{"id":5382,"date":"2025-04-16T19:24:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T00:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/?p=5382"},"modified":"2025-04-16T19:24:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T00:24:11","slug":"capacity-auction-rate-hike-hits-june-1-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/capacity-auction-rate-hike-hits-june-1-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Capacity Auction Rate Hike Hits June 1, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2>Summer Electricity Rates May Be Uncertain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shop-auction-rate-plans-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Auction price results hit PTC rates this June! Shop low priced, long term electric plans now and avoid uncertain energy markets.\" class=\"wp-image-5392\" title=\"Summer Electricity Rates May Be Uncertain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shop-auction-rate-plans-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shop-auction-rate-plans-112x150.jpg 112w, https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shop-auction-rate-plans-230x307.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shop-auction-rate-plans-350x467.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shop-auction-rate-plans-480x640.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shop-auction-rate-plans.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption><center><em>PA electric customers face the double whammy of rate hikes from sky high auction results and tariff-driven uncertainty. Lock in a low, stable long term electric plan now!<\/em><\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Last summer, PJM capacity auction prices shot up over seven times their normal prices. As a result,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/papowerswitch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PA electric choice<\/a>\u00a0prices could rise this summer. A lawsuit between PJM and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/pa-governor-sues-pjm-over-electricity-rates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PA Governor<\/a> Josh Shapiro attempted to address these rising costs. But, while the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/pjm-and-pa-governor-settle-auction-price-complaint\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">complaint<\/a> was settled, we&#8217;re still on the hook for a rate hike from those crazy auction results. And to top it off, the electricity market is in a tizzy over the recently proposed tariffs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This summer&#8217;s electricity prices could skyrocket. Thankfully for PA consumers looking for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/deals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cheap electricity<\/a>, you still have time to shop and save. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>PJM and Electricity Auction Rate Hikes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Prices spiked during this last auction for several reasons. But the main issue is how slow PJM has been to add new power plants to the grid. Power plants are retiring faster than new ones are cleared to take their place. In April 2024, some\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/emp.lbl.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-04\/Queued%20Up%202024%20Edition_1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">3,009 power projects<\/a>\u00a0sat waiting in the PJM connection queue. At one point, new projects faced a delay of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrdc.org\/bio\/dana-ammann\/breaking-through-pjm-interconnection-queue-crisis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">4 years<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result of this grid mismanagement, and the last auction, electric bills for the 65 million people served by PJM will\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/environmentamerica.org\/center\/articles\/electric-bills-are-set-to-increase-in-june-for-65-million-americans-heres-why\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">go up this June<\/a>\u00a0to cover that cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Utility Auction Rate Hikes, Price Uncertainty <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While final <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pennlive.com\/opinion\/2024\/11\/pennsylvanians-will-not-be-happy-about-double-digit-hikes-in-their-electricity-bills-next-year-opinion.html\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">rate hikes<\/a> haven&#8217;t been announced, we have some good estimates. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/companies\/peco\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PECO <\/a><\/strong>expects a 10% increase in monthly bills in 2025 due to the capacity auctions. Meanwhile, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/companies\/ppl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PPL <\/a><\/strong>says monthly customer bills will go up by $10 to $15. Estimates put the new price to compare at about 12.65\u00a2\/kWh. And finally, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/companies\/firstenergy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">First Energy<\/a><\/strong> companies will raise customer bills between 11% to 19%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there&#8217;s another factor to consider. The Trump administration&#8217;s proposed <a href=\"https:\/\/grist.org\/energy\/trump-tariffs-canada-trade-war-electricity-prices-utility-bills-climate-plans\/\">tariffs<\/a> could upend US electricity prices. So right now, we can&#8217;t guess how rates may change this summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Lock in a Low Rate this Spring<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>But, there&#8217;s ways to handle price uncertainty. For instance, you could purchase a short term electricity plan, and keep an eye on the market. But, if this is too much effort, you could purchase a longer term plan. This would let you avoid price uncertainty and keep your bills steady.<br><br>So, with that in mind, let&#8217;s review a few plan options. To start, we&#8217;ll assume an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/electricity\/sales_revenue_price\/pdf\/table_5A.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">average energy use<\/a>\u00a0of 1000 kWh per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Firstly, for <strong>PECO <\/strong>customers, we have the<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/companies\/apge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">APG&amp;E<\/a> True Simple 3<\/strong> plan. This short term plan comes in at 9.55 cents per kWh or around $95.50 a month on energy supply. If you want something with a longer term length, consider the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/companies\/direct-energy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Direct Energy<\/a> Live Brighter 7.<\/strong> This 7 month fixed rate of 9.79 cents per kWh should cost around $98 a month in energy supply. In addition, both of these plans come with no monthly charges or early cancellation fees.<br><br><strong>PPL<\/strong> customers can also check out the<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/companies\/apge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">APG&amp;E<\/a> True Simple 3<\/strong> plan. Slightly higher in this service area at 11.52 cents per kWh, it&#8217;s around $115 a month in energy supply costs. If you want a longer term length, check out <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/companies\/major-energy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Major Energy<\/a>.<\/strong> Their <strong>Secure Choice 6<\/strong> offers new customers a 6 month fixed rate of 11.99 cents per kWh. Which should cost around $120 a month in energy supply. Additionally, both plans also come with no monthly charges or early cancellation fees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Find the Best Rate Today<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t let rising PA utility PTC rates keep you frozen in place paying\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/resources\/high-pennsylvania-energy-bill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">high electric bills<\/a>. And don\u2019t panic about an uncertain energy market. Find the best plan for your home with us. Visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com<\/a>\u00a0to explore the various electric plans in your area. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summer Electricity Rates May Be Uncertain Last summer, PJM capacity auction prices [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":5391,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mbp_gutenberg_autopost":false},"categories":[3,90,9,11,12,13,65],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5382"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5382"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5382\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5394,"href":"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5382\/revisions\/5394"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5391"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}