This is the average electric bill in Pennsylvania (and how you can save)

If you’ve noticed an increase in your monthly utility bill in Pennsylvania, you’re not alone. Energy prices in the region are rising.

In fact, the average price of electricity in the Keystone State increased nearly 30% — from 14 to 18 cents per kilowatt hour — between May 2020 and May 2024, according to monthly data from the US Energy Information Administration.

Fortunately, there are still plenty of ways Pennsylvanians can save money on energy, from finding electricity suppliers to using solar energy to reducing home use. Here’s what’s behind Pennsylvania energy prices, plus tips to lower your monthly electric bill.

What is the average electric bill in Pennsylvania?

The good news is that energy prices in Pennsylvania are not particularly high compared to the U.S. average. Electricity costs in the state are typically within one to two cents per kilowatt hour of the national median, and Pennsylvania residents average similar usage to the rest of the country.

This means that residential electric bills in Pennsylvania are around the U.S. average. The table below shows the average electric bill in Pennsylvania in 2022, according to data from the Energy Information Administration:

Buying electricity in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania residents can’t choose their electric utility — the entity that delivers power to their homes — but they can choose their energy supplier.

“The number one resource we recommend for people looking for electricity options is PA PowerSwitch,” said Flora Cardoni, deputy director of PennEnvironmenta statewide nonprofit organization with a mission to build a future powered by clean energy.

On the PA PowerSwitch websiterun by the Pennsylvania Utility Commission, you can search and compare energy suppliers. If you don’t choose an energy supplier, you will pay a rate charged by your utility company, such as PECO, PPL or Duquesne Light Company. This rate usually fluctuates along with market prices for energy.

Another option is to purchase a subscription from another supplier that offers a fixed rate for a certain period. A fixed rate allows you to save overall and allows your electricity bills to fluctuate less from month to month. You can also shop around and find a green energy supplier to reduce your home’s carbon footprint.

However, it’s a good idea to read each plan’s electricity facts label carefully before signing up. Look for warning signs like early termination fees and variable rates. You can also set a reminder to shop with a supplier again before your subscription expires to avoid a possible increase in your rate.

Buying solar panels in Pennsylvania

Installing solar energy on the roof of your home can significantly reduce your household’s electricity bill in the long run.

“We strongly support moving away from fossil fuels to a clean energy future, and for people to be able to put solar on their own roofs is a great option to help us realize that vision of the world.” building,” said Cardoni.

Purchasing solar panels in Pennsylvania can be a big investment, but there are incentives and other ways to go solar that can reduce or eliminate the upfront costs. With solar leases and power purchase agreements, a solar installer places panels on your roof and then sells you the energy they generate, either at a fixed rate per kilowatt hour or at a fixed monthly rate.

Solar panels can also be purchased directly or financed through a solar loan from your installer or an external lender. One benefit of owning your panels is that you qualify for a 30% tax credit for using solar energy thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act.

Community solar legislation, which would allow people who cannot or do not want to install solar on their roofs to subscribe to local solar generation projects, has not yet been passed in Pennsylvania.

“PennEnvironment also advocates for the communal solar account in Harrisburg to succeed so that more people can benefit from clean, renewable energy and electricity savings,” Cardoni said.

Electric bill help in Pennsylvania

• Utility utilities: Low-income households in Pennsylvania may be eligible for utility bill payment assistance through their electric utility’s programs, such as a Customer Assistance Program, Customer Assistance Referral and Evaluation Program, or Low-Income Usage Reduction Program.
• Budget billing: Your electric company may offer this utility, which is designed to make it easier to budget your electric bill by charging the same amount each month.
• Hardship Funds: Pennsylvania utilities also offer hardship funds, which are designed to support eligible customers who experience hardship once other programs are exhausted.
• Low-income home energy assistance program: This state-level program provides low-income households with subsidies of $300 to $1,000 to help pay for heating costs.
• Weatherization Assistance Program: Low-income people may qualify for funds for home energy audits, insulation, heating improvements and minor repairs to make homes more energy efficient and reduce electricity costs.
• Pennsylvania Utility Law Project: Pennsylvania households facing a power shutoff or no service can contact this nonprofit for free legal assistance and other resources.

Energy Saving Tips for Pennsylvanians

Reducing electricity use and making your home more energy efficient is one of the best ways to save money.

“The cleanest energy is the energy we don’t use at all,” says Cardoni. “We shouldn’t produce and waste energy we don’t need, but it’s also helpful for people who save money on their energy bills at the same time.”

Here are just a few ways your Pennsylvania household can save energy.

Request an energy audit for your home

An easy way to start your quest for energy savings is to get an energy audit for your home. Many Pennsylvania utilities, such as PECO, offer their own energy rating programs, often with coupons to reduce the cost to as little as $25.

An auditor will assess your home’s energy efficiency and make recommendations ranging from replacing light bulbs LEDs and using smart plugs to add attic insulation and replace windows. You can use their recommendations as a checklist and make changes and upgrades as your budget allows.

Install a heat pump

Your home’s HVAC system is one of the largest energy consumers, especially in the summer and winter. Heat pumps are much more efficient than boilers or traditional air conditioners, and they can be used for ducted or non-ducted HVAC systems. Best of all, they currently qualify for a 30 percent tax credit.

“The technology just keeps improving and becoming more efficient,” Cardoni says. “There was a story that heat pumps wouldn’t work here in the winter, and that’s just not true. They do their job well and you can even get a refund.”

Look for savings from the Inflation Reduction Act

Cardoni recommends homeowners read up on the Inflation Reduction Act incentives for other energy efficiency ideas, supported by tax credits and rebates. Upgrading windows, installing skylights, sealing ducts and cracks and adding smart thermostats are just some of the improvements covered by the legislation.

While you can make upgrades now and take advantage of credits when filing taxes, Cardoni notes that Pennsylvania’s energy efficiency rebate program will go live this winter. Instead of waiting until tax time to get those savings, you can save on things like energy efficient appliances at or shortly after the point of sale.

Make small behavioral changes

If you’re a renter or aren’t able to upgrade major items like HVAC equipment or appliances, there are still small but effective ways Pennsylvanians can reduce energy consumption and save money.

“If you don’t have the money to buy a heat pump, you might consider washing your clothes in cold water, hanging your clothes to dry, sealing leaks, buying a more efficient shower head, things like that,” Cardoni said .