Electric Competition in Pennsylvania: Number of Customer Accounts Served by Suppliers
September 21, 2015
The 2014 Pennsylvania data shows that the total number of accounts served by suppliers decreased for both residential and non-residential customers. The total percentage of customers shopping went from 38% to 36.7%.
Between 2013 and 2014, the total number of residential accounts served by suppliers decreased by about 3%. The total number of small and medium non-residential accounts served by suppliers also decreased by about 3%. There was a slight increase in the number of large non-residential accounts served by suppliers.
This runs counter to the trend between 2012 and 2013, which saw increases in the numbers of customer accounts served by suppliers by about 12% for residential accounts and about 7% for non-residential accounts.
Why? There is not a clear answer. But, one theory is that the polar vortex, which impacted the markets in early 2014, caused some customers to stop shopping and return to default service.
The data and the full Retail Choice Activity Reports, which discuss retail electricity choice activity trends in Pennsylvania, are available at https://www.puc.state.pa.us/utility_industry/electricity/retail_choice_activity_reports.aspx.
For more information contact Carl Shultz at cshultz@eckertseamans.com or Dan Clearfield at dclearfield@eckertseamans.com.