What are The Energy Co-op’s Renewable Electricity options?

The Energy Co-op supplies 100% renewable electricity to customers in both PECO and PPL service territories. We offer local and national options: EcoChoice100 Pennsylvania, which is sourced only from renewable sources located in Pennsylvania, and EcoChoice100 National, which is sourced from renewable sources located outside of Pennsylvania. Currently, both options are 99% wind power and 1% solar power. Each option is offered at either a fixed rate or variable rate. Fixed rates remain the same for at least 12 months. Variable rates may change monthly. Current fixed and variable rates for PECO customers and current fixed rates for PPL customers are available here. We do not currently offer variable rates to PPL customers.

Can I sign up for The Energy Co-op’s Renewable Electricity program?

Anyone who receives an electricity bill from PECO or PPL can enroll in The Energy Co-op’s Renewable Electricity program. When you enroll in any of The Energy Co-op’s energy programs, you become a cooperative member.

Do The Energy Co-op members have to pay dues?

No, there are no membership dues.

Does The Energy Co-op’s Renewable Electricity program charge any fees?

Not for residential accounts. There are no enrollment fees, no membership fees, no monthly fees, and no cancellation fees. You can leave the program at any time by notifying your electricity utility or us.

For commercial accounts, there are no enrollment fees, no membership fees, and no monthly fees. For most commercial accounts, there is no cancellation fee either. However, for certain large commercial accounts, prudent business practice occasionally may require The Energy Co-op to impose an early cancellation fee that is clearly disclosed in writing and discussed before service begins.

How does The Energy Co-op’s Renewable Electricity program work?

When you enroll in our Renewable  Electricity program, The Energy Co-op will become your Renewable Electricity supplier within 3-5 days. But your utility (whether PECO or PPL) will remain your distributor. We supply electricity to your utility, and the utility delivers it to you. There is nothing to install and no interruption of service. Your electric utility will continue to bill you. You’ll see The Energy Co-op listed on your utility bill as your generation supplier.

How do I enroll in The Energy Co-op’s Renewable Electricity program?

You can sign up at any time online at www.theenergy.coop/enrollment or by emailing us at info@theenergy.coop. You can also call us Monday through Friday, between 9am and 5pm, at 215.413.2122. Signing up for our Renewable Electricity program only takes a few minutes—and even less if you have your electric utility bill in hand.

Why would I want to change to using Renewable Electricity?

Using renewable electricity from wind and solar power reduces pollution and carbon emissions, resulting in cleaner air and more clean energy jobs, rewarding clean energy investment, and advancing our region’s transition to a sustainable energy future.

What’s the difference between The Energy Co-op’s Renewable Electricity program and other renewable electricity companies?

The Energy Co-op is a nonprofit cooperative owned by the people and businesses it supplies energy to. Our members know that every cent is going towards our mission of helping our members affordably and sustainably buy, use, and understand energy. And our business practices are totally transparent. No tricks. No gimmicks. No fees.

We are committed to our community. We are a Pennsylvania supplier, based in Philadelphia for over 40 years. Most of the renewable electricity we supply is generated in Pennsylvania, reducing local pollution, and supporting the growth of the local green economy.

And unlike many companies that offer renewable electricity, the only electricity offered by The Energy Co-op is 100% wind and solar. Renewable electricity isn’t a sideline business to a larger fossil-fuel electricity business. It’s the only electricity we supply.

You can learn more about how to shop for renewable electricity in Pennsylvania here.

What are the advantages of The Energy Co-op’s cooperative business model?

As a cooperative, we’ve focused on the triple bottom line since long before triple bottom line became a thing. People, planet, profit—with a strong emphasis on the first two.

Our members come first, of course. When you buy energy from The Energy Co-op, you become a member. (Don’t worry—there are no dues!) When you become a member, you become an owner—one of thousands of owners in our area who participate in our renewable energy programs because they are concerned about our community, our state, and our planet. Together, we don’t just talk about making our world a better one, we vote with our energy dollars to do it.

Also, because we have no stockholders or other investors, The Energy Co-op can innovate in ways that corporations don’t. For example, we were the first supplier of renewable electricity in southeast Pennsylvania starting in 1998. And we were the first—and are still the only—supplier of renewable natural gas to our area. We innovate because our cooperative member-owners want us to look for ways to accelerate our state’s transition to a sustainable energy future. That’s our cooperative advantage!

Does Renewable Electricity cost more than electricity from my utility?

For the 12-month period ended September 30, 2020, on average, the cost for 100% wind and solar Renewable Energy for Energy Co-op members was about $1.25 a day more than the cost of electricity from their electric utility. For those committed to improving both our environment and our clean energy economy, we and our Renewable Electricity program members believe it’s a small cost for a cleaner planet, a more sustainable Pennsylvania, and more robust local green economy.

Please note that the difference in cost will vary based on your utility’s and our current rates and your usage. Our current Renewable Electricity rates and detailed terms applicable to PECO and PPL customers can be found here.

How Does The Energy Co-op Source Renewable Electricity?

To ensure that The Energy Co-op is supplying 100% Renewable Electricity, our program is supported by our purchase of renewable electricity certificates, or RECs. A REC represents 1 megawatt-hour of electricity generated by a renewable resource and, in our case, by a wind or solar renewable resource. For our EcoChoice100 Pennsylvania products, these RECs represent electricity generated only in our state.

Can you supply my business?

Yes. We supply owners of both multi-family rental properties and businesses through all of our energy programs, including renewable electricity. Just submit a commercial quote request online, send us an email to electricity@theenergy.coop, or call us at 215-413-2122.

Will participating in this program affect any billing assistance programs?

