Pennsylvania Utility PTC Rate Roundup: Spring 2026 Commercial Outlook
Across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, utility Price to Compare (PTC) default service rates face sustained upward pressure for Q2/Q3 2026. Driven by regional PJM wholesale capacity shortfalls and utility procurement ladders, commercial and industrial (C&I) customers currently on default service with PECO, PPL, Met-Ed, and Duquesne Light should aggressively benchmark fixed-price competitive supply options prior to the June 1st tariff adjustments to avoid projected rate shock.
Executive Impact
- →Lagging Indictors (The Procurement Ladder): Utilities purchase wholesale power in "tranches" over several months or years to form the PTC. This means the recent PJM capacity price spikes ($333.44/MW-day) are only just beginning to layer into Pennsylvania utility default rates in 2026.
- →June 1st Adjustment Cliff: The beginning of the true PJM planning year on June 1, 2026/2027 carries the heaviest capacity obligations. Utilities traditionally load these summer capacity costs heavily into their Q2/Q3 PTC commercial rates.
- →Double-Digit Savings Possible: Active benchmarking against competitive suppliers reveals that a properly structured fixed contract can yield up to 15% savings relative to forecasted summer utility default rates.
Spring 2026 Utility PTC Outlook
Pennsylvania is one of the most robust deregulated energy markets in the country. Businesses have the legal right to purchase generation supply from a competitive retail electricity provider. Those who decline to shop are placed on their respective Utility's "Supplier of Last Resort" default service, known as the Price to Compare (PTC).
Unlike a customized competitive contract, PTC rates are fundamentally inflexible and adjust periodically (typically March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 for most utilities). As wholesale generation costs escalate across the PJM footprint in 2026, those increases are being legally passed directly through to PTC customers.
| Utility Territory | Primary Region | Spring/Summer 2026 Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| PECO (Exelon) | Philadelphia Metro | Strong Upward Pressure |
| PPL Electric Utilities | Allentown / Central PA | Moderate Upward Drift |
| Met-Ed (FirstEnergy) | Reading / Eastern PA | Strong Upward Pressure |
| Duquesne Light | Pittsburgh Metro | Moderate Escalation |
| Penelec (FirstEnergy) | Erie / Northern PA | Moderate Escalation |
*Outlook based on predictive modeling of utility Default Service Plan (DSP) procurement ladders mapping over the $333.44/MW-day PJM capacity clearance.
The Danger of Staying on Default Service
Remaining on utility default service through summer 2026 carries distinct operational risks for commercial properties. First, utilities rely heavily on seasonal shaping, concentrating costs during high-demand summer months. C&I facilities operating on the PTC will experience their highest per-kWh rates exactly when air-conditioning loads drive their consumption highest.
Second, the PTC includes reconciliations. If the utility underestimates the cost of buying wholesale power during a winter storm, it legally recovers those differences from PTC customers in subsequent quarters. A competitive fixed-rate supplier absorbs that wholesale volume risk, shielding the facility from retroactive true-ups.
Source: PJM Interconnection, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PAPUC).
Beat Your Utility PTC
If you are still receiving default generation supply from PECO, PPL, or Met-Ed, you are likely overpaying. Compare competitive fixed rates in under two minutes.