PA Summer Electric Bill Shocker, Customers Demand Answers

PA Battles Its Rising Electric Bill

This summer, PA utility rates rose quite a bit. In fact, some customers saw their electric bills go up to 16%! And after the latest PJM auction results, it’s likely prices will keep rising next year. Will PA electricity customers ever see any relief? Well, it is possible. During the recent PJM summit with other governors, Governor Shapiro talked about his Lightning Plan. This plan, introduced in January, could help lower overall energy costs that also affect your electric bill.

A Plan to Cut the PA Electric Bill

The Lightning Plan is built on six main parts. These parts rely on new laws and new programs to raise supply and cut customer bills.

1. Almost all states rely on a state agency to decide where to build energy projects. PA doesn’t have one and that poses problem when it comes to building new power plants and power lines. Creating the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Siting and Electric Transition (RESET) Board could fix this.
2. The Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (PA EDGE) Tax Credit Program. This program is three years old but has never been used. Shapiro plans to use it in the state’s next budget to help fund new power plants and clean hydrogen projects.
3. Lawmakers can pass the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) Act. The PRESS act would raise the state’s renewable energy target by 35%. It would also encourage companies to develop and improve nuclear energy and battery storage in the state.
4. Lawmakers can pass the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction (PACER) Act. The PACER act would limit the state’s carbon emissions through a carbon tax. It would also cut home electric bills by giving rebates to PA electricity customers.
5. Allow the state to set up community energy projects. These would help PA’s rural areas share energy sources and cut their to cut costs. Small, local energy projects would share their surplus with their local area.
6. Lawmakers can reform PA Act 129. The act gives rebates to consumers who buy new energy efficient appliances and other items that cut their energy use. But, its current standards are twenty years old. So, passing a new version could help PA consumers sooner, especially with the end of federal clean energy tax credits.

Questioning PA Lightning Plan

The Lightning Plan has cleared the Democrat controlled house. But it’s now facing a lot scrutiny as it moves into the Republican controlled senate.

Much of the plan’s support comes from its focus on green energy. As a result, environmental groups, like the Clean Air Council, are praising the plan. However, skeptics argue that carbon taxes would raise costs for fossil fuel power plants. These higher costs would in turn raise electric bills. Likewise, others point out that RESET board choices on how to fast track energy development could conflict with local laws. All the same, PA consumers need cheap electricity now more than ever.

So hopefully, state lawmakers can reach across the aisle to find a solution.

Shop and Save on PA Electricity

For PA electric customers, rising energy demand could see utility Price to Compare rates rise this winter. As lawmakers try to find an answer, it’s important to shop and save on your electric bills.

Locking in a low fixed rate electric plan now can save you money for years to come. So compare rates, read reviews, and more with us. Visit https://www.paenergyratings.com to see the electric plans in your area.