Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton share more than their Lehigh Valley geography. All three cities are served by PPL Electric, which means all three pay the same default electricity rate: 12.953 cents per kilowatt-hour through May 31, 2026.
When your utility is identical, your rate is identical. But your bill is not. How much you actually pay depends on how much electricity you use — and that varies with housing type, home size, heating and cooling patterns, and whether you have shopped for a competitive supplier.
The rate baseline: one utility, one number
The entire Lehigh Valley falls within PPL Electric's service territory. Unlike comparisons between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh (PECO vs. Duquesne Light) or even Philadelphia and Allentown (PECO vs. PPL), a comparison among Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton starts from an identical rate foundation.
| Metric | Allentown | Bethlehem | Easton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility | PPL Electric | PPL Electric | PPL Electric |
| Current PTC | 12.953¢/kWh | 12.953¢/kWh | 12.953¢/kWh |
| June 2026 PTC | 13.147¢/kWh | 13.147¢/kWh | 13.147¢/kWh |
| Increase | +1.5% | +1.5% | +1.5% |
At average Pennsylvania household usage of 850 kWh per month, the supply portion of the bill is identical across all three cities: $110.10 per month at the current rate.
For the full PPL Electric rate breakdown, see our PPL Price to Compare update.
Why bills differ within the same utility territory
Identical rates do not produce identical bills. Your actual electricity cost depends on how much you use, and usage varies significantly based on local factors.
Housing stock. Allentown has Pennsylvania's third-largest city population and includes dense urban neighborhoods with row homes, smaller single-family homes, and apartment buildings. Bethlehem has a similar mix plus its historic downtown districts. Easton is smaller and more compact, with older row homes near the Delaware River and more suburban development in surrounding areas.
Row homes with shared walls use less electricity for heating and cooling than detached single-family homes. A 1,200 square foot row home in downtown Allentown will typically have lower electricity bills than a 2,400 square foot detached home in a Bethlehem suburb — even at the same rate.
Home age and efficiency. The Lehigh Valley's housing stock spans centuries, from 18th-century stone buildings in downtown Bethlehem and Easton to new construction in surrounding townships. Older homes often have less insulation, older HVAC systems, and single-pane windows. A 1920s home with original windows can use 30-50% more electricity for heating and cooling than a modern energy-efficient home.
Heating fuel mix. Most Lehigh Valley homes heat with natural gas, but some use electric heat pumps, electric resistance heat, or oil. If your home has electric heat, your winter electricity bills will be dramatically higher than a neighbor heating with gas — even if your summer usage is identical.
Air conditioning. Summer cooling drives the highest electricity bills of the year for most Pennsylvania households. Home size, insulation quality, and thermostat settings all affect cooling costs. A household that keeps their home at 68°F will use significantly more electricity than one set to 76°F.
Local factors that affect usage
While the three cities share a region, subtle local differences can affect electricity consumption.
Microclimates. Easton sits at the confluence of the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers, which can moderate summer temperatures slightly. Allentown and Bethlehem are further from major water bodies. These differences are modest but measurable over a cooling season.
Population density. Allentown has higher population density than Bethlehem or Easton. Dense urban areas experience more heat island effects — pavement and buildings retain heat, making summer nights warmer and increasing air conditioning demand. Suburban and exurban areas tend to cool off more at night.
Economic factors. Household income affects electricity usage patterns. Higher-income households tend to have larger homes, more appliances, and may keep homes cooler in summer. The median household income differs across the three cities and their surrounding suburbs.
These factors interact in complex ways. A low-income household in a small, well-maintained Easton row home might have lower bills than a high-income household in a large, older Bethlehem colonial — despite both paying the same rate.
Supplier competition: same market for all three cities
Because all three cities are in PPL territory, they share the same competitive supplier market:
| Metric | Lehigh Valley (PPL territory) |
|---|---|
| Active supplier plans | 120 |
| Number of suppliers | 58 |
| Cheapest available rate | 10.45¢/kWh |
| PTC rate | 12.953¢/kWh |
| Maximum savings | 2.50¢/kWh |
An Allentown resident, a Bethlehem resident, and an Easton resident all have access to the same 120 plans from the same 58 suppliers at the same prices. Your ZIP code determines your utility territory, not your city — and all Lehigh Valley ZIP codes route to PPL Electric.
The cheapest plan undercuts the PPL default rate by 2.50¢ per kWh. At 850 kWh per month, that translates to:
- Monthly savings: $21.28
- Annual savings: $255
This savings opportunity is identical across all three cities because it depends on the gap between PPL's PTC and competitive supplier rates — which is the same throughout PPL territory.
Browse current plans for PPL Electric territory.
How to compare your actual costs
If you live in the Lehigh Valley and want to understand how your electricity costs compare to your neighbors, focus on these factors:
Check your actual usage. Your PPL bill shows your monthly kWh consumption. Compare this to the state average of 850 kWh. If you use more, you pay more — regardless of city.
Compare your home type. A 2,000 square foot home in Bethlehem will likely use more electricity than a 1,200 square foot home in Allentown, even if both are kept at the same temperature and have similar appliances.
Consider your heating system. If you have electric heat, your winter bills will dwarf anything driven by city-level differences. Natural gas heating removes the largest variable from your electricity bill.
Check if you have a supplier. About 30% of Pennsylvania residential customers have switched to a competitive supplier. If you are still on PPL's default rate, you could save $255 per year by switching to the cheapest available plan — regardless of which Lehigh Valley city you call home.
For step-by-step switching instructions, see our guide to switching suppliers in Pennsylvania.
What actually drives Lehigh Valley electricity costs
Let us put the pieces together. Within the Lehigh Valley, electricity cost differences are driven by:
-
Usage patterns: By far the largest factor. A household using 1,200 kWh/month pays 41% more than one using 850 kWh/month — a bigger difference than exists between any two PA utilities.
-
Supplier choice: Switching from PPL's 12.953¢ rate to the cheapest available 10.45¢ rate saves 19% on supply costs. This is entirely within your control.
-
Housing characteristics: Home size, age, insulation, and type all affect how much electricity you need to maintain comfort.
-
Behavior: Thermostat settings, appliance choices, and energy habits affect monthly usage.
City-specific factors (Allentown vs. Bethlehem vs. Easton) rank last on this list. The rate is identical, the supplier options are identical, and the climate is nearly identical. The meaningful differences are at the household level, not the city level.
FAQ
Is electricity cheaper in Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton?
The rate is identical — 12.953¢/kWh — because all three cities are served by PPL Electric. Bills differ based on household usage, not city location.
Do I have the same supplier options in all three cities?
Yes. All Lehigh Valley residents have access to the same 120 plans from 58 suppliers. The competitive market is organized by utility territory, not municipality.
Why is my bill higher than my neighbor's if we pay the same rate?
Your bill equals rate times usage. If your neighbor uses less electricity (due to a smaller home, better insulation, a higher thermostat setting, or no electric heating), their bill will be lower even at identical rates.
Should I factor in electricity costs when choosing between Lehigh Valley cities?
No. Electricity rates are identical across all three cities. Housing costs, commute times, school districts, and other factors should drive your decision. If anything, focus on the efficiency of specific homes you are considering — not which city they are in.