“What A Joke.”
Another round of rate increases are possible for FirstEnergy customers. This includes 4 of 7 public utility companies in PA: Penn Power, West Penn Power, Met-Ed, and Penelec. Quoted in this Tristate article is the specific rates for Penelec (9.8%) and WPP (10.6%). I will note that WPP has seen the highest increases across all 7 companies in the last 4 years- at over 100%. This new rate hike will only add to the increasing bill that homeowners have become increasingly frustrated with for receiving every month.
These rate hikes and unpredictability in the energy market can be avoided. Producing 100% of your power (or as close as possible to it) through a solar system with net metering shields you and your family from stressful worries like future rate increases, ancillary charges, economic factors, supply and demand, and whatever else they might throw your way. As a homeowner/business-owner/church, you do not have a choice in your energy delivery provider. And although they’re regulated by the PA PUC, this proves that rate increases are easy to procure & negotiate and customer voices are never heard by these utility companies.
One look at the comments section from a local community Facebook group for Franklin County, PA, proves this point:
“What a joke,” claims a local.
“We can’t even pay our electric bills now!” says another.
So many homeowners are fed up with this nonsense. In the onslaught of recent inflation and economic whirlwind- the last thing on a homeowners mind is having a rate increase for tree trimming and new street lights. After all, isn’t that what we’re already paying them to do? Consider investing the time into adopting solar, where the benefits of your “labor” (labor in quotes here because going solar requires nothing strenuous outside of a consultation, discussion with your spouse, and a few e-signatures) come back to YOU and the ENVIRONMENT.
Reach out if you wish to learn more about the net-metering solar programs that I can offer you. Consultations are always free and at the least will inform you about solar options available in 2024.
-Noah Koppenhaver | Solar Professional