What is PA Power Switch, and is it legit?
PA electric choice is your right to pick who supplies your electricity. A 1996 state law gave that right to Pennsylvania homes, and PA Power Switch is the state's site for using it. The Public Utility Commission (PUC) runs the site. The PUC is the agency that oversees utilities. Using the site is free.
Two companies show up on your bill. Your utility (PPL, PECO, Duquesne Light, a FirstEnergy company or another) delivers the power and fixes outages. Your supplier sells the energy itself. If you never pick a supplier, you pay your utility's default supply price, called the price to compare. PA Power Switch lists the suppliers that want to sell you that part instead.
Is it legit? Yes. The site calls itself "The Official Electric Shopping Website of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission." The PUC says it is built to give "impartial and comprehensive information." Suppliers write and update the offers, though, and the terms in your contract are the ones that count.
Type the address yourself: papowerswitch.com. In December 2024 the PUC warned that look-alike sites "often top search engine results," and that a site that pushes certain offers too hard "might not be neutral."
We are not the PUC. The Day Company is an independent guide, and we may earn a fee if you sign up through the plan finder on this page (how we make money). Check anything you see here on PA Power Switch.
How do you use PA Power Switch?
Keep your latest electric bill nearby. It shows your utility, your rate schedule and your kWh use. The trip takes about five minutes.
- Open the siteGo to papowerswitch.com. Click Shop for Home, then Get Started. The home page also has a ZIP code box.
- Enter your ZIP codeType it and click Next. Pick your utility, then your rate schedule. Use the schedule on your bill (PECO, for example, lists R and RH, a heating rate).
- Narrow the listPick Fixed Rate, Variable Rate or Unlimited / Flat Rate. On the next screen tick No Cancellation Fee, No Monthly Fee and No Introductory Prices, then click See Results.
- Enter your use and sortOn the results page, type your monthly kWh from your bill in Monthly Usage. Then set Sort By to Price. The list runs A to Z until you change it.
- Compare, then open an offerThe top box shows your price to compare. Tick Compare this offer on up to 8 offers and click Compare Offers. See Offer Details opens the supplier's own sign-up page.
The site starts at 700 kWh a month. The average home uses 599 kWh at Duquesne Light and up to 946 kWh at West Penn, so type your own number. Two more buttons help. Export to CSV saves the list for a spreadsheet, and See Past Prices shows how your utility's price to compare has moved. The "Rate last updated on" line under an offer is when the supplier last posted it, so confirm the price on the sign-up page before you agree.
Is this offer a good deal? Check it here
Copy the numbers from the offer card or the contract summary into the checker. It adds up the supply cost for the whole contract, counts the monthly fee, and compares the total with your price to compare. Where it has your utility's Dec. 1 price, it counts that too. For a variable or intro price, it also shows the highest later price that would still beat yours.
We could not load today's prices. Type your price to compare from your bill, or look it up on papowerswitch.com.
Partner toolWe get paid if you sign up. You don’t pay more, and it never changes our scores.
This is an estimate of supply charges only, not a bill. Your delivery charge is the same either way. If the checker does not have your utility's next price, it assumes today's price stays the same.
What should you check on any offer?
Every offer boils down to five lines. Read all five before you click sign up. The first three set the price you really pay. The last two decide how hard it is to leave, or to stay.
| Check | What to look for | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Price type | Fixed for the whole term | Variable, or an introductory price that changes after a few bills |
| 2. Term | A length you can live with, with the end date written down | Over 24 months, or 3 to 6 months with no plan for the end |
| 3. Monthly fee | $0 | Any fee, because it adds the fee divided by your kWh to the price |
| 4. Cancel fee | $0, or less than a few months of savings | A fee bigger than your savings |
| 5. Renewal | The next price stated in writing | "May change to a variable rate" with no price given |
- Fixed means the price stays the same for the term.
- Variable means the price can change by the month. The contract summary must say where to get the last 24 months of average billed prices.
- Introductory means a low price for the first few bills only. The contract summary must say how long it lasts and what the price is after.
- New customers only means the price is for people who never had that supplier. Your price when you renew may be different.
The monthly fee is the one people miss. Divide it by the kWh you use to see what it adds to every unit. A supplier with a fee must also show its average price at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh in the contract summary, so ask to see that table.
| Monthly fee | 500 kWh | 700 kWh | 1,000 kWh | 2,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $9.95 | 2.0¢ | 1.4¢ | 1.0¢ | 0.5¢ |
| $14.95 | 3.0¢ | 2.1¢ | 1.5¢ | 0.7¢ |
| $19.99 | 4.0¢ | 2.9¢ | 2.0¢ | 1.0¢ |
Renewal is where deals turn. Your supplier must send two notices: one 45 to 60 days before the end, and one by mail at least 30 days before. If you do nothing, your fixed contract can move to a month-to-month price, or to a new term with no cancel fee. The new price can be higher. Put the end date in your phone, with a reminder 60 days earlier.
