Customers who use Penelec as their power generation supplier are paying more for their electricity.

Penelec’s residential price increased from 11.75 cents per kilowatt hour to 13.14 cents per kilowatt hour on June 1 due to higher auction prices, said Lauren Siburkis, program manager, transmission communications for First Energy Corp, Penelec’s parent company.

For the average Penelec residential customer, the monthly bill impact will be an increase of approximately 6%.

The price to compare for FirstEnergy’s Pennsylvania utilities, including Penelec, changes twice each year. The last change in the price to compare for non-shopping Penelec customers was Dec. 1.

“Your electric bill is made up of two main charges: the supply charge for the cost of the actual electricity you use and a charge from your electric company for delivering electricity to your home. For the supply charge, you can shop and choose a third-party energy supplier who may be able to offer the best price for electricity. If you do not select an alternate supplier, your electric company is required to purchase electricity for you and provide it to you at the same cost we’ve paid for it,” Siburkis said.

Customers who do not shop for electricity receive the “default service” from their electric company for their electric supply and pay the price-to-compare rate.

“FirstEnergy Pennsylvania does not generate electricity or control supply prices. We simply deliver electricity to homes and businesses and collect any supply costs on behalf of suppliers without a markup,” Siburkis said. 

For the Altoona area, there are 40 providers in addition to Penelec.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.