Customers Who Shop for Energy Suppliers Pay More. Regulators Disagree on What the Numbers Mean

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Faced with stark evidence that residents who shop for electricity suppliers pay higher bills and face more frequent shut-offs, Pennsylvania regulators approved a significant policy change sought by the state’s largest electric company. In a 3-2 vote in late October, the Public Utility Commission agreed to allow FirstEnergy Pennsylvania to limit suppliers’ access to its “purchase of receivables” program based on the prices they charge. But the commission rejected the utility’s attempt to prevent customers from being enrolled in new supplier contracts they have not actively chosen, instead ordering a statewide review of the issue. The split decision indicates regulators are open to new guardrails on retail suppliers — but only up to a point.