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Pennsylvania · Updated August 2026
What Penelec customers are actually paying, where the number comes from, and what it means for your bill. Serving Erie, Johnstown, Altoona, State College, Williamsport and much of northern and central Pennsylvania.
21.1¢All-in residential rate, second highest in PARanked #1 by Solar Power World · Inc. 5000 · 20,000+ installations
Enter your bill and we’ll size the array that would cover it, and show the gross value of that production at your rate. It does not net off the customer charge, taxes or what you would still draw at night — for that, use the bill savings calculator. Nothing is sent anywhere; this runs in your browser.
An estimate from your own numbers, not a quote, and not a savings figure. It assumes 400 W panels, an 80% system derate and no roof constraints. Your real number depends on orientation, roof area and your utility’s export credit. Savings are not guaranteed.
The numbers
| Measure | Current | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Price to Compare (supply) | 13.142¢ | Effective June 1 – Nov 30, 2026 |
| Previous Price to Compare | 11.747¢ | Through May 31, 2026 |
| Increase on June 1 | +11.9% | Residential default service |
| All-in residential rate | ~21.1¢ | Second highest of the major PA utilities |
| Parent company | FirstEnergy | Also operates Met-Ed, West Penn Power and Penn Power |
| Market | PJM | Same wholesale market as every PA utility |
Figures as published August 2026. Utility rates change on published schedules — check your own bill for the rate that applies to your account.
Why the number is what it is
Penelec buys from the PJM wholesale market. Capacity auction prices have climbed sharply and pass through to customers.
Penelec covers a large, less dense footprint. Delivering power over more line-miles per customer is structurally more expensive, and that shows up in distribution charges.
Restoration after major storms in Penelec's territory is measured in days rather than hours, and storm recovery costs are recovered through rates.
The honest cost picture
You own the equipment, you keep any renewable energy credits, and you carry the maintenance responsibility. Installed pricing varies by roof, shading and system size.
$0 upfront. We install and own the system; you buy the power it produces at a rate set in your agreement, and you only pay for what it actually generates. The system owner carries maintenance for the life of the agreement.
How $0-down solar works in Pennsylvania → · What solar costs in Pennsylvania →
Cities we cover in this utility area: Solar in Altoona → · Solar in Erie → · Solar in Johnstown →
You will still see ads promising a 30% credit that “ends December 31.” Read the date on them. If you buy a system today as a homeowner, you cannot claim that credit. What remains applies to the owner of the system — which, under a PPA, is us. SolarAmerica does not provide tax advice; talk to your tax professional about your situation.
Going solar with Penelec
When your panels make more power than your home is using, the extra flows onto Penelec’s grid and is credited on your Penelec bill under Pennsylvania’s net metering rules. How much each exported kilowatt-hour is worth is set by those rules, and it is one of the biggest factors in how your system should be sized. How net metering works in Pennsylvania.
Penelec connects home solar systems to its grid and credits the power you send back, but it does not install panels. State incentives are covered in our Pennsylvania solar incentives guide, and SolarAmerica handles the Penelec interconnection application for you.
There is no separate sign-up. It is set up as part of the interconnection application your installer files with Penelec before your system is turned on, and SolarAmerica files it for you.
$0-down solar in Pennsylvania → · Solar panel installation cost in Pennsylvania → · Net metering credit calculator →
Local SolarAmerica installations
SolarAmerica has installed solar for homeowners served by Penelec. Homes shown here: Northern Cambria (11.07 kW) and Wellsboro.
Northern Cambria · Cambria County, Pennsylvania
SolarAmerica designed this system and managed the project; a licensed local partner installed it.
Wellsboro · Tioga County, Pennsylvania
SolarAmerica designed this system and managed the project; a licensed local partner installed it.
Your electricity use, utility plan and roof shape your options. Request a review for your home.
Electric bill & solar offset calculator · Solar system size calculator · Solar panel installation cost in Pennsylvania · All local solar projects
Homeowner names and addresses are kept private. SolarAmerica designs systems and manages projects; licensed partner contractors perform installation.
Who you would be working with
We design your system and manage the project; installation is performed by vetted licensed partners in your area.
Where Penelec serves
Penelec (Pennsylvania Electric Company, part of FirstEnergy) serves a large stretch of central and northern Pennsylvania, including Johnstown, Altoona, Erie, State College’s outlying areas, and much of the Northern Tier along the New York line.
Solar guides for Penelec communities: Johnstown · Altoona · Erie · Cambria County · Blair County · Erie County · Clearfield County · Bradford County
Penelec homes
Much of Penelec’s territory is older housing. Solar goes on a roof that has at least 10 to 15 years of life left; if yours does not, it should be replaced first. Should you replace your roof before solar?
Standing-seam metal roofs are common in rural Penelec territory and are one of the best roofs for solar, because panels clamp to the seams without drilling. Solar on a metal roof
Rural Penelec homes often run a well pump and some heat with electricity, and storm restoration can take days. That is why many add a battery to keep essential circuits on. How solar batteries work · Solar for all-electric homes
Penelec questions
They are separately tariffed utilities with different service territories, different line-mile density and different cost structures, even under the same parent company.
Longer than in the metros. That is a function of rural line-miles and terrain, and it is the strongest argument for pairing solar with battery backup in this part of the state.
At 21 cents all-in, the per-kilowatt-hour math is better than in most of the country. The specific answer depends on your roof, shading and usage.
About 60 seconds. No cost, no obligation, and we will tell you if solar does not make sense for your home.
Ranked #1 by Solar Power World · 20,000+ installations · Licensed installers
Sources
Every figure on this page is drawn from a public filing or a published rate schedule. We update it when the utility resets.
Last updated August 2026. Rates change on each utility's published schedule — check your own bill for the rate that applies to your account.