What drives electric bills in Pennsylvania
Residential electricity in Pennsylvania averaged 21.0¢ per kWh in January–July 2026, up 12.5% from 18.7¢ in the same months a year earlier (the U.S. average went up 6.9%). In July 2026, the latest month available, it was 21.7¢. The typical home here used 817 kWh a month in 2024, close to the U.S. average.
- The Price to Compare resets twice a year. If your bill jumped in June or December with the same usage, the new rate is the likely reason. Increases in 2025 were linked to higher capacity costs in PJM, the regional grid.
- High usage. The average Pennsylvania home uses more electricity than most in the Northeast, especially homes with electric heat or older appliances.
- Supplier contracts. Many households are on a third-party supplier. Introductory prices often expire and turn into variable rates well above the Price to Compare.
Who supplies your power
PECO serves Philadelphia, PPL serves much of central and eastern Pennsylvania, Duquesne Light serves Pittsburgh, and FirstEnergy (Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power and West Penn Power) covers much of the rest. Rural co-ops and a few towns have their own utilities.
Ways to pay less in Pennsylvania
- Check your supplier’s price against the Price to Compare on PAPowerSwitch.com, the state’s official shopping site, and choose fixed-rate offers with no or low cancellation fees.
- Your utility’s Act 129 efficiency program offers rebates on appliances and heat pumps and free energy kits or audits for lower-income households.
For example, a 1,500 W space heater running 8 hours a day costs about $77 a month at Pennsylvania prices. Check what your appliances cost to run in Pennsylvania.
Shopping for a cheaper plan in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania lets many homes choose who supplies their electricity. Before you switch, compare offers at your own usage, not just the advertised price: at the 817 kWh a typical home here uses, every 1¢ per kWh is worth about $98 a year. Prefer fixed-rate plans of 12 months or more, check the early cancellation fee, and note when the contract ends.
Compare plans on PA Power SwitchHelp paying your bill in Pennsylvania
- Customer Assistance Programs (CAP): every major Pennsylvania utility has a plan that lowers monthly bills for income-eligible households, based on what you can afford.
- Winter protections: from December 1 to March 31, utilities generally cannot shut off service for income-eligible households without Public Utility Commission permission. LIHEAP crisis grants can help in an emergency.
Statewide help is in addition to the federal programs, such as LIHEAP and weatherization, that the bill checker above lists. Call 211 to find the agency that handles them near you.
Is solar worth it in Pennsylvania?
A typical 7 kW rooftop system in Pennsylvania produces roughly 8,400 kWh a year, about 86% of what an average home here uses. At the state’s average price of 21.0¢, that power is worth about $1,767 a year. What you actually save depends on your roof, the price you pay for the system, the 30% federal tax credit rules in effect when you buy, and how your utility credits the power you send to the grid. Get at least three quotes before you decide.
How Pennsylvania compares with nearby states
| State | Price per kWh | kWh a month | Typical bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 21.0¢ | 817 | $172 |
| Ohio | 18.7¢ | 846 | $158 |
| Maryland | 21.3¢ | 929 | $198 |
| New Jersey | 24.0¢ | 662 | $159 |
| New York | 29.4¢ | 571 | $168 |
| U.S. average | 18.2¢ | 863 | $157 |
Price: average residential price, January–July 2026, U.S. Energy Information Administration (Electric Power Monthly, tables 5.6.A and 5.6.B). Usage: average monthly consumption per home, 2024, EIA form EIA-861. Typical bill = typical usage × current average price. Solar output is a rough estimate for a south-facing roof.