An electric utility wants to fix Pa.’s competitive energy market; regulators say more study needed

State-by-state figures from monthly utility bill data show, on average, American households paid roughly $110, or 6.4%, more for electricity in 2025, compared to 2024. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)When Pennsylvania s largest electric utility proposed a change to the commonwealth’s competitive electricity marketplace, saying it could save customers millions of dollars, consumer advocates said they were on board. Utility regulators, however, said last week they want to study the issue on a statewide basis – a move that the commonwealth’s independent utility watchdog said will delay protections for millions of FirstEnergy Pennsylvania ratepayers. “What FirstEnergy was trying to do was something that my office and others have been trying to do for a very long time,” said Darryl Lawrence, the state’s consumer advocate. Your financial support makes our work possible! S