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Malvern Patch reader Steph Gunderson emailed the following query, which she said had been kicking around the Malvern Moms Club recently:
I wanted to know about some alternative energy supplier options now that we don't need to get service from PECO. It would be awesome to see a list of a few companies along with a table showing their rates.
I don't even know what companies are out there-- I got a few letters, but forgot to save them.
Frankly, I'm in the same boat. At one time, I checked out a list of alternative suppliers on papowerswitch.com, but I didn't follow through. We still have PECO as our electricity supplier, despite the utility's constant pleas for us to switch from them. And I am naturally suspicious of the voluminous mailers, calls and door-to-door solicitations urging us to dump the name brand we all grew up, whose trucks we see driving around, and sign on with, for example, YEP Energy.
So we'd like to hear about your experiences moving away from PECO:
Have you switched to an alternative electricity supplier? Would you recommend the company you chose?
- Have you realized a savings in your bill?
- How's the customer service?
- Once you leave PECO, do the other companies continue to hound you to switch to them?
Let us know your experiences in the comments!
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marion1
9:42 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
We just switched to First Energy---too early to know how it will play out but we had to do something! We rely on radiant floor heat in part of the home, the hot water via electric hot water heater--now that there is no Off Peak Rate it is so expensive. Three years ago the off peak rate was 2.1 cents per kWh, now over 8 cents. PECO going to 9.1 cents per kWh in April-- we got 7.23 and 7.39 on a seasonal rate via First Energy. If you do a search for PECO alternate suppliers, there are several good websites listing all the companies.
Jim Frank
4:50 am on Friday, February 8, 2013
You don't have to search. Just answer the phone. I've been getting about a dozen calls a week from different energy suppliers for the past year, and that is despite the 'do not call list.' There is a pretty big hole in the law that allows these folks to call. My guess is that political donations are one of their biggest expense items.
TL
10:11 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
Almost every PECO alternative looks ok - but when you read the fine print, there's some disclaimer that they have the right to raise your rates in 6 to 12 months - after you're locked into the contract. So its possible you may wind up paying more.
Marion is right, however. PECO is jamming the customer this winter. You used to get an off peak rate, kiss that goodbye. For anyone with electric heat/heat pumps, expect your bill to climb over $500 per month - mine hit $400 already. At least they let you know last year this was going to happen, so I just paid them a flat monthly rate. So far it balances out.
Bruce Williamson
4:15 pm on Sunday, February 10, 2013
I switched to Stream Energy but I also market for them so that makes me biased. When I switched and also started working for them part-time they were the lowest on PAPowerSwitch. Now not the lowest. But they did everything they promised and there were no "Gotchas". They do have a nice fundraiser option for non-profits. And my commercial rates saved a few businesses a lot too. Oh, yes the others still write me.
Bruce Williamson
4:16 pm on Sunday, February 10, 2013
Guess I do not know how to use this, since it is forcing me to comment on my own comment LOL.