‘Astounding’ Competition Unleashed in Pennsylvania
Less than three months after the highly publicized removal of artificial rate caps in PPL Electric Utilities’ territory, consumers enjoy multiple power supplier options and clean energy is thriving in competitive electricity markets across the state.
Consumers have saved money under the competitive model when compared to the traditional monopoly model,” James Cawley, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PAPUC) Chairman, testified at a recent State Senate hearing. “It’s been a great success.” More than 550,000 customers have switched power suppliers statewide, reports the PAPUC’s PAPowerSwitch Web site, which provides consumers with advice on how to find the right competitive power supplier.
The amount of customers who have switched within the PPL Electric Utilities’ service territory is “astounding,” said Chairman Cawley. 320,000 residential customers – and 380,000 total customers – are purchasing electricity from competing providers. Fourty-six percent of total electricity demand is being met by competitive suppliers. There are 28 competing suppliers serving customers in PPL Electric Utilities’ service area, including nine suppliers for residential customers.
The unique characteristics of Pennsylvania’s competitive markets are also enabling clean energy generation to thrive. The Commonwealth now has about 300 megawatts of wind capacity, with another 300 megawatts in development, including two newly announced wind projects totaling 42 two-megawatt turbines creating an estimated 200 or more green jobs. Governor Ed Rendell recently announced 13 new solar power projects that will generate 4 megawatts of clean energy and put Pennsylvania on track to rank in the top five states for operating solar generating capacity by 2010.
It’s clear that competition is working well in Pennsylvania. Competitive power supplier options continue to grow, and customers are shopping among them to find the best available electricity service. New clean energy projects are being proposed at a rapid pace, creating jobs and innovative solutions to the Commonwealth’s energy and environmental needs. By comparison, regressing to monopoly control of electricity would jeopardize the economic and environmental gains for consumers and market-based incentives for innovative clean energy services and technologies.
Joel Malina | March 17, 2010
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