More Than One Million Customers Officially Migrate To Competitive Electric Options in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Retail Energy Supply Association (RESA), whose members provide a wide array of value-added electric and gas commodity products to customers in 22 states and the District of Columbia, is pleased to note that 1,013,431 customers in Pennsylvania have made the switch from utility service to competitive electricity service as of March 30, 2011.  Millions more nationwide have joined the trend of shopping for electricity in restructured competitive energy markets.  

"A growing numbers of customers throughout the United States – from Maine to Maryland, New York to Michigan, and Texas to Ohio – are enjoying the benefits of customer choice when it comes to electricity," says David Fein, President of RESA. "Nearly a decade after electric markets restructured up and down the East Coast, we are seeing business, government, and residential customers making the switch from utility to competitive supply once they understand the benefits of shopping. In Pennsylvania, through the educational efforts of the commission, utilities, and suppliers, customers have become informed of their right to shop, switch, and save.  We commend the Commission for putting the proper rules into place to create a balanced restructured market and look forward to continuing to work with them as the market develops."

Of the 1,013,431 Pennsylvanians shopping for electricity, 817,780 are residential consumers and 185,315 are business and commercial consumers. "Customers of all sizes and across the nine utility service areas are shopping for electricity to varying degrees and taking advantage of the competitive energy market structure," said Richard Hudson, Pennsylvania State Chair for RESA. "Reaching this milestone as quickly as we have is a testament to the value competitive suppliers bring to the customer and to the Commission's commitment to progressive energy market structures that mitigate energy costs, create jobs, and foster innovation."

Since 2008, home energy buyers have been able to save anywhere from 5 percent to 25 percent on their retail electric portion of their monthly energy bills. Businesses during that same time period have reported millions in costs savings. Both residential and business customers also have the benefit of choosing from an array of alternative energy products and innovative services that match their specific needs.  

"The restructured markets were intended to break up monopolies and free ratepayers from financial risk and create competition to put downward pressure on prices," Hudson continued.  "We believe the development of a vibrant and healthy competitive retail market is the best choice for consumers, and it seems customers in Pennsylvania agree."

About RESA

RESA's members include:  Champion Energy Services, LLC; ConEdison Solutions; Constellation NewEnergy, Inc.; Direct Energy Services, LLC; Energy Plus Holdings, LLC; Exelon Energy Company; GDF SUEZ Energy Resources NA, Inc.; Green Mountain Energy Company; Hess Corporation; Integrys Energy Services, Inc.; Just Energy; Liberty Power; MC Squared Energy Services; MXenergy; NextEra Energy Services; Noble Americas Energy Solutions LLC; PPL EnergyPlus; Reliant Energy Northeast LLC and TriEagle Energy, L.P. The comments expressed in this release represent the position of RESA as an organization, but may not represent the views of any particular member of RESA. For more information, contact RESA Executive Director Tracy McCormick at (717) 566-5405 or go to www.RESAUSA.org.

SOURCE Retail Energy Supply Association