What must a seller tell you?
A seller who comes to your home has rules to follow. You can check each one while they stand there.
- They wear an ID badge from the supplier, with a customer-service phone number.
- They say their name, the supplier they work for and why they came.
- They say they are independent of your local utility, and they give you something in writing that says so.
- They give you a copy of every paper you sign before they leave.
- They tell you about the 3-business-day right to cancel.
- They say you must pick a supplier.
- They suggest they work for your utility or the government.
- They stay after you ask them to leave.
- They come before 9 a.m. or after 7 p.m. in the fall and winter months. Summer hours run until 8 p.m.
A seller must leave right away if you ask, or if you show no interest. A stricter local rule can override the hours. We only read the rules on in-person sales. For a phone call, use the checks above as a guide and ask for the details in writing.
Does the offer beat your utility? The free tool
Ask for the price, any monthly fee, the length and the cancel fee in writing. Then enter them here.
Fill in the offer and press "See my verdict". You get the cost of the offer next to the cost of your price to compare over the whole contract, a plain answer, and a warning if your price to compare is about to change.
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 cost, not a bill. Type exactly what the seller wrote down, and pick your own utility from your bill. If the seller gave no written price, treat that as a no. Nothing you type is stored.
If the tool says the offer loses to your utility, the answer is no. If it wins by a small amount, you can still say no. Our price to compare guide has the number to beat, and our list of the cheapest offers shows if a better deal is out there.
What should you ask?
Ask all eight. A good seller will answer plainly, and will write it down.
| Ask | A good answer |
|---|---|
| What is the price per kWh? | A fixed number, in writing |
| Is it fixed, and for how long? | Fixed for the whole term, 12 months or more |
| Is there a monthly fee? | No, or it is added to the price |
| What is the fee to cancel early? | None, or a low dollar amount |
| What happens when the term ends? | A clear notice, not an automatic jump to a high price |
| Is the price in the contract in cents per kWh? | Yes |
| What company am I signing with? | A name you can find on the PUC's licensed list |
| How do I reach you? | A customer-service number on the badge and the papers |
What are the red flags?
Three things appear in most bad deals: speed, vague prices and an unclear seller.
Say no to any seller who wants a signature today, will not put the price in writing, or says your utility sent them. You can end the visit at any time.
| The seller says | What to check |
|---|---|
| "I'm from your utility" | They must say they are independent of it. Call your utility on the number from your bill. |
| "You have to switch" | You do not. A seller may not say you must. |
| "This rate is guaranteed to save you money" | Test it. Many offers cost more than the price to compare. |
| "Just sign here to see your rate" | A signature starts a contract. Ask for the rate first. |
| "The price is low for the first months" | That may be a teaser. Test the full term. |
What if you already said yes?
You can cancel with no penalty within 3 business days of getting the disclosure statement. Do it in writing and keep a copy, then call your utility to confirm that no switch was made.
- 1Find the date.
Count 3 business days from when you got the disclosure statement.
- 2Cancel in writing.
Use the cancel steps on the paper, or write a short note and send it to the supplier.
- 3Call your utility.
Ask it to confirm that your supplier has not changed.
- 4Watch your next bills.
The charge on the bill should still be your utility's.
If the switch was not authorized by you, a different rule applies. Dispute it within your first two billing periods. Then you owe the supplier nothing for that time, and you switch back at no extra fee. The company that made the unapproved switch pays the cost of switching back.
How do you report a bad sales pitch?
Start by contacting the seller and your utility. Then use the PUC.
- 1Write down what happened.
Note the date, the time, the name on the badge and the supplier.
- 2Contact the supplier.
The PUC asks you to try the company first for most concerns.
- 3File an informal complaint with the PUC.
The online form is at puc.pa.gov/complaints. The PUC calls it a simple form, and it is not a legal proceeding. Or call 800.692.7380.
The PUC's complaint page does not say how to report a door or phone sales problem. We could not confirm that the PUC has a separate sales-practice form. Call the hotline and ask, and describe what the seller said or did.
What if the offer is good?
If the offer wins in the tool, has a fixed price and a small cancel fee, it can be a fair deal. Before you sign, check that the supplier is licensed on the PUC list. Then read the contract, put the end date on your calendar and compare the new price at the end. Our supplier ranking scores the suppliers we track. To weigh two or three offers side by side, see how to compare PA electricity rates.
Do not sign today. Ask for the offer in writing, test its price and fees in the tool, and decide after you have both.
Compare plans at my ZIPA partner runs the plan finder. If you sign up, it may pay us a fee, and that never moves a rating or a score.
Questions, answered
Is it legal for an electric supplier to come to my door in Pennsylvania?
Yes, within rules. The seller must show a badge, name the supplier, say they are independent of your utility and leave when you ask. Door-to-door hours are limited.
Do I have to switch electric suppliers?
No. A seller may not say or suggest that you must choose a supplier. You can stay with your utility.
Are door-to-door electricity sellers legit?
Some are licensed suppliers, and some behave badly. Check the badge, ask for the offer in writing, and look the company up on the PUC list.
Can I cancel an electric supplier contract right after signing?
Yes, within 3 business days of getting the disclosure statement, with no penalty.
What if a phone call switched my supplier without my OK?
Dispute it with your utility within your first two billing periods. You do not owe the supplier for that time, and you switch back at no extra fee.
Is a mailed electricity offer a good deal?
Maybe. The mailer is an advertisement. Test its price and fees in the tool, and check the fine print.
What if the seller says they are from my utility?
A supplier agent must say they are independent of your utility. Call the number on your utility bill to check.
Should I give a seller my account number?
Only when you are ready to sign a plan you have tested. The number lets a supplier start a switch.
Who do I call about a pushy seller?
Call the supplier first, then the PUC at 800.692.7380.
What do you want to do next?
Sources and updates
Sources (6)
- Pennsylvania Code, 52 Pa. Code section 111.9, door-to-door marketing: Hours, badge, disclosures, copies of documents, the rescission notice and leaving when asked (read Nov. 1, 2026).
- Pennsylvania Code, 52 Pa. Code section 111.8, agent identification: The badge phone number, the independence statement and the ban on saying you must choose a supplier (read Nov. 1, 2026).
- Pennsylvania Code, 52 Pa. Code section 57.177: Disputing a switch you did not approve: two billing periods and a no-cost switch back (read Nov. 1, 2026).
- Pennsylvania Code, 52 Pa. Code section 54.5: The 3 business day right to cancel (read Nov. 1, 2026).
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, File a complaint: Contact the company first, the informal complaint form and the hotline (read Nov. 1, 2026).
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Licensed electric generation suppliers: Where to check that a seller is licensed (read Nov. 1, 2026).
Changelog · last updated November 1, 2026 · 1 update
- November 1, 2026: Guide published.
How to cite this page: The Day Company, "A supplier offered you electricity in Pennsylvania: should you take it?", updated November 1, 2026, https://theday.company/pa/should-i-take-a-pa-supplier-offer.
The Day Company is not affiliated with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, any utility or any electric supplier. Rules change, so check the current text. The tool gives an estimate, not a quote. This guide is information, not legal advice. 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.