Pittsburgh

Electricity Rates in Pittsburgh

Although the entire state of Pennsylvania now offers multiple electrical providers for their residents to choose their electricity from, the city of Pittsburgh, like its eastern neighbor, Philadelphia, is still paying over the national average for their electricity. In fact, The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Pittsburgh area rose 3.8 percent from the first half of 2010 to the first half of 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

One of the biggest problems when switching electricity providers in Pittsburgh is the deposit requirements. You may have less than stellar credit, or you may never have established any credit at all. In most instances like these, the competitive energy supplier will likely require a deposit, which can be as much as a combined total of 3 months worth of electric bills. While having a choice in who provides your electricity is great, Pittsburgh residential customers may have issues when it comes to the deposit.

Renewable Electricity Options

However, even with the deposit and higher rates than most of the country, deregulated electricity does have advantages to the residents of Pittsburgh. The city is very dedicated to forming renewable electricity options for their residents. The Western PA Energy Consortium, managed by the city of Pittsburgh, became a member of the EPA’s Green Power Partnership for its purchase of renewable energy.

How to Switch

If you do switch providers, there are a few different things to consider when making your decision:

• What rate is the company offering?
• Will that rate change from month to month?
• How long does the contract last?
• Does the company offer a bonus for signing up with them?
• Where does the energy come from? (E.g., coal or some more attractive source?)