Lancaster is the eighth-largest city in Pennsylvania, nestled within the South Central portion of the state. This city currently serves as the seat of Lancaster County and is known for being one of the oldest inland cities in the United States.

Energy Deregulation in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Residents and business owners shopping for an energy plan in the city of Lancaster will find that the entire market in the city is deregulated. Electricity deregulation first took place in 2002. Thanks to a new house bill, residents throughout the area and through much of the state of Pennsylvania were given the power to choose their supplier.

This means residents can choose what retail supplier they use for their electricity, what type of plan they receive and what type of rates they get to take advantage of.

Those living in Lancaster can also take advantage of green energy options and the ability to choose plans that only use renewable energy sources. For those living in Lancaster the company AEP Energy specializes in offering these types of plans to customers who are interested in more green options for their home or professional property.

Lancaster?s Electricity Providers

Before deregulation, Lancaster residents simply had to buy their energy from their local utility. For many residents, this meant no flexibility with their plan and it meant that many were actually over paying on their monthly energy bill. With electricity deregulation in place, consumers can now shop around to find a plan that fits their needs.

Several companies, in addition to AEP Energy, provide their services to the greater Lancaster area. Shoppers will find well-known companies such as Direct Energy, North American Power and Bounce Energy all have plans and options available for those who call Lancaster home.

History and Culture

For many years, present-day Lancaster was known as Hickory Town, until it was renamed by John Wright, after the English city of the same name. The city?s symbol, the red rose, which can be found prominently throughout the area, is actually the official flower of the House of Lancaster.

The city?s history dates back to the 1600s, when it was part of the Penn?s Wood Charter from William Penn. Lancaster was officially incorporated as a city during 1818, but before that it served as the capital of the colonies in 1777 during the American Revolution.

The city was also the capital of the state of Pennsylvania, before Harrisburg, until 1812. With so much unique history behind this city, Lancaster is seen by many as one of the most significant cities in the state.

Population

The city of Lancaster is home to approximately 60,000 residents, but it is part of a much larger metropolitan area that includes more than 507,000 individuals. This makes the area the 101st largest metropolitan area in the United States.

The area has a strong tourism industry thanks to its unique history and well-known shopping opportunities. The city is also known for its unique neighborhoods, that give this medium sized city a big-city feel. Neighborhoods such as Cabbage Hill and Eden Heights provide a welcoming residential feel, which Center City, Uptown and the Eight Ward are filled with shopping and entertainment destinations.