Summer is right around the corner. It means trips, cookouts and on the less pleasant side of the spectrum, higher electric bills.
The reason? As weather heats up, more homes and businesses use air conditioning more. This places stress on an outdated energy grid, and suppliers base price on demand.
Therefore, starting on June 1, energy prices could raise significantly in deregulated energy markets.
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Deregulation's impact on electric bills
Some states have regulated energy and some don't. Regulated states usually have the utility as your sole provider for electricity services since your location dictates who you have.
Alternatively, in deregulated markets, you could have a supplier and utility. The supplier's main task is to puchase energy at competitive prices then turn around to offer them to customers.
In essence, you're gaining the power of choice as you can shop multiple providers to find the right plans and pricing that work for you. Meanwhile, the utility company maintains powerlines, reads meters, handles account matters and responds to outages.
A perk of deregulated energy is you have plan choices. Fixed-rate plans lock in your electric rate for a specified time. The only issue with them is if you need to cancel before the term expires, the provider could charge you an early termination fee. But by that same token, you won't have to worry about rate increases while you're under contract.
Meanwhile, variable-rate plans can change prices each month, based on factors like energy load demand and climate.
Furthermore, when demand increases, like it does during the summer, it can result in higher rates and electric bills. The good news with variable-rate plans is you're not under contract, so you're free to switch at any time without any fees.
Which cities will have the highest surge in electric bills?
Arbor, an app that helps you save on energy bills, conducted a study to find the cities where electric bills will increase the most this summer.
Here are the seven cities with the largest increases:
City and Utility | Expected Summer Rate | Estimated Monthly Supply Cost | Example 12-Month Low, Fixed Rate Available | Potential Monthly Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jersey City, Jersey (PSE&G) | 18.03 ¢/kWh Up 28% | $162.27 | 12.39¢/kWh | $50.76 |
Trenton, New Jersey (PSE&G) | 18.03 ¢/kWh Up 28% | $162.27 | 12.39¢/kWh | $50.76 |
Pittsburgh, PA (Duquesne Light) | 12.11 ¢/kWh Up 11% Expiring 11/30/25 | $108.99 | 7.59¢/kWh | $40.68 |
Cincinnati, OH (Duke Energy) | 10.45¢/kWh Up 30% Expiring 11/30/25 | $94.05 | 8.02¢/kWh | $21.87 |
Philadelphia, PA (PECO) | 10.36¢/kWh Up 10% Expiring 11/30/25 | $93.24 | 9.2¢/kWh | $10.44 |
Chicago, IL (ComEd) | 9.594 ¢/kWh Up 45% | $86.34 | 8.19 ¢/kWh | $12.64 |
Allentown, PA (PPL Electric Utilities) | 9.167 ¢/kWh Up 9% Expiring 11/30/25 | $82.50 | 8.49 ¢/kWh | $6.09 |
A couple things to note: First, every city making this list is in a deregulated energy market. Two, prices per unit when you buy energy are in cents per kilowatt hour. The average home uses around 855 kWh per month, according to SaveonEnergy, but you can group together your last three electric bills to estimate how much you use per month.
The rates Arbor used for this table was current as of May 1. However, rates are subject to change at anytime.
What this tables shows is the anticipated rate you can expect to pay in these cities when the surge pricing goes into effect and after you switch to a fixed-rate plan. In areas like New Jersey and Pittsburgh, you could save up to $50 monthly off your electric bills by switching to a fixed-rate provider.
How do you switch? It depends on where you live. Some communities negotiate rates with suppliers for their residents, while in other areas, you're free to go about shopping for your own plan.
If your community does the negotiations for you, check your mail for any notifications, as they'll include notices and ways to choose another supplier.
If you're on your own, use sites like Arbor or SaveOnEnergy to shop for and compare prices in your area. Once you find a plan you like, you can complete the process through the website or call customer service for any questions you have or to sign up.
Another option is to reach out to your local utility. They have resources available, where they direct you to shopping platforms to pick a plan.
Keep in mind that even when you switch suppliers, your utility remains the same. They'll also be your point of contact with any account issues or to report an outage.
Other ways to lower electric bills
Here are some items you can buy to lower electric bills quickly:
The bottom line
Electric bills continue to rise. And with summer right around the corner, now marks an excellent time to prepare your home for the sweltering heat.
If you live in a deregulated energy market, shop around suppliers and find a fixed-rate energy plan that'll help you keep costs low during peak demand. Also, consider outfitting your home with some of these smart home devices, as they can keep costs reasonable when the weather isn't.
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