The summer heat can be unbearable. But keeping your home cool and comfortable may be causing your electric bill to increase. With air conditioning, cooling equipment or dehumidifiers working overtime during extreme heat, it’s common to see spikes in your summer usage.

If your bill is higher this summer, it may be due to a combination of factors, including increased energy use during hot weather, changes in the price of electricity supply and the new distribution base rate that took effect July 1.

As your local electric company, we deliver electricity to your home, but we don’t own or operate the power plants where that electricity is generated. In Pennsylvania, you can shop for a third-party supplier based on price or other factors, or you’ll automatically pay the Price to Compare.

If you have a supplier, now is a good time to check the price you’re paying and use the Price to Compare as a benchmark. Many customers sign up with a supplier that initially offers a lower rate but lose track of contract terms or supplier notifications and end up shifting to a variable rate that is much higher than the Price to Compare.

In May, residential customers paying rates above the Price to Compare collectively paid about $7.2 million more than the default rate, while those paying below it saved approximately $2.3 million. These differences reflect the range of products and pricing options available in the competitive market.

With the cost of everyday essentials continuing to rise, every dollar counts. Taking a few minutes to review your options and regularly check the price you’re paying for supply can help you stay informed and avoid paying more than necessary.

5 ways to take control of your summer bill

1. Track your energy use to stay informed. Even small energy-saving changes can make a big impact.
2. Review your supply price and compare offers from third-party suppliers at papowerswitch.com.
3. Sign up for PPL Alerts to receive Price to Compare notifications, bill due reminders and more.
4. Enroll in Budget Billing to even out the seasonal swings in your bill and make your monthly payments more predictable.
5. Check out our Bill Toolkit at pplelectric.com/toolkit for a comprehensive list of simple tools and support to help make your bill more affordable.