In Pennsylvania all consumers have the ability to choose their electric energy supplier. You might be able to save money or perhaps choose a supplier that sources more “green” energy. If you don’t choose an energy supplier, you will default to the energy supplier in your geographic area. Here are some tips to help you be a smart shopper. Switching Suppliers Won’t Improve Unreliable Service When you choose a company, you are essentially choosing the company that generates your electricity. Since energy suppliers have no way to get electricity into your home, your public utility company will still be your provider because they own all the poles and wires. They will also continue to handle customer service issues and infrastructure upgrades. List of Pennsylvania Electric Suppliers Understand How Electricity Billing Works Your bill is made up of generation charges, transmission charges, distribution charges, customer charges and transition charges. Of these charges, generation charges makes up the majority of your electric bill. This is the charge being billed by the suppliers you choose and the commodity you are shopping for. Each local electric utility has a “price to compare.” The price to compare is the price charged by your local utility for the portion of your service that is open to competition. The price to compare is given in cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). There are basically three charges to your bill. Distribution Charges – Charge for use of local wires, transformers, substations and other equipment used to deliver electricity to households over high voltage transmission lines Transmission Charges – Charge for moving high voltage electricity from the generation plant to the distribution line of an electric distribution company. Generation Charge – Charge for the production of electricity. In addition to these charges, your utility company also bills for the following charges which are unrelated to delivery of energy: State Taxes – Charge or tax by the State of Pennsylvania Customer Charges – A monthly charge to cover cost of billing, meter reading and maintenance. The Pennsylvania Utility Commission allows you to insert your zip code and obtain a list of suppliers and their competitive prices in your area. The list also includes a breakdown of which companies provide green options. 3 Rate Structures You Can Choose From Now, here’s where things can get tricky. The following are pricing options that affect kWh costs. They’re considered standard in the industry. Fixed: This is a locked-in unit price for kWh throughout the term of a contract. If energy prices increase during your contract, your unit price won’t be affected. But if prices drop below the unit price, you’ll end up overpaying. Floating: Also known as a variable rate, this allows a homeowner’s unit cost to rise or fall based on the wholesale value of electricity. Although this may sound like a great deal when prices are low, if the market becomes unpredictable or if prices sky rocket, it can be difficult to manage your home’s energy costs. Hybrid: This is when a percentage of energy use is billed at the fixed rate and the remainder is billed at the floating rate. In this case balance is everything. You could end up with a whopping energy bill if the floating rate goes up and it’s applied to a large percentage of your bill. Contract Summary for Electric Suppliers 7 Questions to Ask Electricity Suppliers Does the price per kWh include sales tax? The prices on the PUC site include the gross sales tax, but if you call companies asking for their price to compare make sure to inquire as to whether or not the quoted price includes the gross sales tax. Is price per kWh a fixed or variable price? Is there a monthly service charge or any other fees? Is there a contract and if so, will the price change once the contract is up? Am I getting a special one-time deal? If so, how long does it last and what happens to the price when it’s over? A number of suppliers offer an introductory rate whose price to compare (PTC) is generally lower than the price at the beginning of the next term. Are there any other discounts and promotions I should know about like referral programs? Is there a fee if I decide to cancel the contract before it expires? Final Words of Wisdom Avoid automatic renewal. You don’t want your contract to renew automatically without your permission. Prior to your contract expiring, you should receive two contract renewal notices from your current supplier. The initial renewal notice should arrive 45-60 days prior to your contract’s expiration date. Additionally, the supplier should provide you with an options notice, which includes certain information including the specific changes to the terms of service being proposed; information on new prices; an explanation of your options and how to exercise those options; the date by which you must exercise one of the options; and the electric distribution company’s price to compare. The options notice should be sent to you no later than 30 days prior to the contract’s expiration date. Read these notices. If you choose to take no action with your renewal and options notices, your rate may change. For example, a fixed rate may change to a monthly variable rate. If you have a variable rate, once the term expires, you may be moved to a different variable rate that could be higher. Ask for Help if You Need it. There are resources available to help you interpret utility supplier contracts and their jargon before you sign to something you may be unfamiliar with. The knowledgeable lawyers at Fiffik Law Group are ready to assist you in your contract needs. Contact them today with any questions you have or to go over your own contracts or agreements. #alternateenergysuppliers #switchingutilitysupplier #alternateenergysupply #utilitychoice #electricshopping #shoppingelectricity #shoppingelectricpennsylvania #compareutilityprices #compareutilityrates #lowerelectricbill #pennsylvaniaelectricsuppliers #pennsylvaniaelectricsupply #pennsylvaniaelectricsupplieres

We can help you apply for your PPP Loan Businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans Small Business Administration (SBA). There are many issues to consider for businesses preparing to reopen. My firm is here to help business owners navigate the complex issue of reopening their businesses. #sbaloan #businessattorneypennsylvania #loanforgiveness #PaycheckProtectionLoan #PPPloan #businessattorneypittsburgh

Therefore, it is safe to assume that a large number of County businesses will be affected by this mandate What the Bill Provides for Employees The Paid Sick Leave Bill will apply to County businesses that employ contractors, state and federal workers, and seasonal employees from the calculation of the size of a business What This Means for Your Business If your business meets the criteria of this Bill and employs 26 or Businesses should also verify that their record-keeping procedures are adequate to meet the requirements

situations that can impact your finances: You're in a second (or later) marriage You own one or more businesses

directing OSHA to develop an emergency temporary vaccine mandate standard directed at private-sector businesses Civil Rights Act of 1964, a sincerely held religious belief against taking a vaccine could serve as the basis

federal court, the settlement is likely to have a significant effect on how the real estate industry does business If you are planning to buy or sell a home in 2024, this settlement may have a big impact on how much For Buyers: Buyers will face the stark possibility that buying a home might’ve just gotten more expensive

If you own expensive individual items, you should make sure you buy a renters insurance policy that permits The most common one is a “multi-policy” discount for buying an additional policy, such as auto.

This could increase the cost of buying a home.  Advice to Buyers If you’re in the market to buy a home after August 17th, here are some suggestions for We assist homebuyers and FSBO sellers on a flat fee basis at a rate far less than the commission that

Plenty of unwed, later-in-life couples are buying homes together as well. Buying a home with a partner is risky. good idea to buy a home together. Your decision to buy typically depends on both contributing to the home expenses. What if you regret buying a house with a partner?

Another smart move is working with an experienced real estate attorney when buying a home. 

Before you buy a home directly from a homeowner, let’s walk through how buying a FSBO home differs from buying a property that’s listed by a realtor. Pros and Cons of Buying a FSBO Home Benefits Greater flexibility on price: FSBO sellers are not paying The Steps to Buying a House from The Owner The process of buying a house can feel overwhelming in general The Bottom Line Buying a home that’s for sale by owner (FSBO) can mean savings for you.

The process of buying property can be complicated.