\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPennsylvania homeowners and business owners alike will likely see higher power bills by the end of June. Pennsylvania’s Public Utilities Commission warned residents to expect higher energy costs starting June 1. \u201cThe Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission reminds consumers that updated electric generation prices take effect today for all PUC-regulated electric utilities, as households across Pennsylvania begin entering the highest electric-use months of the summer season,\u201d the PUC stated in a press release. \u201cStarting today, electric distribution companies in Pennsylvania have adjusted their ‘Price to Compare’ \u2014 the cost per kilowatt-hour charged to customers who have not selected a competitive electric generation supplier. These prices are based on wholesale market rates and can significantly impact monthly bills.\u201dDuquesne Light customers can expect cost increases of up to 2.8%. West Penn Power customers could see their bills raised by as much as 10.3%. \u201cIt\u2019s just like shoveling another piece of dirt on your grave,\u201d West Penn Power customer David Patterson said. \u201cThey just keep piling it on. It\u2019s difficult. You do have to make some decisions. You have to watch what you spend your money on.\u201dWest Penn Power is the main energy supplier throughout Westmoreland County. \u201cIt\u2019s crazy,\u201d Lisa Roberts, a Greensburg resident and West Penn customer, said. \u201cEverything\u2019s going up. Food, gas, electricity.\u201dRoberts and Patterson said they\u2019re already conscious of how much they use appliances during the summer. \u201cLyndon Johnson used to run around the White House turning out the lights, and I do that too,\u201d Patterson said. \u201cIt\u2019s silly, but every little bit helps. I know people who are older. Their Social Security is all they have.\u201d\u201cIt\u2019s summertime,\u201d Roberts added. \u201cWe need the air conditioning. We need the lights on.\u201d While some things can be done to keep costs down at home, the same can\u2019t be said at work. \u201cIt\u2019s very jarring,\u201d Tommy Medley, owner of White Rabbit Caf\u00e9, said. \u201cThey\u2019ve already doubled our rate since last year. The pure volume of consumption we have here is around four times my household usage.\u201dMedley said he\u2019s done everything already to keep the power meter down. \u201cThat\u2019s a meaningful increase,\u201d he said. \u201cAll of our operations are LED. We can\u2019t just turn off operations at midday. I\u2019m operating with the knowledge that everybody\u2019s getting pinched. A $7 cookie isn\u2019t doing anybody any good. I have to strike this balance between what\u2019s my cost and what\u2019s my price, and that margin is getting shrunk.\u201dWest Penn Power provided a statement to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on the cost spike. Their statement reads as follows: \u201cThe ‘Price to Compare’ for West Penn Power has increased about 10% over the previous rate, effective today, June. 1, due to higher auction prices. For an average residential customer using 750 kWh, this will be an $11.28 increase on their monthly bill. The previous PTC was 10.95 cents\/kWh \u2013 as of today, it will be 12.08 cents\/kWh. “As a reminder, we do not generate electricity or control supply prices, which can change due to the dynamic nature of the energy market. We simply deliver electricity to homes and businesses and collect any supply costs on behalf of suppliers without a markup.\u202f”While we can offer an idea of how supply increases will impact customer bills based on typical usage, the exact amount you might pay depends on several factors, including current and future usage, whether you\u2019ve chosen a competitive supplier, and if you have enrolled in any assistance or budget programs. We know managing energy costs is important to our customers, and any increase can cause concern. We\u2019re committed to providing the information and tools customers need to prepare for electric supply price increases and manage their bills while delivering the safe, reliable power they deserve.\u202f”With summer approaching, higher temperatures often lead to increased energy usage as we all try to stay cool in our homes. Check out these programs and tips that can help you manage your energy use and costs: Control Your Energy Use and Budget This Summer”Your electric bill is made up of two main charges: the supply charge for the cost of the actual electricity you use and a charge from your electric company for delivering electricity to your home. For the supply charge, you can shop and choose a third-party energy supplier who may be able to offer the best price for electricity. If you do not select an alternate supplier, your electric company is required to purchase electricity for you and provide it to you at the same cost we’ve paid for it.”Customers who do not shop for electricity receive the \u201cdefault service\u201d from their electric company for their electric supply and pay the Price to Compare rate. These charges are located in the top right section of a customer\u2019s bill under \u201cAccount Summary.\u201d FirstEnergy Pennsylvania does not generate electricity or control supply prices. We simply deliver electricity to homes and businesses and collect any supply costs on behalf of suppliers without a markup.\u202f “While customers may not be able to avoid supply price increases by choosing a competitive energy supplier, they may be able to save money by choosing a supplier offering a rate lower than the default rate on their bill. More information is available at www.firstenergycorp.com\/customerchoice. When choosing a supplier, be sure to carefully consider the price, plan structure (fixed or variable rate), contract length, terms and conditions, and any taxes, charges, or fees that may apply.”Our commitment to providing safe and reliable electric service remains steadfast, and we will continue to keep customers informed about any future developments. We encourage all customers to explore options and programs that may be able to help them manage their energy budget.\u201d\u201cIt\u2019s definitely not trending in a way that I, as a business owner, would like to see,\u201d Medley said. \u201cIt won\u2019t affect pay or product availability, but it\u2019s one more piece to add to a puzzle that\u2019s getting increasingly more complex and more difficult to operate with already tight margins.\u201dLooking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tGREENSBURG, Pa. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania homeowners and business owners alike will likely see higher power bills by the end of June. <\/p>\n