How do you beat the price to compare?
An offer beats your price to compare only if it costs less for as long as you keep it. Judge the all-in price, not the big number in the ad. The all-in price is the price per kWh plus the monthly fee divided by your kWh. Then compare it with your price to compare for the same months.
| Offer | Price and fee | All-in price | 12 months | Against the price to compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price to compare | 12.00¢, no fee | 12.00¢ | $1,008 | none |
| Offer A | 10.50¢ + $14.95 a month | 12.64¢ | $1,061 | $53 more |
| Offer B | 11.50¢, no fee | 11.50¢ | $966 | $42 less |
Offer A has the lower price and still loses. Offer B has the higher price and wins. That is why the checker above adds the fees for you.
Average monthly use from the PUC's Rate Comparison Report, April 15, 2026 (2025 data): 599 kWh at Duquesne Light up to 946 kWh at West Penn. Value = kWh × 12 × 1¢.
So a gap of half a cent is worth $36 to $57 a year, and a $14.95 monthly fee costs $179 a year. A fee can wipe out a gap.
In May 2026 the PUC said that "current wholesale market trends have resulted in fewer supplier offers below the utility rate than in prior years," and that offers priced below the price to compare "may be a short-term contract — typically lasting three to six months."
Three good paths
The Standard Offer is not on the offer list. PA Power Switch says it is offered in the PECO, Met-Ed, Penn Power and West Penn areas right now, and that the 7% is measured "at the time of enrollment." Ask your utility whether it has a monthly fee.
How many offers really beat the price to compare today?
We count the offers on PA Power Switch for the eight biggest utilities. These counts are as of October 20, 2026. We leave out our partner's plans.
| What we counted | Offers |
|---|---|
| Offers with a price per kWh | 935 |
| Priced below the price to compare | 314 |
| Still below it after the monthly fee, at 1,000 kWh | 206 |
| Fixed, 12 months or longer, no monthly or cancel fee, and below it | 60 |
| Suppliers posting offers | 48 |
Flat-monthly ("Unlimited") plans have no price per kWh, so they are not in these counts. Look at the gap between the second and third rows. Those offers look cheap until you add the monthly fee. "After the fee" adds each offer's monthly fee, spread over 1,000 kWh, to its price. The fourth row is the short list worth your time, because nothing is hidden and the offer still beats your price to compare. See our supplier scores for who sells them.
What does PA Power Switch leave out?
PA Power Switch does one job well: it lists offers side by side. It is not built to tell you what a contract will cost, how a supplier treats customers, or what happens at the end. Here is what to check elsewhere.
| It shows | It leaves out | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Price per kWh, term and rate type | Your total cost over the contract | Use the checker above |
| Monthly, sign-up and cancel fees, in dollars | The date cancel fees stop | They end in the last 30 days of a contract |
| "Estimated monthly" at 700 kWh, unless you change it | Your delivery charge, so it is not your whole bill | Type your own kWh and add delivery from your bill |
| "Introductory Prices: Yes" | The price after the intro period | Ask for it in writing |
| Your utility's price to compare now, and past prices | What the next reset does to your savings | Check again when the new price posts |
| Offers that suppliers choose to post | Suppliers that sell by mail, phone or door to door, and the Standard Offer | Compare any offer you get against your price to compare |
| Supplier names and offers | Ratings and complaint history | See the PUC complaint counts and our scores |
For complaint counts, see the PUC's yearly Utility Consumer Activities Report. Our own scores for the main suppliers are on the supplier ranking.
What changes on Dec. 1, 2026?
Most Pennsylvania utilities reset their price to compare twice a year, on June 1 and Dec. 1. Duquesne Light says its price can change up to four times a year. The next reset is Dec. 1, 2026. A fixed offer does not change that day. Your utility's price does, so an offer's savings can grow or shrink.
The estimates posted by Oct. 16 are about 3% above today's prices at Duquesne Light and the four FirstEnergy utilities (Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power and West Penn). PPL and PECO had not posted one. Treat an estimate as an estimate. FirstEnergy marks its figures "for illustrative purposes only." What occured in May shows why: the PUC's list had PECO's June 1 price at an estimated 11.572¢, and the final price was 11.759¢.
Expect final prices in late November. The PUC listed the June 1 prices on May 20. For your utility's numbers, see PPL, PECO, Duquesne Light or FirstEnergy, and the price to compare guide.
- NowRun the offers you like through the checker. It uses your utility's Dec. 1 estimate where there is one.
- Late NovemberLook up the final price to compare on PA Power Switch or your utility's site, then run the checker again.
