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Compare Electricity Rates in Philadelphia (2024 Best Prices)
Here’s a quick overview of Philadelphia electricity rates:
- Current average retail rate of electricity: 14.70 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh)1
- Current range of electricity prices in Philadelphia: 12.79 to 17.00 cents per kWh
- Average monthly electric bill: $120.05
- Average energy usage: 846 kWh per month
Each product and or company featured here has been independently selected by the writer. You can learn more about our review methodology here. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Who Has the Best Energy Rates in Philadelphia?
Constellation Energy currently has the cheapest renewable energy electricity plan in Philadelphia, with a per-kWh cost of just 12.79 cents. You can click below to compare prices and plans from the top electric companies in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Energy Rates
Philadelphia (and all of Pennsylvania) has a deregulated energy market, which means homeowners can choose the electric generation company that suits them best, and these suppliers compete with each other for business. Ultimately, this drives down the price of electricity by encouraging competition and giving you an energy choice. The average price per kWh in Philadelphia is 14.70 cents — which is just above the national average — but you could pay anywhere from 12.79 cents to 17.00 cents, depending on which electricity supplier you select.1
The price you pay for energy depends on several factors, including which energy supplier and electricity plan you choose and the electricity distributor. Electric distribution companies, otherwise known as utilities, are responsible for the poles and lines that actually bring the electricity to your house. You don’t have a choice over your utility — most homeowners in Philadelphia are serviced by PECO (Philadelphia Electric Company). Your rates could be higher or lower than the averages discussed here if you’re serviced by a different utility such as Penn Power, PPL Electric Utilities, West Penn Power, Duquesne Light Company, Penelec or Met-Ed.
Comparison of Electricity Rates in Philadelphia
The table below provides a listing of the electric plans available in Philadelphia, including the contract term and per-kWh rate. It should be noted that since we’re a website dedicated to environmental friendliness, we’re only including plans that use 100% renewable energy to provide you with power.
| Plan Name | Term (Months) | Plan Rate (¢/kWh) |
| Constellation 24 Month Green Home Power Plan | 24 | 12.79 cents |
| Clearview Energy GreenGuarantee6Plus | 6 | 14.09 cents |
| Clearview Energy ClearGreenGuarantee6 | 6 | 14.79 cents |
| Clearview Energy GreenGuarantee12Plus | 12 | 14.79 cents |
| Clearview Energy ClearGreenGuarantee12 | 12 | 15.49 cents |
| Verde Energy USA Green Choice 6 | 6 | 14.89 cents |
| Verde Energy USA Select 12 | 12 | 14.19 cents |
| Verde Energy USA Get It Fixed 12 | 12 | 15.09 cents |
| Verde Energy USA Get It Fixed 24 | 24 | 14.49 cents |
| Yep Energy Renewable Fixed Price Plan 12 | 12 | 17.00 cents |
*Rates will vary based on your public utility; you’ll see the rates above if your utility is PECO. Rates are subject to change.
Constellation Energy
Best National Company
Nationwide Service
Average cost
Pros
- Many years of experience
- Great industry reputation
- Award-winning company
- No.1 producer of carbon-free energy in the U.S.
- Makes charitable contributions
Cons
- Charges contract cancellation fees
- No prepaid or no-deposit plans
Clearview Energy
Great Renewable Energy Choice
Nationwide Service
Average cost
Pros
- Many years of experience
- Makes charitable contributions
- Values transparency
- All plans use clean energy
- Low rates
Cons
- Charges contract cancellation fees
- Some reports of misleading door-to-door sales
Verde Energy
Best Value for Renewable Energy
Regional Service
Average cost
Pros
- No early termination fees
- Many years of experience
- Low rates
Cons
- History of issues with misleading marketing
- No prepaid plans
CleanChoice Energy
Great Regional Provider
Regional Service
Average cost
Pros
- Low rates
- Low number of customer complaints
- Makes charitable contributions
- All plans use clean energy
- No early termination fees
Cons
- No prepaid or no-deposit plans
- No satisfaction guarantee
- Young company
- Low number of plans to choose from
How to Find the Best Electricity Rates in Philadelphia
It might be tempting to choose the energy plan with the most affordable per-kWh price, but it’s important that you consider more than just the cost of electricity. Below, we’ll discuss two additional factors — your energy usage and the contract length – that you should think about when choosing an energy plan. We’ll review how each can impact your overall experience with an electricity provider and the price you pay per month for energy.
Your Energy Usage
First, it’s important to think about how much electricity you use on a monthly basis. Many energy companies in Philadelphia have tiered electricity plans, which means customers are charged different amounts based on how much electricity they consume. With tiered plans, customers consuming around the average — 846 kWh per month — will pay the lowest amount, while those using well above or below the average will pay higher per-kWh prices. You can check your energy bills for past usage to help decide if a tiered plan is right for you.
It can also be important to determine when during the day you use the most electricity. Some companies have time-of-use (TOU) billing, which means prices are higher during peak electricity consumption hours. PECO’s peak hours are from 2-6 p.m. on weekdays. All other times are off-peak except for 12-6 a.m., which is super off-peak. If you find that you use most of your electricity during off-peak hours, a time-of-use energy plan might benefit you most. Keep in mind that the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) doesn’t regulate peak hours, so yours might vary.
Contract Length
Many energy plans come with a contract length, and some are open-ended and allow you to cancel or switch at any time. The plans available in Philadelphia range from just one month to a few years — usually up to three — and you’re locked into a specific rate for the entire contract. Longer contracts often come with lower per-kWh fees, but they also mean that you could end up paying more in the long run if local energy prices drop in the future.
In addition to the contract length, you should consider other factors mentioned in your service contract. These include any sign-up fees, early termination fees and introductory rates that seem enticing but will increase during your contract. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the number of options and things to consider to choose your best plan, you’re not alone. You can use this tool to help you find the ideal electricity plan for your exact needs.
Types of Electricity Plans in Philadelphia
While you’re shopping around for energy plans in Philadelphia, you’ll likely come across some terms that are unfamiliar and can make your decision even more confusing. We’ll explain the different types of plans below to help make your decision a little easier and a little less overwhelming.
Fixed-Rate Plans
As the name suggests, fixed-rate plans include a set rate per kWh that you’ll pay for the entirety of your contract. Some homeowners think this means their electric bill will be the same every month, but that’s not the case. Your per-kWh rate remains the same, but if you use more energy one month, your bill will be higher. Some fixed-rate plans automatically turn into variable-rate energy plans at the end of the contract term, so you might need to choose a new fixed-rate plan at the end if you want to maintain a fixed rate.
In general, we recommend fixed-rate energy plans for most electric customers because they help avoid energy price spikes due to increased demand, low supply and natural disasters. They help consumers budget more effectively, and they provide more peace of mind than variable-rate energy plans.
| Pros of a Fixed-Rate Energy Plan | Cons of a Fixed-Rate Energy Plan |
| Set price means easier budgeting and saving | Usually have early termination fees |
| Electricity prices never spike because of low supply or high demand | Local energy rates dropping mean you could miss out on savings |
Variable-Rate Plans
A variable-rate energy plan has a per-kWh charge that changes unpredictably throughout your contract. Your cost for electricity will be based on local energy prices, which can fluctuate with supply and demand. If the local cost of energy goes up, your utility bills can skyrocket. If the local market price decreases, you could enjoy significant savings over a fixed-rate energy plan.
Variable-rate plans don’t provide the same peace of mind that fixed-rate energy plans do, but if you’re willing to gamble on the local market price of electricity, you could end up saving money.
| Pros of a Variable-Rate Energy Plan | Cons of a Variable-Rate Energy Plan |
| Local energy rates dropping means lower electricity prices for you | Your bills could spike if local energy prices increase because of high demand or low supply |
| No early termination fees and no contracts in most cases | Could be more costly than a fixed plan depending on local electricity prices over time |
No-Deposit and Prepaid Energy Plans
To initiate accounts many electricity plans require deposits, which are the utility company’s way of offsetting losses from non-paying customers. If you can pass a credit check, you might be eligible for a no-deposit plan if your local utility provider offers one. In this case, your credit score is used as verification that you’re likely to pay your bills. No-deposit plans can also have fixed rates or variable rates, so you’ll still need to do a bit of research to find the one that’s best for your purposes.
You might also have the option of a prepaid energy plan, which lets you place money in an account from which funds will be drawn to pay for your electricity usage. A downside is that if you forget to add money to your account and the balance goes to zero your power can be cut off. However, this type of account lets you plan exactly how much you’ll be spending on electricity, allowing you to budget more accurately.
| Pros of a Prepaid Energy Plan | Cons of a Prepaid Energy Plan |
| No sign-up fee | You could experience power outages if you forget to add money to your account |
| You’ll always know the maximum amount you’ll spend on energy | Higher per-kWh prices, on average |
| No early termination fees or contracts required |
Green Energy Plans
Green energy plans provide you with power produced exclusively by renewable energy sources. As a website dedicated to environmental friendliness, we recommend green energy plans over those that use natural gas, coal or other fossil fuels for energy production. Green energy plans are becoming more and more affordable as renewable energy increases in popularity, so the cost per kWh is often in line with or even lower than the prices for standard energy plans.
Pennsylvania’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) set a goal of producing 18 percent of its electricity via renewable sources by 2021.2 This goal helped push the prices of renewable energy plans down, and future RPS goals could decrease prices even further.
| Pros of a Green Energy Plan | Cons of a Green Energy Plan |
| Reduces your carbon footprint and pollution | Sometimes slightly more costly than standard plans — an average of 1 to 2 cents per kWh |
| Lets you support renewable energy without having to invest thousands in solar energy equipment | Fewer plan options currently available |
Business Energy Plans
The last type of plan you might come across is a business energy plan which, unsurprisingly, is designed for the high energy needs of commercial, educational, government and other institutional users. Business energy plans are less prevalent than residential ones, so if you need a plan for commercial or institutional use, you might have to do some additional research to find energy companies that offer them. As you might guess, these plans are not available to residential customers.
Electricity Companies and Providers in Philadelphia
Energy deregulation began in Pennsylvania in 1996, and since then, homeowners in Philadelphia have had their choice of energy providers. While deregulation is a great thing that leads to increased competition and lower prices overall, it also means you’ll have more options, which can make choosing a provider more challenging. Below are some of our top-rated energy providers that service the Philadelphia area.
Constellation
- Clean energy plans available
- Positive customer reviews
- A+ rating with the BBB
- Fixed-rate plans offered
- Very affordable for the area
Verde Energy USA
- Multiple green energy plans available
- Fixed-rate plans offered
- Outstanding customer reviews
- A+ rating with the BBB
- No sign-up costs or early termination fees
CleanChoice Energy
- Renewable energy plans available
- Fixed-rate plans offered
- Excellent customer reviews
- No cancellation fees
- A+ rating with the BBB
Clearview Energy
- Mostly positive customer reviews
- Fixed-rate plans offered
- Green energy plans available
- Several term options provided
What to Look For When Choosing an Electricity Provider in Philadelphia
With the energy market in Philly being deregulated, you’ll have a harder time choosing a provider due to the multiple options available. Below, we’ll list a few of the most important factors you should consider when looking for an electricity provider.
- Plan Type: The first thing you’ll want to consider is the type of energy plans available from a provider. We generally suggest fixed-rate plans for most customers, but other options — like variable-rate and prepaid — might suit you better.
- Energy Source: Energy plans can source electricity from fossil fuels or renewable energy sources. We strongly recommend the latter, as they allow you to support clean energy and reduce your carbon footprint, often at no additional cost.
- Per-kWh Rates: One of the primary reasons many homeowners search for new electricity plans is the cost. You should check the per-kWh rate before committing and make sure that you’re not looking at just the introductory rate, which can increase over time.
- Contract Terms: In addition to cost and energy source, you’ll want to look at the term of your contract. Longer terms mean you’re locked into a specific rate, but they’re often lower. You should also look for early termination fees, sign-up fees and other hidden costs.
- Customer Satisfaction: It’s wise to read through some positive and negative company reviews online before committing. This will give you a glimpse into the kind of service and peace of mind you can expect from a company.
- Company Longevity: Finally, it’s a good idea to consider the company’s history before committing. Those that have more experience are more likely to provide better service and less likely to run into issues.
FAQ: Philadelphia Electricity Plans
The EcoWatch team is thrilled to get questions about energy plans on a regular basis from Philadelphia residents. Below are some of the most common questions we see, along with our responses.
Currently, Constellation offers the lowest per-kWh rate for a 100% renewable energy plan. The average cost per kWh in Philadelphia is 14.70 cents, but Constellation’s 24 Month Green Home Power Plan offers energy at just 12.79 cents per kWh.
Unfortunately, this question is impossible to answer because every consumer has different needs, uses varying amounts of energy and will have different preferences for their energy contract structure. With that being said, Constellation is our top-rated electricity provider in Philadelphia. It has the cheapest per-kWh rate available, it offers 100% renewable energy plans and fixed-rate plans and it has favorable terms and outstanding customer service.
The average monthly electric bill in Philadelphia is $120.05. This is based on the typical monthly consumption of 846 kWh and the average per-kWh price of 14.70 cents.
There are several ways to reduce your energy bills in Philadelphia. Since Pennsylvania has a deregulated energy market, one of the easiest and fastest ways to do so is to choose a different energy plan with a lower per-kWh cost. You can use this tool to help you choose a more affordable plan that suits your needs and meets your expectations.
Another great way to bring down your monthly energy costs is to improve your home’s energy efficiency. This can be done in several ways, including upgrading to Energy Star-rated windows and appliances, installing energy-efficient light bulbs and a smart thermostat to regulate your heating and cooling systems more efficiently and insulating or re-insulating. For more tips, you can check out our guide to improving home energy efficiency.
There is no universally ideal energy plan in Philadelphia, as every homeowner might have different needs. To find the best plan for you, you’ll need to consider contract length, per-kWh prices, the type of plan and more. If you’re not sure which plan is right for you, we recommend starting by looking at electricity plans from Constellation, Verde Energy USA, CleanChoice Energy and Clearview Energy.
