PennFuture Says Pa. Rates Lower Since Introduction of Retail Choice

Pennsylvania's electricity rates, allowing for inflation, are 5 percent lower than the national average and have remained relatively stable since the 1996 passage of the Electricity Generation Customer Choice and Competition Act, Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future said in a recent analysis.

PennFuture noted that the state's electric rates were 15 percent higher than the national average in 1996.

In constant dollars, residential customers across the state are paying anywhere from 21 percent less to only 5 percent more than they did in 1996, PennFuture said. "The savings are even greater when you take into account the lower electric rates currently being offered by competitive electricity suppliers across the state," PennFuture said.

In contrast, PennFuture reported the price of fuel oil is up 183 percent in constant dollars since 1996, while gasoline has increased by 124 percent and natural gas piped by a utility is up 71 percent.

Commercial rates, adjusted for inflation, have also decreased by 12 percent since 1996, and industrial rates decreased by 8 percent, PennFuture said.

Average Monthly All-In Residential Electric Bills (500 kWh)

Source: PennFuture, citing Pa. PUC reports

	Constant (2009 $)	1996	2010	Change '96- '10
Allegheny	Constant	$49.93	$48.94	- 2%
Nominal	$34.00	$48.94	44%
Duquesne Light	Constant	$89.36	$71.83	- 20%
Nominal	$60.85	$71.83	18%
Met- Ed	Constant	$64.84	$64.44	- 1%
Nominal	$44.15	$64.44	46%
PECO	Constant	$103.02	$81.53	- 21%
Nominal	$70.15	$81.53	16%
Penelec	Constant	$63.88	$56.42	- 12%
Nominal	$43.50	$56.42	30%
Penn Power	Constant	$88.92	$73.01	- 18%
Nominal	$60.55	$73.01	21%
PPL	Constant	$69.73	$73.26	5%
Nominal	$47.48	$73.26	54%