- Dec. 1The new price to compare starts. If you shop after that, use the new number.
Do not let "prices rise Dec. 1" rush you. An offer is only worth it if it beats the price to compare after the reset, too. PA Power Switch also has free Rate Change Alerts on its home page: give it your ZIP code and utility, and it tells you when rates change.
When should you not switch?
You do not have to shop. About 79% of Pennsylvania homes had not switched as of Sept. 30, 2026. The PUC counts 21.0% of homes with a supplier. Staying on the price to compare means no contract, no fee and no renewal notice.
- A fixed price with no monthly fee and no cancel fee beats your price to compare for the whole term.
- You are in the last 30 days of your current contract, so no cancel fee applies.
- You are on a variable price that has crept above your price to compare.
- You are in your utility's Customer Assistance Program (CAP). PA Power Switch says CAP customers cannot shop, so ask your utility first.
- The all-in price is not below your price to compare for the whole term. A low headline price with a monthly fee often is not.
- The price is variable or introductory. Neither one promises a saving.
- Leaving your current plan early would cost a fee bigger than the savings.
- A caller or door-knocker claims to be your utility. A supplier's agent must say they are independent of it, and may not say you must choose a supplier.
If you need help paying a bill, see electric bill help.
What if an offer goes wrong?
Pennsylvania gives you several ways out. Use them in this order.
- 1Cancel within 3 business days.
After you get the written terms, you can cancel for any reason, by phone, in writing or online if the supplier offers it. A supplier may not ask you to waive this right. (52 Pa. Code §54.5)
- 2Leave free near the end.
A cancel fee does not apply once you get the supplier's options notice, which arrives at least 30 days before the contract ends. (52 Pa. Code §54.10)
- 3Call the supplier, then the PUC.
Use the number on your bill. If it does not fix the problem, file an informal complaint at puc.pa.gov/complaints or call 1-800-692-7380. The PUC says many issues are settled sooner this way.
If a supplier switched you without your OK
Call your utility and the supplier and say you did not agree. By PUC rule they must treat it as a dispute and look into it. Raise it within the first two billing periods and prove it, and you do not owe the supplier's generation charges for that time. You are switched back at no cost, and any refund is due within 30 days. (52 Pa. Code §57.177) Your utility must also mail you a letter after any switch request, with the start date. (§57.173) If it names a supplier you never chose, call right away.
A door-to-door agent must wear an ID badge, say who they work for, and say they are not working for your utility. They must leave when you ask. Visits are limited to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from October through March, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. from April through September. (52 Pa. Code §111.9)
Before you sign anything, check that the supplier is on the PUC's list of licensed suppliers.
PA Power Switch questions, answered
What is PA Power Switch?
PA Power Switch is the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission's free website for comparing electricity offers. You enter your ZIP code and utility, and it lists the prices, terms and fees that suppliers post for your area. It does not sell power itself, and it only shows suppliers that choose to post offers.
Is PA Power Switch legit?
Yes. PA Power Switch is the PUC's official shopping site, and the PUC says it gives impartial information. Type papowerswitch.com yourself, because the PUC warned in December 2024 that look-alike sites often top search results. The offers come from suppliers, so read each contract before you sign.
How do I use PA Power Switch?
Go to papowerswitch.com, click Shop for Home, and type your ZIP code. Pick your utility and rate schedule, choose filters such as fixed rate and no monthly fee, and click See Results. Enter your monthly kWh, set Sort By to Price, and compare each offer with your price to compare.
What is PA electric choice?
PA electric choice is the right Pennsylvania homes have, under a 1996 state law, to pick who supplies their electricity. Your utility still delivers the power and fixes outages. Only the supply price changes. If you do not pick a supplier, you pay your utility's price to compare.
How do I choose an electricity supplier in Pennsylvania?
Start with your price to compare. Then look for a fixed price with no monthly fee and no cancel fee that stays below it for the whole term. Check that the supplier is licensed by the PUC, read the contract summary, and remember you can cancel within three business days of getting the terms.
How do I find the cheapest offer on PA Power Switch?
Choose Fixed Rate and the no-fee filters, then set Sort By to Price. The lowest price per kWh is not always the lowest bill, so add each offer's monthly fee and compare it with your price to compare. The offer checker on this page does that math over the whole contract.
Why are some suppliers missing from PA Power Switch?
Posting offers there is optional. The PUC says it is a business decision made by each supplier, so a licensed supplier can sell by mail, phone or door to door and never appear on the site. Treat the site as your benchmark, and check any other offer against your price to compare.
What does "estimated monthly" mean on PA Power Switch?
It is the supplier's price per kWh times the monthly use you enter, plus any monthly fee. The site starts at 700 kWh. It covers the supply part of your bill only, so it leaves out your utility's delivery charge and will not match your full bill.
