PECO's Price to Compare is 11.024 cents per kilowatt-hour through May 31, 2026. On June 1, it jumps 5% to 11.572 cents.
That rate is the benchmark. Any supplier plan priced below it saves you money immediately. This guide covers what the Price to Compare actually is, why it keeps climbing, and how to lock in a lower rate before the summer increase hits.
What is the Price to Compare
Most PECO customers pay the default rate without realizing they have other options. Pennsylvania deregulated its electricity market in 1996, which means you can choose who supplies your power. But if you never make that choice, you get PECO's default supply rate, called the Price to Compare (PTC).
The PTC includes four components: generation (the cost of producing electricity), transmission (moving power across high-voltage lines), Pennsylvania's gross receipts tax, and Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards compliance. It does not include distribution charges, which stay with PECO regardless of your supplier.
Here's why this matters: the PTC is your shopping benchmark. If a competitive supplier offers 9.6 cents per kWh and the PTC is 11.024 cents, you save 1.4 cents on every kilowatt-hour you use. That adds up quickly over a year.
PECO serves 1.7 million electricity customers across southeastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and parts of Chester County. Every one of those customers can shop for a different supplier.
For a deeper breakdown of how this benchmark works across Pennsylvania utilities, see our guide to understanding Price to Compare.
Current rate and the June 2026 increase
PECO's residential Price to Compare has climbed steadily over the past two years. The rate sat below 9.5 cents through most of 2024. It crossed 10 cents in June 2025 and has continued rising since.
| Period | Rate |
|---|---|
| March 2024 | 9.425¢ |
| December 2024 | 9.273¢ |
| June 2025 | 10.40¢ |
| December 2025 | 11.024¢ |
| June 2026 | 11.572¢ |
The December 2025 rate of 11.024 cents per kWh represents a 19% increase year-over-year. The June 2026 rate of 11.572 cents adds another 5% on top.
PECO Price to Compare, March 2024 through June 2026. Source: PECO published rate filings.
PECO updates the Price to Compare quarterly: March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1. Each update reflects wholesale market conditions from the prior period. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission published the official June 1, 2026 rate updates on May 20.
At average PECO usage of 854 kWh per month, the supply charge alone is approximately $94. Combined with distribution charges and other fees, your total bill runs closer to $170. During summer months with heavy air conditioning use, bills could exceed $250.
The upward trend is not temporary. Structural changes in the regional power grid are pushing rates higher.
Why PECO rates keep rising
The 2024 PJM capacity auction increased prices by 833%. That is not a typo.
PJM Interconnection manages the power grid across Pennsylvania and 12 neighboring states, serving 65 million people. Every year, PJM runs a capacity auction to ensure enough power plants exist to meet peak demand. The auction sets a price that generators receive for being available, and utilities like PECO pass these capacity costs directly to customers.
In the 2024 auction, capacity prices jumped from $28.92 per megawatt-day to $269.92. The June 2026 auction pushed prices even higher, to $329.17 per megawatt-day, a 22% increase over 2024.
PJM capacity auction clearing prices. The 2024 auction increased prices by 833%. Source: PJM Interconnection.
Three factors drove the spike:
- Coal plant retirements. Older generation facilities are shutting down faster than new ones come online. The grid has less buffer capacity than it did five years ago.
- Data center growth. Electricity-hungry facilities across the region have increased peak demand forecasts. Northern Virginia and surrounding areas host some of the world's largest data center clusters, all drawing from PJM.
- Electrification trends. EV adoption and heat pump installations add load that the grid must accommodate. These technologies shift demand patterns in ways that require more standby generation.
PECO is phasing in these capacity costs across multiple billing periods: June 2025, December 2025, June 2026, and December 2026. Each quarter brings another slice of the bill.
Governor Josh Shapiro filed a complaint with federal regulators, arguing the auction process is flawed and results in higher prices without guaranteeing reliability. His administration reached an agreement with PJM to cap future capacity prices, projected to save Pennsylvania ratepayers $4 billion through 2028. But that relief applies to future auctions. The June 2026 rate is already locked in.
For more on how deregulation shapes these market dynamics, see our Pennsylvania electricity deregulation guide.
How to beat the Price to Compare
Switching suppliers takes about five minutes and costs nothing. Your service continues without interruption.
Know your benchmark
The current PTC is 11.024 cents per kWh. After June 1, it becomes 11.572 cents. Any fixed-rate plan below these numbers saves money.
Current plans that beat the PTC
Several suppliers are offering rates below PECO's default as of late May 2026:
| Plan | Rate | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Clearview Energy ClearGuarantee6Plus | 9.6¢/kWh | 6 months |
| XOOM Sure Lock 6 | 10.99¢/kWh | 6 months |
| Public Power Electric 20 Month Fixed | 10.8¢/kWh | 20 months |
Rates vary by ZIP code and change frequently. Check current availability for your address before making a decision.
Savings math
At 854 kWh per month (typical PECO household usage):
- PECO default (11.024¢): $94.15 supply cost
- Clearview (9.6¢): $82.00 supply cost
- Monthly savings: $12.15
- Annual savings: $146
Higher-usage households save more. If you run central air conditioning heavily in summer, your usage might hit 1,200 kWh or higher, pushing savings above $200 annually.
Locking in before June 1 avoids the 5% summer increase entirely. A 6-month plan starting now would carry you through the peak summer months at a lower rate.
How to switch
- Visit PA Power Switch (the state's official comparison tool) or a licensed comparison site
- Enter your ZIP code to see available suppliers
- Compare rates against the current Price to Compare
- Enroll online with your PECO account number (found on your bill)
- Wait one to two billing cycles for the switch to complete
No phone calls to PECO are required. The switch happens automatically once you enroll with your new supplier.
What does not change
Switching suppliers only changes who supplies your electricity. PECO still:
- Delivers power to your home
- Handles all outage repairs
- Sends your monthly bill
- Maintains the poles and wires
There is no service interruption during the switch. Your lights stay on. If the power goes out during a storm, you call PECO, not your supplier.
For step-by-step instructions, see our guide to switching suppliers in Pennsylvania. To understand whether a fixed or variable rate makes sense for your situation, see our fixed vs. variable rate comparison.
You can also view all current plans in your area on our PECO utility page.
At 1.4 cents per kWh below the current PTC, the savings compound every month you stay locked in. The rate goes up June 1 whether you act or not.
FAQ
What happens if I switch suppliers and there's an outage?
PECO handles all outages regardless of your electricity supplier. Your supplier only provides the generation portion of your bill. PECO owns the poles, wires, and transformers, and dispatches repair crews when something goes wrong.
Is there a fee to switch suppliers?
No. Switching is free. The process takes one to two billing cycles to complete. Early termination fees may apply if you leave a fixed-rate contract early, so check your plan terms before canceling.
Should I choose a fixed or variable rate?
Fixed rates protect against the quarterly increases we've seen. Variable rates can be cheaper during mild months but carry risk during summer peaks when wholesale prices spike. For most PECO customers, fixed rates offer more predictable bills and better protection against continued rate increases.
When does the next PECO rate change happen?
June 1, 2026. The new Price to Compare of 11.572 cents per kWh will remain in effect through November 30, 2026. The next quarterly update comes September 1, 2026.