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Prepare for Higher Bills: FirstEnergy PA Rate Hike Takes Effect December 1, 2025
Key Takeaways
- Residential customers of FirstEnergy's four PA utilities (Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power, and West Penn Power) face Price to Compare (PTC) increases of 6.1% to 8.9% starting December 1, 2025.
- The primary reason for the rate jump is a dramatic surge in capacity costs from the PJM Interconnection wholesale market, which is a direct, mandated cost passed to customers.
- PJM's capacity prices saw a near tenfold increase for the 2025/2026 delivery year, driven by the retirement of older power plants, a new surge in electricity demand from data centers, and new reliability-focused market rules.
- Residents can manage the higher costs by utilizing Energy Choice to select a competitive supplier with a fixed rate (via the PA Power Switch website) or by applying for financial assistance programs like PCAP, LIHEAP, and the WARM energy efficiency program.
Table of Contents
Pennsylvania residents served by FirstEnergy’s four utilities—Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power, and West Penn Power—are facing a significant jump in their electricity bills this winter as new Price to Compare (PTC) rates take effect on December 1, 2025.
These increases, which affect the supply portion of your bill, mean higher costs just as winter heating needs push up energy usage. Understanding the specifics of the increase, why it’s happening, and your options for managing costs is crucial for preparing your household budget.
Why Are Electricity Costs Rising?
The primary driver of rising electricity rates across Pennsylvania utilities is the dramatic increase in capacity costs dictated by the PJM Interconnection wholesale market. PJM, the grid operator for the mid-Atlantic region, ensures reliability by holding three-years-forward auctions where power plant owners are paid to keep generation capacity on standby for peak demand. The costs from these auctions are a direct, mandated component of a utility’s default service rate.
The recent capacity auctions set record-high prices. For the 2025/2026 delivery year, the capacity price in most of the PJM region saw a nearly tenfold increase, surging from approximately $28.92/MW-day to $269.92/MW-day. Prices for the 2026/2027 year climbed even higher, further cementing the financial pressure on consumer bills.
This massive spike is a result of a rapidly tightening supply-demand balance. The key factors include the retirement of older power plants, a significant surge in demand driven by the growth of data centers, and new PJM market rules designed to ensure generation reliability during extreme weather. These wholesale costs are passed directly to Pennsylvania default service customers, resulting in the observed substantial rate hikes.
Shop Pennsylvania Electricity Rates by Utility
The New Rates by Utility: Price to Compare (PTC) Breakdown
The Price to Compare (PTC) is the default rate for the electricity supply (generation and transmission) if you do not choose an independent supplier. It is changing for the six-month period from December 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026.
Met-Ed Price to Compare:
The PTC is increasing from the current 11.903 cents per kWh to approximately 12.965 cents per kWh. This represents an increase of roughly 8.9%. For a typical residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month, this could translate to an estimated $15-$17 increase on the total monthly bill, though the actual impact varies with usage.
| Price to Compare Effective Date Range | Price to Compare (rate per kWh) |
|---|---|
| June 1st, 2025 | 11.91¢ |
| December 1st, 2024 | 11.01¢ |
| June 1st, 2024 | 10.41¢ |
| January 12th, 2024 - August 12th, 2024 | 11.31¢ |
| June 1st, 2023 - January 11th, 2024 | 10.24¢ |
| February 16th, 2023 - May 31st, 2023 | 10.30¢ |
| December 26th, 2022 - February 15th, 2023 | 9.39¢ |
| December 19th, 2022 - December 25th, 2022 | 7.93¢ |
| October 3rd, 2022 - December 18th, 2022 | 9.39¢ |
| August 29th, 2022 - October 2nd, 2022 | 7.93¢ |
| May 9th, 2022 - August 28th, 2022 | 6.83¢ |
| May 2nd, 2022 - May 8th, 2022 | 7.25¢ |
| December 6th, 2021 - May 1st, 2022 | 7.41¢ |
| July 5th, 2021 - December 5th, 2021 | 6.69¢ |
| December 7th, 2020 - July 4th, 2021 | 6.17¢ |
| September 7th, 2020 - December 6th, 2020 | 5.76¢ |
| June 1st, 2020 - September 6th, 2020 | 5.36¢ |
| March 2nd, 2020 - May 31st, 2020 | 5.39¢ |
Penelec Price to Compare:
Customers will see the Price to Compare rise from 11.003 cents per kWh to approximately 11.747 cents per kWh, an increase of about 6.8%. A typical residential customer using 1,000 kWh monthly might see an estimated $13-$15 increase in their total bill.
