Philadelphia Electricity Rates Complete Guide to PECO Service, PA Power Switch, and Savings

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania residents have access to electricity choice through the state deregulated energy market, with the city served exclusively by PECO Energy. Philadelphia electricity snapshot:

• Population: ~1.6 million (Pennsylvania's largest city)
• Average monthly usage: 866 kWh
• Average electric bill: ~$152 (supply + delivery)

Your electricity options:

• PECO default service – Current Price to Compare rate
• Competitive suppliers – Potentially lower rates through PA Power Switch

PA Power Switch, operated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, provides a comprehensive marketplace for comparing electricity offers. 💡 Understanding your options and shopping regularly can result in significant savings on electricity costs.

PECO Energy serves as the exclusive electric distribution utility for Philadelphia and the surrounding southeastern Pennsylvania region. PECO service area:

• Total customers: ~1.7 million
• Counties served: Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery
• History: Over 130 years serving the region
• Parent company: Exelon Corporation

What PECO handles (regardless of your supplier):

• Distribution infrastructure
• Outage response and repairs
• Meter reading
• Power delivery to your home

What you control:

• Electricity supplier choice through PA Power Switch
• Supply rate (PECO default or competitive supplier)

💡 Your PECO bill covers both distribution charges AND supply charges from either PECO default service or your chosen supplier.

PECO Price to Compare for Philadelphia residential customers is currently 11.02¢/kWh (effective December 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026). Rate breakdown:

• Price to Compare: 11.02¢/kWh (6% increase from previous period)
• Competitive supplier rates: As low as 7.7¢/kWh
• Potential savings: Over 25% on supply costs

Typical monthly costs (866 kWh usage):

• Total bill: ~$152
• Supply at Price to Compare: ~$95
• Distribution charges: ~$57

Price to Compare update schedule:

• March, June, September, December (quarterly)

💡 The Price to Compare is your benchmark for evaluating supplier offers.

PA Power Switch at papowerswitch.com is the official Pennsylvania marketplace for comparing electricity suppliers serving PECO customers, operated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. How to use PA Power Switch:

1. Enter your ZIP code
2. Select PECO as your utility
3. View all licensed suppliers and current offers
4. Compare and choose your plan

What the site shows:

• Current rates (introductory AND standard)
• Contract terms and length
• Early termination fees
• Renewable energy options
• Supplier ratings and complaint statistics

Filter options:

• Rate type (fixed vs variable)
• Contract length
• Green energy percentage

✅ All suppliers listed are licensed by PA PUC and must meet consumer protection requirements.

Philadelphia residents can potentially save significantly by shopping for competitive electricity suppliers. Current savings opportunity:

• PECO Price to Compare: 11.02¢/kWh
• Competitive rates: As low as 7.7¢/kWh
• Savings potential: Over 3¢/kWh (25%+)

For average usage (866 kWh/month):

• Monthly savings: ~$26
• Annual savings: ~$312

Plan types available:

• Fixed-rate: Lock price for contract term, protection against increases
• Variable-rate: Adjusts monthly, typically no cancellation fee
• Green energy: Renewable power or RECs

When enrolling:

• Have your PECO account number ready
• Switch takes 1-2 billing cycles
• No service interruption

Philadelphia PECO electric bills separate charges into supply and distribution components. Supply charges (you can control):

• Price to Compare rate: 11.02¢/kWh (PECO default)
• Competitive supplier rate: If you've switched

Distribution charges (PECO infrastructure):

• Transmission costs
• Customer charges
• Various riders

Average Philadelphia costs:

• Total rate: ~17.58¢/kWh (supply + delivery)
• Supply portion: ~11.02¢/kWh
• Delivery portion: ~6.56¢/kWh

What your bill shows:

• Total kWh consumed
• Daily usage averages
• Year-over-year comparisons
• Price to Compare (for shopping reference)
• Supplier name and rate (if you've switched)

💡 Key insight: Only supply charges change when you switch suppliers – PECO delivery charges remain constant.

Philadelphia electricity rates increased throughout 2025 due to wholesale electricity market conditions affecting the entire PJM region. What drove the increases:

• PJM capacity auctions: 2024 auction resulted in dramatically higher capacity prices
• Power plant retirements: Anticipated closures tightened supply margins
• Natural gas prices: Rising costs for regional power generation

PECO rate timeline:

• June 2025: Initial rate increase
• December 2025: Additional 6% increase

How these increases work:

• PJM Interconnection conducts annual capacity auctions
• Wholesale costs flow through to utility default service rates
• PECO adjusts Price to Compare quarterly

💡 Shopping for competitive suppliers offers a way to offset increases by locking in rates below the Price to Compare.

Philadelphia residents can reduce electricity costs through multiple strategies. Supply cost strategies:

• Shop PA Power Switch – Compare offers against 11.02¢ Price to Compare (25%+ savings potential)
• Lock in fixed rates – Protect against future increases
• Review regularly – Check offers every 6-12 months before contract expiration
• Use rescission period – Pennsylvania 3-day cancellation window for new contracts

PECO efficiency programs:

• Rebates on efficient appliances
• Smart thermostat incentives
• Weatherization services
• Budget billing to spread costs evenly

DIY efficiency improvements:

• LED lighting upgrades
• Seal air leaks

Assistance programs:

• CAP – Customer Assistance Program for income-eligible residents
• LIHEAP – Heating bill assistance

PECO handles all power outages throughout Philadelphia regardless of your electricity supplier. How to report outages:

• 📞 Call: 1-800-841-4141
• 📱 App: PECO mobile app
• 💻 Online: peco.com/outages (outage map)

Common causes of Philadelphia outages:

• Summer thunderstorms
• Winter ice storms
• High winds affecting urban tree canopy

Grid improvements:

• Smart meters installed
• Automated switching equipment
• Improved reliability and restoration speed

🚨 Emergency: Downed power lines – call immediately and stay away from the hazard. 💡 Tip: Sign up for PECO outage alerts (text, email, or phone notifications).

PECO contacts:

• 📞 Customer service: 1-800-494-4000
• 🚨 Outage reporting: 1-800-841-4141
• 💻 Outage map: peco.com/outages
• 💰 Energy rebates: peco.com/save

Supplier shopping:

• 💻 PA Power Switch: papowerswitch.com

Complaints and assistance:

• 📞 PA PUC: 1-800-692-7380 or puc.pa.gov

Energy assistance programs:

• 📞 PECO CAP: 1-800-774-7040 (income-eligible customers)
• LIHEAP: Through local Community Action Agencies
• 💻 Philadelphia Energy Authority: philaenergy.org