Compare new electricity rates with the PA PUC; My bill for sustainable energy advances from committee

Rep. Danielle Friel Otten June 6, 2025 | 4:47 PM

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Dear Neighbor,

We’ve wrapped up another busy week, with committee meetings and House session days on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, plus graduations and end-of-school-year activities here in the district.

Over the past few months, we’ve shared a lot of information about the supply and demand challenges in our energy markets and on our power grid. This week, we have some information from PECO and the PUC about how to reduce energy costs in your home, plus an update on my PRESS legislation, which would help to mitigate electricity rate hikes by bringing an additional supply of reliable energy onto the grid.

Compare Electricity Rates

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is reminding consumers about changes in electric generation prices, known as the Price to Compare (PTC), for residential and small business customers across Pennsylvania. These new PTCs took effect on June 1, 2025, reflecting current wholesale energy market conditions and seasonal shifts in electricity demand.

A new Price to Compare means that now is the perfect time to shop for cheaper electricity rates. In Pennsylvania, you can choose the company that provides your electricity — also known as your electric supplier. This means that you have the power to switch to a competing supplier who can offer the lowest price or provide a specific service you want such as green/renewable energy.

You can easily compare rates and plans – and shop for renewable energy providers, if you wish – at PA PowerSwitch, the official electricity shopping website of the Pennsylvania PUC. Suppliers may also approach you directly, by phone, mail, or even door-to-door to try to get you to switch, but it’s important to verify that the offer being presented is legitimate and make sure you understand the terms.

PA PowerSwitch offers tips to protect yourself from misleading energy marketing tactics and scams, as well as a helpful explainer about understanding your electric utility bill so that you can better understand which costs are within your control.

PECO has also shared information this week about saving money and energy during the hot summer months. Their tips include:

Turn it off:?Turn off all unnecessary lighting and devices.

Manage your thermostat:?Keep thermostats at a constant, comfortable level when at home and increase by 7 degrees when no one is home. Start with an indoor temperature between 75-78 degrees during the day. Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust your home's temperature settings when you are away or sleeping.

Keep shades, blinds and curtains closed:?In the summer, consider closing window coverings to reduce heat gain. For natural light, open those window coverings that don’t get direct sunlight.

Use ceiling fans to circulate air:?Ceiling fans are the most effective type of circulating fan. They help improve comfort year-round by effectively circulating air throughout a room. In summer, run ceiling fans counterclockwise to create a cooling breeze.

Service your AC:?Make sure to replace or clean the air filters for your cooling system at least once a month (or as often as recommended by the manufacturer) and have your system serviced regularly.?A clean filter can lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by 5-15 percent.

Choose Energy-Efficient Products: When buying new cooling equipment, select energy-efficient products. Look for the?ENERGY STAR label?when purchasing new products.

Weatherize Your Home:?Reducing the amount of air that leaks in and out of your home is a cost-effective way to reduce cooling costs and increase comfort.

Use appliances wisely:?Run appliances that produce heat (like clothes dryers, ovens, and dishwashers) at night when it is cooler.

Visit peco.com/manage for more information about energy saving tips, appliance rebates, assistance options, and how to understand your PECO bill.

PRESS Legislation Passes Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee

In May, the House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee held a public hearing on my Lightning Plan: PRESS legislation, which establishes Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standards (PRESS), updating our existing, outdated clean energy standards.

I’m excited to share that on Monday, PRESS advanced out of ENRP Committee!

This bill would lower costs for ratepayers by bringing more clean, reliable, and affordable energy supply to the grid; help Pennsylvania diversify its energy supply, which is currently dominated by fossil fuels; and create good-paying jobs and economic growth for our commonwealth.

I am hopeful that we will see a floor vote on this legislation in the coming weeks.

Congratulations, Chester County Graduates!

June marks the end of the school year for students across Chester County, and my team and I send our heartfelt congratulations to all the new graduates and to everyone moving up! Best wishes especially to all the seniors graduating this month in the 155th Legislative District. I am certain that the skills and strength you have gained will help you face whatever challenges life may present. Your community is proud of you and excited to see what the future holds.

Thank you also to our teachers, administrators, bus drivers, and school staff for all you do throughout the year. I hope that everyone has an enjoyable and restorative summer.

Supporting our Students, Teachers, and Schools in the 155th

Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, I’ve made it a priority to meet with as many students as possible to talk about how state government works and to uplift the voices of my younger constituents and let them know they have an ally fighting for them in Harrisburg. And we’ve had ourselves a busy year, from Read Across America to fourth-grade class visits, meeting with student groups at the Capitol, and advocating for a fully funded Student Teacher Support Program with WCU students.

