Pennsylvania is uniquely positioned to become the region’s energy hub. The state’s first-in-class resources, innovation capacity, and diverse workforce present opportunities for significant economic growth in the coming years. Energy stakeholders have prioritized a strategic focus on turning these opportunities into reality.
Despite the challenges, there is broad consensus among workshop participants that Pennsylvania can benefit from continued transformation of the energy sector. This includes a growing number of companies that are rethinking their business models and investing in new technologies. Several companies also have identified human capital and worker development as a critical area for future success. They have launched projects and programs to boost the STEM education backgrounds and technical skills of the workforce. Many energy leaders are collaborating with universities and educational institutions to build out these initiatives and help workers adapt to and thrive in the changing industry.
Energy suppliers compete with each other to provide customers with a variety of rates and plans. Customers can select their preferred plan based on renewables and energy efficiency options, price stability, or other factors. penelec, the utility company that distributes electricity to households in some parts of the state, offers a variety of electricity plans as well. These plans include both fixed and variable rates. In addition, some plans require deposits while others do not. Deposits are one-time fees that help energy distributors offset losses from non-paying customers. Customers can avoid deposits by choosing prepaid plans, which have lower prices per kilowatt-hour.
When it comes to lowering their bills, consumers should take advantage of the deregulated energy market and shop for the best electric rates in pa. This is because electricity rates vary by supplier, as do the terms of their contracts. Consumers can find a list of top suppliers and learn how to compare their choices by entering their zip code on the website of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. They can also find helpful tips for saving money on their utility bills, such as insulating their homes and sealing air leaks.
In the state’s deregulated energy market, the utilities are responsible for delivering electricity to homes and businesses through transmission power lines and local electrical switch yards. They set their own “Price to Compare,” or PTC, rates by holding auctions 4 times a year. The PTC rate includes the cost to generate electricity, as well as the cost to transport it over high-voltage transmission power lines to the local distribution system and to individual households.
While Pennsylvania’s energy economy continues to grow, the current workforce lacks the necessary training to work in and adapt to a rapidly evolving industry. Developing a more sustainable, efficient, and innovative workforce will help the industry continue to advance. The state’s energy leaders have been bringing together private sector, labor, community, and government partners to form a statewide public-private network that is charting a path forward for economy-wide decarbonization. The network aims to unleash innovative and technology-driven solutions while expanding the state’s clean energy economy.