How long does it take to switch, and can I cancel after I sign up?
A switch usually takes about three business days once your utility is told. You can also cancel for any reason within three business days after you get the written terms, and a supplier cannot ask you to waive that right. Cancel by phone, in writing or online if the supplier allows it.
What happens when my supplier contract ends?
Your supplier must send two notices, one 45 to 60 days before the end and one by mail at least 30 days before. If you do nothing, you can be moved to a month-to-month price or a new term with no cancel fee. The new price may be higher, so read the notice.
Can I switch back to my utility, and what does it cost?
Yes. Going back to your utility's default service costs nothing, and you can ask for it at any time. Your supplier may charge its cancel fee if you leave early, but not in the last 30 days of the contract. Check your terms first.
What if a supplier switched me without my OK?
Call your utility and the supplier and say you did not agree. They must treat it as a dispute. If you raise it within two billing periods and it is proven, you owe nothing for the supplier's generation charges in that time, and you are switched back free. You can also file a PUC complaint.
What do you want to do next?
Sources and updates
Sources (24)
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, PA Power Switch: Shop for Home: The steps and filters described in the five-step guide.
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, PA Power Switch: How to Switch: Switching in about three business days, switching back, and cancel fees waived in the last 30 days.
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, PA Power Switch: Understanding Contracts: The contract summary, the two renewal notices and the 3-day right to cancel.
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, PA Power Switch: Fixed, Variable and Unlimited: What each rate type means.
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, PA Power Switch: Standard Offer Program: The 7% Standard Offer, its one-year term, no cancel fee, and where it is offered.
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, PA Power Switch: Get Financial Assistance: CAP customers cannot shop for a supplier.
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, PA Power Switch: Frequently Asked Questions: Taxes in supplier prices and the 24-month price history for variable offers.
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, PA PUC Cautions Against Copycat Online Energy Shopping Websites (Dec. 2, 2024): Look-alike sites, neutral information, and suppliers that do not post offers.
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, PUC Alerts Consumers to June 1 Electric Price Changes (May 20, 2026): Fewer offers below the utility rate, short contracts, and the estimated June 1 prices.
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Consumer Reminder: Summer Electric Price Changes Begin Today (June 1, 2026): The final June 1, 2026 prices to compare.
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Rate Comparison Report 2026: Average monthly electric use by utility, from 2025.
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Customers Who Have Switched, September 2026: 21.0% of residential customers had switched as of Sept. 30, 2026.
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, File a complaint: How informal complaints work and the PUC hotline.
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Licensed electric suppliers: Checking that a supplier is licensed.
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Utility Consumer Activities Report and Evaluation: Where the PUC publishes complaint counts for suppliers.
- Pennsylvania Code, 52 Pa. Code §54.5, disclosure statement: Fee tables at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh, introductory and variable price rules, and the 3-business-day right to cancel.
- Pennsylvania Code, 52 Pa. Code §54.10, notice of contract expiration: The two renewal notices, what happens if you do nothing, and no cancel fee after the options notice.
- Pennsylvania Code, 52 Pa. Code §57.173, customer asks a supplier to switch: The confirmation letter from the utility after a switch request.
- Pennsylvania Code, 52 Pa. Code §57.177, customer dispute procedures: What happens when a supplier is changed without consent.
- Pennsylvania Code, 52 Pa. Code §111.8, agent identification: Supplier agents must say they are independent of your utility, and may not say you must choose a supplier.
- Pennsylvania Code, 52 Pa. Code §111.9, door-to-door sales: Hours, ID and disclosure rules for door-to-door sales agents.
- Pennsylvania General Assembly, 66 Pa.C.S. Chapter 28, Electricity Generation Customer Choice and Competition Act: The 1996 law behind electric choice.
- Duquesne Light, Residential rates: The Dec. 1, 2026 price estimate and the note that prices can change up to four times a year.
- FirstEnergy Pennsylvania, Estimated Price to Compare, Met-Ed, Dec. 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027: The utility's own illustrative estimate for Met-Ed. The Penelec, Penn Power and West Penn files sit in the same folder.
Changelog · last updated October 20, 2026 · 1 update
- October 20, 2026: Guide published.
How to cite this page: The Day Company, "PA Power Switch: how to use it, and what to check before you switch", updated October 20, 2026, https://theday.company/pa/pa-power-switch.
The Day Company is not affiliated with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, PA Power Switch, or any utility or electric company named here. Figures are estimates for general information. They are not a bill or advice. Check every price and term in the supplier's own contract summary before you sign. Our plan finder is Power HQ, operated by Blitz Ventures Inc. (doing business as EnergyBot), which holds Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission licence A-2018-2647582.