| Price to Compare Effective Date Range | Price to Compare (rate per kWh) |
|---|---|
| June 1st, 2025 | 11.00¢ |
| December 1st, 2024 | 10.48¢ |
| June 1st, 2024 | 9.75¢ |
Penn Power Price to Compare:
The PTC is set to increase from 11.857 cents per kWh to approximately 12.606 cents per kWh, representing an approximate 6.3% increase. Residential customers using around 1,000 kWh per month could see an estimated $12-$14 increase on their monthly bill.
| Price to Compare Effective Date Range | Price to Compare (rate per kWh) |
|---|---|
| June 1st, 2025 | 11.86¢ |
| December 1st, 2024 | 11.17¢ |
| June 1st, 2024 | 10.39¢ |
West Penn Power Price to Compare:
The PTC is increasing from 10.317 cents per kWh to approximately 10.947 cents per kWh, an increase of roughly 6.1%. For a typical residential customer using 1,000 kWh per month, this could mean an estimated $10-$12 increase in their total monthly bill.
| Price to Compare Effective Date Range | Price to Compare (rate per kWh) |
|---|---|
| June 1st, 2025 | 10.32¢ |
| December 1st, 2024 | 9.48¢ |
| June 1st, 2024 | 8.78¢ |
Important Note: These figures represent estimates for typical residential usage. Your actual bill increase will depend on your individual electricity consumption. Customers who use more energy will see a larger increase. These increases primarily affect the generation portion of your bill. Distribution and other service charges remain regulated.
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Taking Control: Your Options to Offset Rising Costs
The good news is that residents have tools and programs to manage the impact of these rate changes.
1. Exercise Your Power to Choose: Energy Choice Program
In Pennsylvania, the rate increase applies only to the generation and transmission portion of your bill (the PTC). Through Energy Choice, you can often save money by choosing a competitive third-party electricity supplier.
- Lock in a Fixed Rate: Competitive suppliers often offer fixed-rate plans that lock in a lower price per kWh for 6, 12, or 24 months. By switching, you can secure a rate below the new utility PTC and protect yourself from future increases.
- Compare Offers: Visit the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) official website, PA Power Switch, or better yet head over to our electricity marketplace to compare current offers from licensed suppliers in your service area. Be sure to check for any early termination fees or monthly service charges before switching.
2. Financial Assistance and Energy Efficiency Programs
If you are struggling to afford your monthly electric bill, FirstEnergy and the State of Pennsylvania offer several vital assistance programs:
- Customer Assistance Program (PCAP): Provides reduced monthly bills and debt forgiveness to income-eligible customers.
- LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program): A federally funded program that provides cash grants to help eligible low-income households pay for winter heating bills.
- WARM Program (Low Income Usage Reduction Program): Offers free energy conservation services and home efficiency improvements (like insulation and weatherization) to reduce energy consumption and lower future bills.
- Hardship Funds (Dollar Energy Fund): Provides one-time cash grants to customers facing a financial crisis.
To learn more about these programs check out the full list of Energy Assistance Programs offered in Pennsylvania. You can also visit the website of your specific FirstEnergy utility or contact the Pennsylvania PUC to check eligibility or apply for a specific program.
Don’t wait until the bill arrives. Review your usage, explore competitive supplier offers on our marketplace, and apply for assistance programs immediately if you need financial support to manage the higher costs this winter.