What you need to know about electric choice in Pennsylvania.
Inside this handbook:
• Components of
your bill
• Questions and answers
about
Electric Choice
• Consumer protection
checklist
• Energy-saving tips
• Shopper’s worksheet
2
T
his handbook describes what Electric Choice is about and explains what you need to know to shop for electricity.
Under Pennsylvania law, all electricity customers in the
state can choose the company that generates their electricity.
This means you can buy your electricity from any number of
competing suppliers. That electricity still will be delivered to
you over existing wires by PPL Electric Utilities.
You can shop by price. You can shop based on your
environmental priorities. Or you can shop for a company
that offers special services.
How will this benefit you?
You may save money. Your savings will vary
depending on which supplier you choose and on
how much electricity you use.
This information is part of PPL Electric Utilities’ effort to help you learn
more about Electric Choice and become an informed electricity consumer.
PPL Electric Utilities delivers electricity to 1.3 million customers in 29 counties of eastern and central Pennsylvania.
What are you
shopping for?
Generation.
Electric Choice is easier
to understand when
you picture the three
steps involved in getting
electricity to your
home or business.
1. Generation
Many Suppliers
1
2
3
2. Transmission
PPL Electric Utilities
Generation: Making electricity.
2. Distribution
PPL Electric Utilities
Transmission: Moving electricity from where it’s made to
the wires that supply your neighborhood.
Distribution: Delivering electricity to your home or business.
With Electric Choice, you may shop for the company that makes the electricity you use, just as you
shop for other goods and services.
Whether or not you choose a new electric generation supplier, you can count on
PPL Electric Utilities to continue delivering safe, reliable electric service to your home
or business.
3
Parts of your bill under
Electric
Choice
(This example is for a customer who has selected a new
electric generation supplier, and receives one bill from
PPL Electric Utilities.*)
Distribution Charge: The price for delivering electricity to your home or business.
Customer Charge: The monthly charge to
cover PPL Electric Utilities’ basic costs for
billing, metering and meter reading.
Transition Charge: A charge on every customer’s bill
to cover an electric utility’s transition or stranded costs,
as allowed by the Public Utility Commission. These costs
are not new; they have always been part of your bill.
(Transition costs are those costs a utility would have been
able to collect in a regulated environment
but will not be able to collect in a competitive environment.)
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a generating plant to the PPL Electric Utilities distribution
system.
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When you select an electric generation supplier, that
supplier, not PPL Electric Utilities, will bill you for
Transmission charges.
Pa. Tax Adjustment Surcharge: A surcharge on your total
Distribution charges from PPL Electric Utilities, which
reflects changes in various state taxes already included in
your bill. This surcharge may change periodically.
*If you select a two-bill option, you will receive a bill for Generation and Transmission charges from your electric generation
supplier, and a separate bill for your Distribution, Customer
and Transition charges from PPL Electric Utilities.
5
Why would I want to shop for
electricity?
Shopping for an electric generation
supplier could save you money, and
you may shop for a supplier based
on your needs and preferences.
Questions and
answers about
electric choice
6
Do I have to choose an
electricity supplier?
No. If you don’t choose a supplier, PPL
Electric Utilities will supply as well
as deliver the electricity to your
home or business.
What do I need to know to shop?
You need your “Price to Compare,”
your monthly electricity use and
a list of licensed suppliers serving
your area.
What is the “Price to Compare?”
This is the price per kilowatt-hour
you need to compare offers and
potential savings from other electric
generation suppliers. It represents
PPL Electric Utilities’ charges for the
generation and transmission part of
your electric service. For information about your “Price to Compare”
call PPL Electric Utilities.
Where can I find my electricity
use?
You can find it on the front page of
your PPL Electric Utilities bill, next to
the usage chart.
How do I find out who are the
suppliers in my area?
You can get a list of licensed suppliers from PPL Electric Utilities. You
also can call the Pennsylvania Public
For more information, call PPL Electric Utilities at 1-888-668-4775, visit our Web site www.pplweb.com/choice,
Utility Commission (PUC) toll-free at
1-888-782-3228 or visit the Web site at
www.utilitychoice.org
For the prices charged by residential
suppliers, call the Office of Consumer Advocate toll-free at 1-800-6846560 or visit their Web site www.oca.
state.pa.us.
How much money will I save?
That will depend on how much
electricity you use, your “Price to
Compare” and the price charged by
your supplier.
What if I have questions about
my bill?
You should address your questions
to the company that sent you the bill.
If you choose a new supplier, you
may select the option of receiving
one combined bill from PPL Electric
Utilities (see pages 4-5). Some suppliers may offer you the choice of getting two bills – one from the supplier
and one from PPL Electric Utilities
– or a single bill from the supplier.
After I choose a supplier, can I
switch again?
Yes, You may switch at any time, unless you have agreed to other terms
with your supplier.
What if my supplier goes out of
business or stops serving me?
You will not lose your electricity
supply. PPL Electric Utilities will
immediately resume supplying your
electricity.
priorities in Electric Choice. PPL
Electric Utilities still is required to
maintain a reliable, safe delivery
system.
Where do I call if my power goes
out?
For PPL Electric Utilities customers, that
toll-free number is 1-800-342-5775
(1-800 DIAL PPL).
Will PPL Electric Utilities still
provide assistance for low-income customers?
Yes. Special payment programs for
low-income customers will continue.
Call toll-free at 1-800-DIAL-PPL (800342-5775)
Will my electricity supply be reliable
if I switch suppliers?
Yes. Reliability and safety are high
call the PUC at 1-888-782-3228 or call the Office of Consumer Advocate at 1-800-684-6560.
7
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Worksheet” on page
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8
Tips for saving mo
ney on your electric
bill
✔ Heating and cool
ing sy
Seal any air leaks in stems are the largest users of electricity
ducts, and service th
in your home.
e unit annually.
✔ During warm wea
ther, you can save 3
to 5
for every degree yo
u raise the thermosta percent on your air-conditioning costs
t.
you can reduce ener
gy costs by turning During the winter,
down your thermosta
t.
✔ Use low-flow show
er heads to save thou
sands of gallons
of hot water each ye
ar and reduce your
energy costs.
✔ Insulation — Make
sure
on outside walls and you have the recommended amount
in the attic.
✔ Major appliances
— Buy
them regularly. Look high-efficiency models, and service
for the yellow Energy
new appliances.
Guide label on
9
Shopper’s worksheet
Your “Price to Compare”__________________ *
Supplier Name
Use this section while shopping to ask questions and record information you get
from electric generation suppliers.
Date of Talked to
Total Price
Call
Generation Transmission
Sample :
May 1st John Doe
XYZ Company
10
3.5 cents/
kwh
0.5 cents/
kwh
Other
Incentive
Bonus Est. Savings
on Total Bill
0.2 cents/ None
10%
kwh
*The “Price to Compare” represents PPL Electric Utilities’ charges for generation and transmission services. Use the price to compare to decide whether or not an offer from
an electric generation supplier will save you money. To help you determine your “Price to Compare,” use PPL Electric Utilities’ “Price to Compare” brochure.
1 or 2 Bill
Contract
Minimum
Option
Required
Term**
Both
Yes 1 year
available days
Energy Used to
Produce Electricity
Coal, oil, gas,
nuclear, renewable
Community
Record
Education
programs
Notes
Will send more
information in 7 **Your “Price to Compare” will change each year on Jan. 1. You may want to consider that when you shop for an electric generation supplier.
11
www.pplweb.com/
40M 4/06