PECO Switch Providers: Choosing Green Electricity Alternatives

According to a recent Philadelphia Inquirer article, PECO will temporarily hike prices 21% starting Monday, October 1, 2012. This is a legally required quarterly adjustment to cover changes in bulk rates PECO is buying at, and especially in this instance, under-collection of ratepayer dues.

Whatever the reasons, the increase in the generation portion of electricity costs for PECO customers is yet another perfect motivation to switch to a new provider for generation of your electricity. Most alternative providers offer a lower rate than PECO’s default rate, and you still get the same solid, strictly-regulated distribution and billing network operated by PECO as the area’s default provider and transmission-line operator. Even providers offering premium green-portfolio energy tend to come in at prices lower than PECO.

Read on for full guide and links by PennFuture.org

PECO Demand Response rebates for throttled central A/C

Central A/C cost just came down for Philadelphians

. . . and participants could help bring down costs for everybody

With its new Smart A/C Saver program, PECO offers residential and business electric customers in its territory a $30/month account credit (up to the total energy bill for that month, during cooling months June-September) for allowing them to remotely cycle central A/C off during high-demand ‘conservation events’ that otherwise cost PECO a ton of money. The program is available to anyone who receives a PECO bill — including smart folks who have already switched to cleaner and cheaper alternative energy generation/transmission providers for energy generation services.

However: at least one customer (see comments at the end of this Lunch Break Blog post) claims they experienced prolonged, contract-breaching turn-off by PECO’s switching unit (DCU). Since the site appears to be composed of extreme libertarian perspectives, these complaints may have as much to do with politics as true experience.

Read more on PECO Smart AC(TM) demand response program options>>

PECO Green? It met with Republicans to plan green rollback

PECO Green?

PECO Green? We think not. PECO talks a big game when it comes to being green. But this is only the PR side of its response to Commonwealth of PA’s Act 129 requirements that it take measures to move green — or face stiff fines. Behind the PR mask, PECO has joined other utilities (save for PPL, which has stepped up in support of green legislation in PA) in meetings with a committee of state house Republicans aimed at rolling back green initiatives across the energy sector.

One more reason to power switch and send your money to a different company.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Republican Policy Committee invited four electric utility companies and a utility trade association to testify on the “Impact of State-Mandated Energy Programs.” PECO, FirstEnergy, Duquesne, and the Energy Association of Pennsylvania (EAP) all urged lawmakers to take steps to weaken long-standing clean energy laws.

– PennFuture