For Western Pennsylvania consumers worried about the costs of heating their homes this winter, there are options.
Customers could find some relief on the marketplace, but it’s not entirely without risk.
Pennsylvania Consumer Advocate Darryl Lawrence said shopping for better rates on the Pennsylvania Utility Commission’s PaGasSwitch and PaPowerSwitch web markets requires vigilance.
The sites allow customers to compare utility contracts among different local gas and electric providers instead of settling for the default options such as Peoples Gas or Duquesne Light.
While other companies might offer cheaper rates in the short term, Lawrence said customers should analyze all aspects of the contracts before enrolling.
“When someone makes the decision to shop, you have to be all in,” he said. “This isn’t something you can set and forget.”
The advocate advised residents to seek fixed-rate contracts without monthly fees and early cancellation costs.
Variable-rate contracts, Lawrence said, can lead to wild swings in utility prices, while monthly fees add even more expenses for consumers.
“You’ll really have to look and see if there’s a monthly fee because those fees can eat up savings quickly,” he said.
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Contracts might offer an initial, inexpensive fixed rate, but after a contract ends, it could revert to a variable rate. If customers miss notices sent by utility firms, they could be in for a rude, not-so-cheap awakening, Lawrence said.
For those who play their cards right, shopping for utilities on the PUC’s online marketplace could offer some moderate savings, he said.
But for those who don’t want yet another bill to monitor, Lawrence said it might be better to stick with the stable, default providers.
If customers find themselves struggling to keep up with bills, he said they should reach out to their provider.
That’s because many companies have their own relief programs for customers.
Peoples Gas, for example, offers a Customer Assistance Program (CAP) for low-income consumers. Those enrolled in the CAP pay a bill based off their monthly income, not their gas usage. It also freezes any outstanding balance owed to the company.
Electric companies such as Duquesne Light and West Penn Power offer similar programs.
Rita Black, Peoples’ director of Community Assistance Programs, said the company also offers emergency repair services for those with failing heating equipment and weatherization assistance to upgrade home heating efficiency.
Black said both of those programs are available at no cost if customers meet certain income requirements.
In addition to utility shopping and assistance from companies, customers can also seek help in the form of grants.
The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offers grants through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. And private grants are available through nonprofits like the Dollar Energy Fund.
