It is unfortunate PPL is raising its rates again at a time of record inflation and as the cold weather hits.

Beginning Dec. 1, PPL’s default residential rate will rise by another 2 cents per kilowatt hour, from $12.366 to $14.612.

PPL officials say the about 18% rate hike will cost the average customer an extra $22 per month.

A year ago, on Nov. 30, 2021, PPL’s default residential rate was 7.554 cents per kilowatt hour.

With the December 2022 increase, PPL will have raised the default residential rate by 93.7% since then.

The default rate is the rate charged to customers who don’t shop around for cheaper electricity.

The significant rise in rates in one year is a clear message from PPL to customers to shop around for electricity in this unregulated market.

Those who do not shop around are likely costing themselves money, and lots of it if their heat is electric.

If customers don’t choose an electricity supplier, they receive default supply through PPL under state law, PPL spokeswoman Jane George said.

That default rate, known as the price to compare, is updated twice annually based on competitive energy auctions, which are designed to secure the lowest rate offered.

PPL, headquartered in Allentown, Pa., delivers electricity to thousands of customers in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia and Rhode Island. while also delivering natural gas to customers in Kentucky and Rhode Island.

Overall, about 64% of PPL customers — residential and small business — are on the default rate.

Indeed, PPL encourages customers to shop for electricity, using the price to compare as a reference point, to find a supplier that offers the service and price right for them, George said.

But a different supplier doesn’t always mean a customer will pay less, George said.

PPL has found many customers are paying more for electricity through their supplier than they would if they were receiving default supply through PPL, she noted.

“Over the one-year period from October 2021, through September 2022, our residential customers paying more than the price to compare paid about $101 million more than they would have paid on the default rate,” she said.

The state Public Utility Commission operates a website – papowerswitch.com – where Pennsylvania residents can compare electricity suppliers in their area and change providers.

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