Retail Supplier VCharge Launches Service

VCharge Inc. has begun offering residential electric supply at PPL.

As first reported by Matters, VCharge's business model includes serving customers with Residential Thermal Storage (RTS) heating in the PPL territory, offering its "SmartBricks" system, which includes a retrofit of the customer's existing thermal storage system, including new controls with internet connectivity.

According to VCharge, the SmartBricks system uses VCharge's patented ETS energy management system to estimate the amount of energy that will be needed by each home each day, and buys electricity accordingly. By replacing the current off-peak charging system with a sophisticated algorithm that uses weather forecasts and specific information about a customer's individual heat use, SmartBricks buys electricity only during the cheapest hours, storing the energy in the bricks, VCharge says.

As listed on PA Power Switch, the VCharge offer is a variable rate currently listed as $0.07778/kWh. VCharge states that RTS customers with the SmartBricks upgrade receive a discount of 25% off the cost of heating, with the discount paid as a monthly rebate.

According to VCharge, over 10,000 PPL customers have Residential Thermal Storage heaters.