Joining The Energy Co-op will not affect your use of Budget Billing, your eligibility for LIHEAP, or the Senior Discount on the distribution portion of your bill. Unfortunately, PECO customers on the Customer Assistance Program (CAP) are not eligible to choose any electric supplier at this time.

What is Renewable Natural Gas?

Renewable Natural Gas (or RNG) is comprised primarily of methane that forms naturally from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills and other waste treatment facilities. Also known as biogas, it is often flared, burning it, and wasting its energy content. However, RNG can also be used like conventional natural gas. But, it is recovered without any drilling or fracking.

Why would I want to change to using RNG?

Conventional natural gas is recovered by deep drilling and environmentally destructive fracking, including here in Pennsylvania. The results? Subsurface and surface disturbance, groundwater contamination, and air emissions of raw methane from drilling and production rigs. By enrolling in The Energy Co-op’s RNG program, you are reducing the demand for conventional natural gas and therefore reducing the environmental damage caused by drilling and fracking. In addition, you are using, and promoting the use of, an abundant, sustainable resource. Finally, you are directly supporting businesses and projects that capture this valuable resource and put it to good use.

Who can sign up for The Energy Co-op’s RNG program?

Anyone who receives a gas bill from PECO or PGW can enroll in The Energy Co-op’s Renewable Natural Gas program.

Does RNG cost more than conventional natural gas?

In the year ended September 2020, the additional cost for the average residence in our service area was between 65 and 85 cents a day, a fraction of the cost of a cup of coffee. For those committed to acting now to improve our environment, we and our RNG program members believe it’s a small cost for a cleaner, more sustainable Pennsylvania. Please note that PECO and PGW change their gas rates every few months. And our RNG program rates are also subject to change monthly (although we work as hard as we can to keep them steady). So, the difference in cost will vary. For those desiring more information, our current RNG rates and detailed terms applicable to PECO and PGW customers can be found here.

Does The Energy Co-op’s RNG program charge any fees?

No. The Energy Co-op’s RNG program does not charge any fees in addition to our RNG rates for your consumption for residential accounts. No enrollment fee, no membership fee, no monthly fee, and no cancellation fee. You can leave the program at any time by notifying your gas utility or us. Of course, we hope you will be like the vast majority of our members and continue to support The Energy Co-op for years to come. Please note that (1) both PECO and PGW charge account and other distribution fees, none of which are paid to The Energy Co-op, and (2) for certain commercial accounts, prudent business practice occasionally requires The Energy Co-op to impose an early cancellation fee that is clearly disclosed in writing and discussed during the enrollment process.

How does The Energy Co-op’s RNG program work?

When you enroll in our RNG program, we become your gas supplier. Your utility (whether PECO or PGW) will remain your distributor. We supply gas to your utility, and the utility delivers it to you. For every unit of gas that you use, your money is going to support the recovery and use of RNG. There is nothing to install and no interruption of service. You will continue to be billed by your gas utility, and The Energy Co-op will be listed as your gas supplier within 1 to 2 billing cycles.

How do I enroll in The Energy Co-op’s Renewable Natural Gas program?

You can sign up at any time online at www.theenergy.coop/enrollment or by emailing us at info@theenergy.coop. You can also call us Monday through Friday, between 9am and 5pm, at 215.413.2122. Signing up for our Renewable Natural Gas program only takes a few minutes—and even less if you have your gas utility bill in hand.

How Does The Energy Co-op Source RNG?

Our RNG program is like our renewable electricity program. Just as there is only one set of electricity distribution wires, there is only one system of gas distribution pipes.

So, each program is supported by our purchase of what are called environmental attributes. For electricity, these are called renewable electricity certificates, or RECs. For renewable natural gas, these are called renewable natural gas credits, or RNGCs (pronounced “RINKS”). A REC represents 1 megawatt-hour of generated renewable electricity. A RNGC represents the direct equivalent of 1 mmBtu of landfill methane.

Since The Energy Co-op’s RNG program began, we have supported it in two ways: (1) We have acquired RNGCs from landfills that process biogas and inject it into the natural gas distribution system; and (2) we have acquired RECs from landfills that process biogas and use it to generate electricity. Both methods are industry-recognized means of sourcing RNG.

Please note that The Energy Co-op’s renewable electricity program is supported only by the purchase of 100% wind and solar RECs, not landfill biogas RECs.

What are the advantages of The Energy Co-op’s cooperative business model?

Because The Energy Co-op is a nonprofit that is owned by its members, our staff operates the cooperative business in an open, transparent manner. We answer to our members. So, there are no gimmicks or tricks. We like to think of ourselves as the energy supplier you can trust. In addition, we can innovate in ways that corporations have not. In 1999, The Energy Co-op became the first supplier of renewable electricity in southeastern Pennsylvania. And now, ours is the first—and only—Renewable Natural Gas program in the area.

What’s the difference between The Energy Co-op’s RNG program and other “green” gas options?

Many gas suppliers that advertise a “green” option purchase carbon offsets on your behalf. These offsets can be generated from investing in energy efficiency projects, planting trees, and other such projects that are intended to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. However, carbon offset projects do not necessarily reduce drilling or fracking, nor do they promote the use of abundant, sustainable biogas.  As far as we know, The Energy Co-op’s RNG program is currently the only one serving southeastern Pennsylvania that directly supports the production and use of RNG.

Will participating in this program affect any billing assistance programs?

Choosing The Energy Co-op should not affect your use of Budget Billing, your eligibility for LIHEAP, or the Senior Discount on the distribution portion of your gas utility bill. Unfortunately, neither PGW customers with CRP nor PECO customers on CAP are eligible to choose any gas supplier other than their gas utility at this time.