Electric Companies In Philadelphia: Who Powers The City?

what electric company is in philadelphia pa

The main electricity company in Philadelphia, PA, is PECO, formerly known as the Philadelphia Electric Company. PECO is headquartered in Philadelphia and serves over 2 million customers in southeastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. AEP Energy is another electricity supplier in Philadelphia, serving the greater Philadelphia region.

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PECO Energy Company

The company's electric service area covers all of Philadelphia and Delaware County, most of Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery counties, and parts of York and Lancaster counties. PECO's natural gas service area is similar, covering the same counties with the addition of a small portion of eastern Lancaster County.

PECO is committed to advancing smart energy and enhancing energy management conservation. The company utilizes new approaches and investments to ensure safe and reliable service, while also providing customers with increased control, access, and convenience. PECO's anticipated capital expenditures for 2009 were estimated at $400 million, with about three-fourths allocated for the electric business and nearly 20% for gas.

In addition to its focus on reliable energy delivery, PECO prioritizes environmental stewardship and community assistance. The company has responded to community activist pressure and protests by investing in renewable energy sources. PECO purchases enough solar energy to power 2,000 residential households and its sister company, Constellation, is a leading developer of solar installations in Pennsylvania. PECO also has a liquefied natural gas storage facility in West Conshohocken, PA, and a propane-air plant in Chester, PA.

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AEP Energy

The Philadelphia Electric Company, or PECO, is the main energy company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1881 and incorporated in 1929, later becoming part of the Exelon Corporation in 2000. PECO provides electricity to about 1.6 million customers and natural gas to over 500,000 customers in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas.

In addition to its presence in Philadelphia, AEP Energy also serves the surrounding counties of Montgomery and Bucks, as well as other states and Washington, D.C.

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Average electricity costs

The Philadelphia Electric Company, now known as PECO, is the main energy company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the largest combination utility in the state, serving about 1.6 million electric customers and over 500,000 natural gas customers.

The average electricity costs in Philadelphia depend on a variety of factors, including the time of year, the consumer's energy plan, and the wholesale cost of electricity.

In November 2024, the average price of electricity in Philadelphia was 20.3 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). This was an increase from 19.4 cents per kWh in November 2023. Over the past five Novembers, electricity prices in Philadelphia have been at least 10.3% above the national average. The price of electricity tends to peak during the summer and winter months due to increased demand for air conditioning and heating.

PECO purchases electricity from competitive market sources and charges retail customers the actual costs of procurement. The company's energy mix includes nuclear energy, fossil fuels, renewables, and purchased power.

Philadelphia businesses have the power to choose their electricity provider or continue purchasing from their utility company, allowing them to compare energy plans and shop for the best rates. Residential customers can also choose their electricity supplier, but PECO is the sole distributor for Philadelphia homes.

Energy providers in Philadelphia, such as Direct Energy, Entrust, and Public Power, offer various energy plans with different rates, contract lengths, and terms. The basic energy plan includes details such as the rate class, energy rate per kWh, contract term length, and cancellation policy.

The average price per kilowatt-hour is calculated by dividing the total bill by the kilowatt-hour usage. The total bill includes variable rates per kWh, fixed costs, taxes, surcharges, and credits.

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Energy alternatives

The Philadelphia Electric Company, now known as PECO, is the largest electric and gas utility company in Pennsylvania. It provides electricity to about 1.6 million customers and natural gas to over 500,000 customers.

PECO has been increasingly pressured to embrace renewable energy alternatives. The Earth Quaker Action Team, for instance, has been protesting to demand that the company expands its solar energy purchases and sources solar power from North Philadelphia. In response, PECO has committed to purchasing enough solar energy to power 2,000 residential households. The company's parent, Exelon, also has a portfolio of wind-generating power projects across the country.

Philadelphia has set ambitious goals for renewable energy adoption, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% and cutting energy use by 20% by 2030. The Municipal Energy Master Plan also commits to generating or purchasing 100% of electricity for city facilities from renewable sources by 2030.

The Streetlight Improvement Plan, which involves replacing 100,000 street lamps with energy-efficient LED bulbs, is expected to halve the city's street light electricity usage. The Philadelphia Energy Campaign is another initiative that aims to invest billions in public and private funds to improve energy efficiency in buildings and homes.

There are also alternative energy companies in Philadelphia, such as Inspire, which offers customers access to 100% clean energy for a flat monthly price. ConnectDER is another company that offers the ConnectDER Meter Socket Adapter, which reduces the cost and time of interconnection for solar energy, EV charging, and home battery storage.

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Energy suppliers

The energy market in Philadelphia is deregulated, meaning that residents can choose their energy suppliers. The city's utility company is PECO, formerly the Philadelphia Electric Company, which serves over 2 million customers in southeastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. PECO is the largest electric and gas utility in Pennsylvania, with approximately 1.6 million electric customers and over 500,000 natural gas customers. The company's electric service area covers all of Philadelphia and Delaware County, most of Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties, and the southeastern corner of York County.

PECO's total assets are valued at $9.8 billion, and the company generated $5.5 billion in revenue in 2008. PECO's utility business is capital-intensive, requiring significant investments in electric and gas delivery systems to ensure adequate capacity and reliability for customers. The company's anticipated capital expenditures for 2009 were estimated at $400 million, with about three-fourths allocated to the electric business and nearly 20% for gas. PECO's distribution line voltages are 2,400/4,160 volts wye and 7,620/13,200 volts wye, with subtransmission voltages of 34,500 volts and 69,000 volts. Transmission line voltages range from 138,000 volts to 500,000 volts.

In addition to PECO, Philadelphia residents have the option to choose from various energy suppliers, including AEP Energy, which offers renewable energy at affordable price points and has been praised by customers for its easy enrollment process and competitive rates. NRG Energy is another energy supplier in Philadelphia that values communication and customer interaction, encouraging individuals to reach out and discuss their energy needs and inquiries.

When considering switching energy suppliers, it is essential to compare electricity rates and understand the different types of rate plans offered, such as fixed-rate, variable-rate, and green energy plans. Philadelphia residents can shop for the supply portion of their electric bill and may be able to find a lower energy rate from a competitive energy supplier. The average monthly electric bill in Philadelphia is $152, based on a typical monthly consumption of 866 kWh and an average kWh price of 17.57 cents.

Frequently asked questions

PECO, formerly the Philadelphia Electric Company, is the largest electric and gas utility in Pennsylvania, serving over 2 million customers in southeastern PA, including Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties.

AEP Energy is an alternative electric generation supplier serving the greater Philadelphia region.

The average monthly electric bill in Philadelphia is $152, based on a consumption of 866 kWh and a price of 17.57 cents per kWh.

In 2012, nuclear energy supplied 53% of the power, fossils and renewables provided 12%, and purchased power 35%.

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