Met-Ed and Pennsylvania Energy

About Met-Ed

In 1883, local luminaries in Reading, PA, demanded electricity to light their city. A handful of investors founded the Reading Electric Light and Power Company and soon built a mammoth new generating station. Demand surged, the company expanded, and by 1894, the owners reorganized into the Metropolitan Electric Company.

In 1885, investors in nearby Lebanon County, jealous of Reading's bright lights, formed the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Lebanon to sell electricity soley within the City of Lebanon. That left the area's rural communities to fend for themselves by starting up their own competing electric companies. By 1908, eight of these small rural companies began consolidating. Finally, in December, 1912, John S. Weaver (son of Daniel Weaver, the creator of Lebanon Bologna) merged them into the Lebanon Valley Electric Light Company.

On August 30, 1917, these three electric companies joined to form the first Metropolitan Edison Company. It would take several more mergers with other smaller area companies but the final Metropolitan Edison Company fully emerged in 1922. During the war years, Met-Ed continued expanding throughout eastern and south-central Pennsylvania at an incredible pace. In 1946, Met-Ed merged with Penelec, and Jersey Central Power & Light Company to form General Public Utilities Corporation (GPU).

As one of the state's leading utilities, Met-Ed grew into a leader for electric transmission and ultimately nuclear power, building the ill-fated Three Mile Island plant. Following Pennsylvania's deregulation in 1996, Met-Ed sold off its generating stations. A short time later in 2001, FirstEnergy acquired GPU, and with it Met-Ed, for $4.5 billion.

Today, Met-Ed continues its long history of giving back to its community through a number of charitable programs through FirstEnergy. These include energy conservation efforts like the Community Connections Program, supporting education through its STEM Grant, and charitable giving through the FirstEnergy Foundation.

Met-Ed Pennsylvania Service Territory

Met-Ed serves more than 560,000 customers in some or all of these southeast Pennsylvania counties:

Adams Berks Bucks Chester Cumberland
Dauphin Lancaster Lebanon Lehigh Monroe
Montgomery Northampton Pike York

Met-Ed serves these cities:

Bethlehem Carlisle Easton Reading York

Met-Ed Service Area

Met-Ed FAQs

How Do I Get the Cheapest Met-Ed Rate?

Shopping for a new Met-Ed Customer Choice Plan can seem bewildering at first. Once you understand how it works, though, it's an easy and straightforward process. That said, you should have these three things with you when you shop for electricity.

  1. Your current bill. Your past usage per billing period can help you estimate a how much a plan might cost you each month.
  2. The current Met-Ed PTC and expiration date. Knowing the current Met-Ed supply price lets you compare rates offered by retail energy suppliers. This way, you can get a better feel for what suppliers are offering, for how long, and if any of their incentives make their price work for your family's need.
  3. Your Met-Ed of Pennsylvania customer account number. This 12 digit number is located on your bill. Having it handy lets you sign up with a retail supplier right away.

What to Look for When Shopping in Met-Ed

The best way for a PA energy customer to avoid making a bad choice is to ask the right questions. That way, you can learn exactly the information that can save you money. When you shop for electricity service in Pennsylvania, always be sure to ask these important questions:

  • Is the rate variable or is it fixed?
  • Is the rate competitive with the current Met-Ed supply rate?
  • How long does the plan contract term run?
  • Does the plan's contract term last longer than Met-Ed's PTC rate?
  • Does the plan include any recurring monthly charges?
  • Does the plan have an early cancellation fee?
  • Does the supplier offer any customer incentives or rewards programs?
  • What happens when the contract expires?

Who bills me for utilities in the Met-Ed Service Area?

Met-Ed sends a single bill that outlines and adds up your monthly charges.

What are the Terms of Service?

In PA, Customer Choice Plans must include Terms of Service that explain and identify specific charges and any fees a customer will face when they sign up for an electricity plan. Not all suppliers have the same terms. That's why all Pennsylvania energy choice customers should read and understand the terms of service and contract summary for any plan they are interested in before they sign on to the plan.

What are early termination fees?

Switching retail suppliers before a contract ends can involve paying early termination fees. These can take a big chomp out of your checking account you if choose to switch retail providers before your plan contract ends.

Where can I find more information on my usage?

Met-Ed customers can request 12 months of their energy usage free of charge. This is most easily available through your Met-Ed online account.

How to start new Met-Ed service?

Getting set up with Met-Ed is easy and convenient. Just visit the Met-Ed web site and simply fill in the online Start Service form.

Start requests take at least 2 days to process and First Energy will send you an email confirming your start date.

Customers should call the Met-Ed Contact Center if they need their service turned on sooner.

Be ready to supply:

  • Service Address: The address where you want your service turned on or switched.
  • The start date for electricity service.
  • Personal Information: You will need your name, phone number, email address, and your Social Security Number. These will be required.
  • Met-Ed will do a soft credit check to determine if a deposit is required.

Will I Need to Pay a Deposit?

Credit Rating -- Met-Ed has the right to check your credit history and level of credit risk to determine whether a security deposit is necessary. Other factors include whether the customer was previously disconnected or has unpaid energy bills.

TIP -- Be sure to unfreeze your credit. If you have frozen your credit with any of the major credit agencies, you will need to have it temporarily unfrozen before you submit a new service request.

Pay a Deposit -- Met-Ed must notify you in writing within 3 business days about the specific reasons why you are required to pay a security deposit. PA law states that deposits cannot be greater than an estimated two months usage.

Customers have 21 days after the utilty sends the deposity request notification to make a payment. However, customers have three months to pay the full deposit. The utlity can hold the deposit for 24 months. If the customer pays their bill in full and on time for 12 consecutive months, the deposit will earn interest.

Customers also have the right to use a guarantor who is a credit-worthy customer with Met-Ed and can pay your bills if you fail to do so.

What are Met-Ed delivery and supply charges

In Pennsylvania, residential customers pay for both the cost to deliver their electricity as well as for the amount of electricity supply that they use.

  • Delivery Charges are fixed rate charges (tariffs) representing the cost of transmitting electricity to your home via Met-Ed's powers. The charges cover the Met-Ed local infrastructure operating costs, maintenance, and ensures them a profit. Other usage-based charges are small costs from riders to fund projects, cover fees, etc. Met-Ed's delivery charges must be approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PAPUC). All Met-Ed customers pay the same set Delivery rates no matter who supplies their energy.
  • Supply Charges represent the price for the amount of electricity that you use. Met-Ed customers can choose the "Price to Compare" (PTC) for their electricity supply. However, because of Pennsylvania's Energy Choice program, customers are free to also choose energy from competitive retail electricity suppliers.

What are Met-Ed PTC charges?

When deregulation began in Pennsylvania, all utilities that wanted to participate in consumer choice had to sell off their generators. However, the PAPUC requires these utilities to provide electricity supply at a default rate to customers in their service territory who don't shop for a retail supplier. As a result, these utilities must purchase their electricity supply for the default rate from generator companies.

The PAPUC oversees Met-Ed's default service rates. Met-Ed's supply rate represents generation supply costs that are passed without mark up directly through the utility onto their customers. This default supply rate is also called the "Price to Compare" or PTC.

What is the Met-Ed price to compare (PTC)

The PTC default rate represents the actual price (both generation and transmission) the utility pays for the electricity. It not only includes the generator company's price for making the electricity but also the cost to transmit it from power stations over high tension power lines to Met-Ed's local electrical switch yards. From there, the electricity is distributed throughout the Met-Ed local electrical grid for delivery to homes.

In Pennsylvania, First Energy's utilities set PTC rates by holding auctions to line up their electricity supplies. Auctions are held four times a year to cover four delivery periods. Consequently, Met-Ed's PTC rates change every March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1. When the auctions are completed, the PAPUC must approve the prices for both the generation supply and transmission.

For customers, it means these electricity rates can vary seasonally; low some months, higher the next.

Met-Ed Current PTC Residential Rate: 9.991 cents per kWh, expires 6/30/2023

NOTE: There are approximately thirty-five borough-owned public power systems in Pennsylvania. These purchase energy for their local residents. Many prohibit residents from shopping for their own provider. If you live in one of these communities, check with your local government to learn more.

How Much Do Met-Ed PTC Charges Cost?

The DOE EIA estimates that the average Pennsylvania residence uses an average of 864 kWh each month. Therefore, an average PTC bill roughly breaks down like this:

Rate per 864 kWh Used Monthly Customer Charge Total
PTC Supply Rate 9.991 cents 0 $86.32
Monthly Distribution Charges (excluding riders) $0.048 per kWh $11.25 $52.72
Total Bill $139.04

What is Pennsylvania energy choice

Pennsylvania electric consumers are free to choose their own competitive retail electricity supplier. These alternative suppliers shop deals with different producers on the wholesale market to offer competitive rates. As such, their rates are not controlled by PAPUC the same way that utilities are. This way, retail suppliers are able to offer competitively priced fixed rate plans for a variety of term lengths.

Though it can seem confusing, shopping electricity plans is an easy process. The trick is finding the one that meets your needs. That's why retail energy suppliers in Pennsylvania offer two types of plans:

  • Fixed Rates have their price rate set for the same price over the term of the contract. Customers can count on stable energy rates on plans lasting from 6 to 36 months. However, many fixed rate plans come with early cancellation fees for breaking a contract early.

  • Variable Rates Want to avoid getting tied to an electricity plan for months or years? Then choose a variable plan. Variable plan rates on these contracts can change from month to month depending on the price of the electricity supply. But while there's no contract, there's nothing to prevent your rate from going up one month or down the next. However, these plans don't have any termination fees and this allows customers the flexibility to shop for new rates and switch to better deals without paying any penalty.

What if I'm interested in buying Met-Ed's energy plans?

We currently do not offer any Met-Ed plans at this time.

Other popular plans you can try instead are Energy Harbor's Safe Harbor 18 starting at 9.5¢/kWh or Energy Harbor's starting at 0¢/kWh just to name a few!

What companies are similar to Met-Ed?

Some companies that are like Met-Ed in price range and user ratings are Energy Harbor and Energy Harbor.

Here is an overview of these two:

Energy Harbor:

  • Average Plan Rate: 10¢/kWh
  • Plan Types: Fixed Rate
  • Cheapest 12 Month Fixed: -
  • Cheapest 24 Month Fixed: -
  • Average User Rating: 3.7/5.0

Energy Harbor:

  • Average Plan Rate: 10¢/kWh
  • Plan Types: Fixed Rate
  • Cheapest 12 Month Plan Fixed: -
  • Cheapest 24 Month Plan Fixed: -
  • Average User Rating: 0/5.0

Is Met-Ed good?

Met-Ed has a customer rating of 1.4/5.0 stars (this is out of 17 reviews). This score is calculated by averaging the total number of reviews in our website.

What are some good companies in my area?

In Hanover, Pennsylvania there is:
  1. Energy Harbor 3.7/5.0 with an avg. plan rate of 9.8¢/kWh.
  2. Santanna Energy Services 3.6/5.0 with an avg. plan rate of 9.1¢/kWh.
  3. CleanSky Energy 3.2/5.0 with an avg. plan rate of 10.6¢/kWh.
  4. Constellation 3.1/5.0 with an avg. plan rate of 10.3¢/kWh.
  5. NRG Home 2.3/5.0 with an avg. plan rate of 11.1¢/kWh.
  6. Direct Energy 2/5.0 with an avg. plan rate of 10¢/kWh.
  7. Rushmore Energy 1.9/5.0 with an avg. plan rate of 10.1¢/kWh.


What are some cheap electricity plans in my area?

The most affordable electricity plans in Hanover, Pennsylvania are:

  1. TrueSimple 6 for 6 months starting at 8.3¢/kWh.
  2. TrueSimple 12 for 12 months starting at 9.3¢/kWh.
  3. Live Brighter 18 for 18 months starting at 9.4¢/kWh.
  4. TrueSimple 24 for 24 months starting at 9.4¢/kWh.
  5. Live Brighter 12 for 12 months starting at 9.5¢/kWh.

How much do electricity plans cost per month?

The monthly bill will vary by season (with the winter and summer seasons being the more expensive periods) and the size of your home. In 2022 in Hanover, Pennsylvania, the average electricity plan rate is 10¢/kWh. On average, that means

  • A small home will use around 500kWh of energy times 10¢/kWh totalling $50 per month.
  • An average-sized home will use around 1000kWh of power times 10¢/kWh totalling $100 per month.
  • A large home will use around 2000kWh of power times 10¢/kWh totalling $200 per month.

You can price electricity plans in your area here.

Your Energy Usage and Understanding Your Met-Ed Bill

Your Met-Ed usage affects your energy bills.

While your energy usage habits are unique to you, any Pennsylvania native will tell you that winters can be bitterly cold and summers can be hazy, hot, and humid. While most PA homes rely on natural gas for heating, roughly 1.6 million (29%) of homes in the state use electricity.

  • Approximately one third (32%) of home electricity usage goes to electronics, lighting, appliances, and air conditioning.
  • Pennsylvania residents spend on average 5% of their annual energy costs on air conditioning. Half of PA households have central AC.
  • The remainder of energy use goes to water heating, refrigeration, lighting, electronics, clothes dryers, cooking, and small appliances.

Want to learn more about your home energy usage? Met-Ed customers can track 12 months of their electric usage plus other relevant information on each monthly bill or by logging on to your First Energy account.

The best way to cut your electricity bill is to reduce your usage:

  • Seal your doors and windows against winter and summer drafts. Not only does it keep out the cold or hot air but it also reduces the amount of mold, pollen, and other allergens getting into your home.
  • Add insulation to your attic, basement, and duct work.
  • Install a programmable or smart thermostat. Programming it to set-back the temperature when you're away or inactive can improve your home's energy efficiency and help cut your electric bills.

Your utility company can provide a wealth of resources and offers programs to help you improve your home's energy performance.

Reading Your Met-Ed Bill

Your Met-Ed bill contains many details that can be confusing to customers. But there's lots of useful information to help you better understand your usage and rate. Below, we break down the most important items on a sample Met-Ed Electric bill.

Met-Ed Sample Bill Key

  • A, B, & C: Bill Overview. It includes your address and personal account number with Met-Ed, the billing period, the amount due, and the date that the bill is due.
  • D & E: Messages and current PTC rate. Here you find important notifications from Met-Ed as well as current Price to Compare rate offered by Met-Ed.
  • F: Account Summary shows the amounts of any unpaid balances, current Met-Ed distribution charges, current supply charges, the total bill and the due date.
  • G: Meter Summary: This shows the usage information measured by the electric meter at your address.
  • H: Charges from Met-Ed include the type of rate you are being charged, the monthly customer charge, the distribution charges, and the total.
  • I: Charges from Electric Generation Supplier show the name and address of your electricity supplier, their base rate charged, and the total supplier charges due.
  • J: Account Balances by Company lays out the amounts that have been paid or are owed to Met-Ed and your supplier.
  • K: Shows your usage history per bill over the course of the past year to help you compare your energy use over time and understand trends.
  • L: Payment Stub. Just detach and return with your payment. It also includes your account number, amount paid, amount due, and the due date.
Understand Your Met-Ed Light Bill

Shopping Looking for Electricity in the Met-Ed Service Area?

While you can not order Met-Ed on PAEnergyRatings.com. We do have a wide variety of the best electricity plans in Pennsylvania for you to choose from.

Want to order Natural Gas in the Met-Ed Area?

Met-Ed is not currently available on PAEnergyRatings.com, if you are looking to order for residentail natural gas, these are our recommended plans. Or you can browse all of our Pennsylvania natural gas plans.

Met-Ed Service Area Providers

Company Rating Phone
Constellation
(5/5)
855-798-9075
Provision Power & Gas
(4.5/5)
866-929-2842
NextEra Energy Services
(4.3/5)
855-639-8091
Direct Energy
(4.2/5)
844-225-3948
Frontier Utilities
(4.1/5)
877-291-6554
Energy Harbor
(4.1/5)
855-847-5888
Verde Energy
(3.8/5)
Tomorrow Energy
(3.5/5)
888-392-8329
APG&E
(3.2/5)
CleanSky Energy
(3/5)
800-581-1016
Santanna Energy Services
(3/5)
855-763-2715
XOOM Energy
(2.5/5)
Major Energy
(2.1/5)
PAG&E
(2/5)
American Power & Gas
(2/5)
866 682 9816
National Gas & Electric
(2/5)
SFE Energy
(2/5)
Rushmore Energy
(2/5)
ENGIE
(2/5)
NRG Home
(2/5)
Sunwave Gas & Power
(2/5)
AEP Energy
(2/5)
22 results

News Articles About Met-Ed

First Energy Wants to Make One PA Utility

Posted on

First Energy Seeks to Merge Four PA Utility Companies

Merging four PA utility companies into one First Energy company leaves uncertainty about customer rates. The PA PUC will decide.
The PA PUC will decide whether PA electricity customers may benefit from First Energy merging its four PA utility companies into one. Learn how this could change your electricty bills.

First Energy has filed with the PA PUC to consolidate all of their subsidiary utilities together. This would make one single First Energy PA utility. However, there could be several upsides to the merger, like lower operating costs and better customer service. And, First Energy says that rates won't change right away. This sounds like good news for PA utility customers. But that's in the short term. What happens after that? And how will this affect your electricity rates?

What’s the Plan for First Energy?

First Energy wants to merge their PA utility companies into a single utility called First Energy Pennsylvania Electricity Company. This means all the service areas of Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power, and West Penn Power would become one utility. First Energy believes the changes would let them operate more effectively. And that they would lead to better service and lower operating costs. And with lower costs come lower rates for customers.

How One PA Utility Could Change Your Rates

But what does this mean for your rates? The proposal shows nothing would change. The company intends to convert their utility service areas into "rate districts". So, it sounds like business as usual at first.

Currently, each First Energy utility must file its own Price to Compare (PTC) rate with the state. However, one of the stated goals from First Energy is to “Lay the foundation for an eventual unification of rates and charges for electric service in later base rate case(s)". First Energy eventually wants to file one PTC rate for all of their customers. If the PUC approves the merger and rate change, it's hard to say how the PTC rates may change.

Unfortunately, First Energy has overcharged Pennsylvanians for dubious business dealings in Ohio. So some regulators may be reluctant to embrace a single PTC rate for the whole state as a good thing.

CAUSE-PA Filing to Intervene with First Energy

CAUSE-PA, an association that advocates for affordable utility services, is concerned with this merger. The group has filed a motion to intervene with the PA PUC. They worry how the merger will change the quality of utility services and how it would affect low income assistance programs. In addition, they expressed doubt whether the merger would actually benefit customers. 

On top of this, the Office of Small Business Advocate filed a protest against First Energy. They're demanding proof that First Energy's statements in their filing are accurate.

Wile more protest and petitions are sure to come, the PUC has to actually approve First Energy's filing. So it may be some time before any answers emerge.

Don't Let Low Rates Slip By

Remember that these potential changes may only affect PTC customers. But if you shop PA electricity retail providers, you won't need to worry at all. And since spring has the lowest rates, now is the best time to shop for the cheapest electricity plan! But don't wait too long because summer heat is coming!

Compare providers, find a low rate, and keep up with energy news all in one place! Save when your shop the best plans at https://www.paenergyratings.com.

PA Electricity Rates Falling! Shop Now?

Posted on

Is it time to shop for a new electricity rate?

Falling electricity rates mean this you could find a cheaper energy plan for your home this spring. Compare and shop now!
Find out why shopping for a new electricity rate this spring could get you a cheaper energy rate on your future bills. Compare plans and shop now!

Electricity rates are falling all across Pennsylvania! Several utilities are filing to lower their PTC rates this spring, and Pennsylvania electricity providers are not far behind. But is now a good time to shop for a new electricity rate? Or should you wait until spring to snag a better deal?

Lower Rates Coming Soon

Across the First Energy service area, rates are falling. First Energy just filed corrections to their upcoming PTC rates in March.

  • Met-Ed is lowering their rate from 10.3 cents per kWh to 9.9 cents per kWh, a 1.4 cent decrease.
  • Penelec is lowering their rate from 9.8 cents per kWh to 9.5 cents per kWh, a .3 cent decrease.
  • Penn Power is lowering their rate from 10.5 cents per kWh to 10.4 cents per kWh, a .1 cent decrease.
  • West Penn is lowering their rate from 8.5 cents per kWh to 8.2 cents per kWh, a .3 cent decrease.

PECO is also lowering their generation rates! The generation supply adjustment rate, or GSA, represents the majority of cost for PTC rates, but doesn't include the supply charge. So it’s not a final number. The current PTC rate is 9.85 cents per kWh, and the new GSA charge is 8.9 cents per kWh, a .9 decrease from the current rate.

While these are huge price discounts, they suggest a trend for electricity rates in PA cities.

Should I Shop Falling Electricity Rates Now?

Thankfully you don’t have to wait until March to snag a lower rate. While we recommend shopping in the spring for the best rates, there are several tempting options on the market lower than current PTC rates.

Right now if you want the best rate in Reading, Erie, or Philly then APG&E is the company to beat. The APG&E TrueSimple 6 Plan has the lowest rate available in all three areas, beating out current PTC rates for Med-Ed, Penelec, or PECO.

In Reading and Erie, the APG&E rate is just 8.7 cents per kWh. That's 1.6 cents lower than the Med-Ed PTC rate and 1.1 cents lower than Penelec. In September that same plan was 19.53 cents per kWh! And in Philly, the APG&E rate is 8 cents per kWh, a full 1.85 cents lower than the current PECO PTC rate. This past September the same plan would have cost you 18.14 cents per kWh.

With a 6 month fixed rate and a $1.99 monthly charge this plan is hard to beat. Just keep in mind their $100 cancellation fee if you want to shop for an even lower rate in spring! And always be mindful of when your contract expires. You don’t want to forget to shop and get stuck with a nasty billing surprise.

Keep an Eye on Falling Electricity Rates this Spring

It may be tempting to snag the first plan you see that’s lower than the current PTC rates, but there’s no need to rush! You can check reviews, look at different rates, and find the best plan for you all in one place. Shop smart with https://www.paenergyratings.com