PECO Informs on Deregulation, Alternative Electric Suppliers in PA

Pennsylvania state Rep. Bernie O’Neill hosted informational sessions at his Warminster and Buckingham offices to discuss electric deregulation in Pennsylvania, what it means for consumers and how electric customers can choose alternative electric suppliers.

O’Neill hosted Ted Dorand, PECO’s external affairs manager for Bucks County, who explained the state’s transition to competitive electric markets and answered questions about how alternative electricity suppliers work and what to look for when shopping for one.

The sessions were held in response to calls O’Neill’s office had received from constituents confused about electric deregulation and the opening up of the electric market in Pennsylvania, according to Cindy Beck, office manager for O’Neill’s Buckingham office.

“We’re just trying to connect services with people and get information out there,” said Beck, who coordinated the meetings. “In today’s tough budgetary times, every penny counts. If you can find a way to shave a few cents off of electricity, why not?”

The sessions echoed an ongoing campaign by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to educate electric customers on the facts of electric deregulation and dispel the myth that PECO and other electric utilities will punish customers who buy cheaper electricity from alternative electric suppliers.

On the contrary, electricity in a deregulated market can be purchased from any number of alternative electric suppliers and utilities like PECO don’t care which electric company customers use, said Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Chairman Robert F. Powelson in an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“You’re just picking the commodity piece of your bill,” Powelson said. “PECO is agnostic about where you get your power. They don’t care. So go out there and save money.”

Sources

PECO Rep to Answer Questions About Deregulation, Doylestown-Buckingham-New Britain Patch, May 10, 2011.

Most Customers Opting to Stick With Peco Forgoing Discounts, The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 8, 2011.