Pennsylvania’s Public Utilities Commission warned residents to expect higher energy costs starting June 1. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission reminds consumers that updated electric generation prices take effect today for all PUC-regulated electric utilities, as households across Pennsylvania begin entering the highest electric-use months of the summer season,\u201d the PUC stated in a press release. \u201cStarting today, electric distribution companies in Pennsylvania have adjusted their ‘Price to Compare’ \u2014 the cost per kilowatt-hour charged to customers who have not selected a competitive electric generation supplier. These prices are based on wholesale market rates and can significantly impact monthly bills.\u201d<\/p>\n
Duquesne Light customers can expect cost increases of up to 2.8%. West Penn Power customers could see their bills raised by as much as 10.3%. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just like shoveling another piece of dirt on your grave,\u201d West Penn Power customer David Patterson said. \u201cThey just keep piling it on. It\u2019s difficult. You do have to make some decisions. You have to watch what you spend your money on.\u201d<\/p>\n
West Penn Power is the main energy supplier throughout Westmoreland County. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s crazy,\u201d Lisa Roberts, a Greensburg resident and West Penn customer, said. \u201cEverything\u2019s going up. Food, gas, electricity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roberts and Patterson said they\u2019re already conscious of how much they use appliances during the summer. <\/p>\n
\u201cLyndon Johnson used to run around the White House turning out the lights, and I do that too,\u201d Patterson said. \u201cIt\u2019s silly, but every little bit helps. I know people who are older. Their Social Security is all they have.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s summertime,\u201d Roberts added. \u201cWe need the air conditioning. We need the lights on.\u201d <\/p>\n
While some things can be done to keep costs down at home, the same can\u2019t be said at work. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very jarring,\u201d Tommy Medley, owner of White Rabbit Caf\u00e9, said. \u201cThey\u2019ve already doubled our rate since last year. The pure volume of consumption we have here is around four times my household usage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Medley said he\u2019s done everything already to keep the power meter down. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a meaningful increase,\u201d he said. \u201cAll of our operations are LED. We can\u2019t just turn off operations at midday. I\u2019m operating with the knowledge that everybody\u2019s getting pinched. A $7 cookie isn\u2019t doing anybody any good. I have to strike this balance between what\u2019s my cost and what\u2019s my price, and that margin is getting shrunk.\u201d<\/p>\n
West Penn Power provided a statement to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on the cost spike. Their statement reads as follows: <\/p>\n
\u201cThe ‘Price to Compare’ for West Penn Power has increased about 10% over the previous rate, effective today, June. 1, due to higher auction prices. For an average residential customer using 750 kWh, this will be an $11.28 increase on their monthly bill. The previous PTC was 10.95 cents\/kWh \u2013 as of today, it will be 12.08 cents\/kWh. <\/p>\n
“As a reminder, we do not generate electricity or control supply prices, which can change due to the dynamic nature of the energy market. We simply deliver electricity to homes and businesses and collect any supply costs on behalf of suppliers without a markup.\u202f<\/p>\n
“While we can offer an idea of how supply increases will impact customer bills based on typical usage, the exact amount you might pay depends on several factors, including current and future usage, whether you\u2019ve chosen a competitive supplier, and if you have enrolled in any assistance or budget programs. We know managing energy costs is important to our customers, and any increase can cause concern. We\u2019re committed to providing the information and tools customers need to prepare for electric supply price increases and manage their bills while delivering the safe, reliable power they deserve.\u202f<\/p>\n
“With summer approaching, higher temperatures often lead to increased energy usage as we all try to stay cool in our homes. Check out these programs and tips that can help you manage your energy use and costs: Control Your Energy Use and Budget This Summer<\/a><\/p>\n “Your electric bill is made up of two main charges: the supply charge for the cost of the actual electricity you use and a charge from your electric company for delivering electricity to your home. For the supply charge, you can shop and choose a third-party energy supplier who may be able to offer the best price for electricity. If you do not select an alternate supplier, your electric company is required to purchase electricity for you and provide it to you at the same cost we’ve paid for it.<\/p>\n “Customers who do not shop for electricity receive the \u201cdefault service\u201d from their electric company for their electric supply and pay the Price to Compare rate. These charges are located in the top right section of a customer\u2019s bill under \u201cAccount Summary.\u201d FirstEnergy Pennsylvania does not generate electricity or control supply prices. We simply deliver electricity to homes and businesses and collect any supply costs on behalf of suppliers without a markup.\u202f <\/p>\n “While customers may not be able to avoid supply price increases by choosing a competitive energy supplier, they may be able to save money by choosing a supplier offering a rate lower than the default rate on their bill. More information is available at www.firstenergycorp.com\/customerchoice<\/a>. When choosing a supplier, be sure to carefully consider the price, plan structure (fixed or variable rate), contract length, terms and conditions, and any taxes, charges, or fees that may apply.<\/p>\n “Our commitment to providing safe and reliable electric service remains steadfast, and we will continue to keep customers informed about any future developments. We encourage all customers to explore options and programs that may be able to help them manage their energy budget.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely not trending in a way that I, as a business owner, would like to see,\u201d Medley said. \u201cIt won\u2019t affect pay or product availability, but it\u2019s one more piece to add to a puzzle that\u2019s getting increasingly more complex and more difficult to operate with already tight margins.\u201d<\/p>\n