lowering your monthly bill or supporting renewable energy.

Did you switch from your default electricity provider? Or, are you thinking about doing that this year and shopping for one now? Did the spike in energy prices in Texas in February make you reconsider? StateImpact Pennsylvania wants to hear your story. Let us know here: