Pennsylvania Electricity Market Structure
The deregulated market in Pennsylvania consists of 11 electric distribution utilities, over which the Public Utility Commission of PA has jurisdiction. While the PUC regulates compliance, electric generation and transmission and the reliability of these utilities, citizens still have the freedom of choice over their electric supplier.
During regulation, the incumbent utilities across Pennsylvania each served regional zones, where customers residing in those zones were required to get their power from their respective utility.
While customers are no longer obligated to receive service from these utilities, the general structure of the zonal service areas in the PA deregulated electricity market remains outlined respective to the utilities. As such, the actual maintenance of poles, wires, facilities and the generation and transmission of power in a given region is still performed by the same utility in that zone.
Customers in Pennsylvania should understand that, although they may buy power and receive a bill from a retail electric provider other than the utility in their zone, the actual power coming to their homes and the maintenance of poles & wires is still the responsibility of the incumbent utility.
The following map shows the Pennsylvania electricity market territories and the utilities serving each zone. Note that, since the publication of this map (2010), all rate caps have now expired.
(Reflects Data from December, 2010 – Click the map to view full size version)
While most Pennsylvania electricity customers are able to take advantage of PA electric choice in the deregulated electricity market structure, this isn't true for everyone in the commonwealth.
In addition to the 11 utilities, Pennsylvanians share the power grid with 14 Electric Cooperatives (or “Co-Ops”). These cooperatives are non-profit, 'customer-owned' utilities that provide power to about 600,000 (mostly rural) PA residents. The following map shows zones served by these co-ops.
If your electric provider is an electric cooperative, or if you need info regarding your options if you live in a co-op service area or plan to move to one, you'll want to check out the
Pennsylvania Rrural Electric Association (PREA) website.