Constitution Day at Lionville Elementary School

Back in September, I had the pleasure of joining the students at Lionville Elementary School to celebrate Constitution Day, the day the U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787. I helped them learn more about what this document means, how it impacts our lives, and the importance of getting involved in our community.

Celebrating Read Across America with Reeceville’s First Grade

In March, I joined Miss Clark’s First Grade Classroom at Reeceville Elementary School in the Coatesville Area School District, as a Mystery Reader for their Read Across America festivities.

Thanks to the historic investments we have made at the state level to increase funding to our public schools, Reeceville and other CASD schools have been able to restore library services for students. Restoring these services gives the students an opportunity to learn library skills and restores their access to reading materials and a comprehensive network of journals, books, and primary sources for academic research. And based on the feedback I received from the students, these historic investments in public education are greatly appreciated!

Fourth Grade Visits

Fourth grade is the year when many of our students learn about state government, and over the past school year, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with fourth grade students at Lionville, Springton Manor, and Uwchlan Hills elementary schools, as we talk about government, the legislative process, and what makes a good bill.

It’s a pleasure to help students learn the differences and similarities between the state and federal governments, how an idea becomes a law, and how to be active and make your voice heard. We always have a great time holding a mock session with our student representatives, where we debate and vote on my legislation that would require schools in Pennsylvania to provide 30 minutes of recess and 30 minutes of lunch for all students. Our Student Speakers of the House always do an excellent job of keeping our members in order while conducting the business of the House and to no surprise the bill passes the Fourth Grade House every time.

WCU Students Visit Capitol

In April, students from Dr. John Kennedy’s Pennsylvania Government and Politics class at West Chester University visited the Capitol. As a WCU alum and former Legislative Fellow with Dr. Kennedy, I always look forward to the opportunity to meet with West Chester students and share some insights as to how the Pennsylvania legislature operates.

West Chester University has a strong representation in the PA Legislature, with at least 10 WCU alumni serving in either the House or Senate and numerous staffers working in the Capitol or in legislative offices, including Greg and Jacob right here in our Exton district office!

Working with WCU Students & Administrators to fully fund the Student Teacher Support Program

In May, I joined fellow legislators, education professionals, school district administrators, and future educators at West Chester University of PA to discuss the importance of student teacher stipends and how they have already helped to improve our teacher pipeline in Pennsylvania.

Last year, the first class of students and mentor teachers received student teaching stipends in an effort to address our statewide teacher shortage, unfortunately the initial $10 million allocation was only enough to provide stipends to roughly 10% of applicants. It was incredibly insightful hearing from WCU leaders on how the ability to provide stipends to students assisted greatly in their ability to recruit more students to the College of Education and how the stipends themselves helped students pay off their tuition and other debts, allowing them to focus their time and effort on their education and classroom responsibilities.

I had the opportunity to meet with a WCU student (now a Class of 2025 alumna!) who was fortunate enough to be included in that first cohort of students to receive a stipend, and she could not have been more grateful. Just like many student teachers, she was forced to quit her part-time job at a daycare just so she could dedicate her efforts to the full-time nature of a student-teaching semester. She said that without a student teaching stipend, she would have been forced to accrue additional debt or take on part-time work during evenings and weekends, time that should be used to complete coursework and prepare lesson plans.

Hearing these deeply personal and impactful stories only validates the need to increase funding for this program in the 2025-26 budget. Not only will fully funding this program help us recruit and retain teachers, but grow and diversify the teacher pipeline in Pennsylvania. With budget negotiations currently ongoing, I will continue to advocate for continual funding for this program until every student teacher has access to the resources they require and deserve so they can join the workforce fully prepared to teach upon graduation.

House Passes Cyber Charter Reform Bill

On Wednesday, the House passed HB 1500, authored by state Rep. Mary Isaacson, which would provide meaningful reform to cyber charter schools while enhancing transparency and accountability.

Throughout April and May, the House Education Committee held a statewide tour to discuss oversight and accountability in cyber charter schools. These public hearings were scheduled following the recent release of a deeply concerning Auditor General report that found statewide charter schools have amassed huge reserves of taxpayer dollars, spending extravagantly on non-educational expenses such as gift cards, cash bonuses, and vehicle and fuel allowances for employees.

However, our current Auditor General is not the first one in his position to publish a report with these same findings. Over the past 15 years, three different Auditor Generals, both Democrat and Republican, have come to the same conclusion: that hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars are being lost to cyber charters every single year, while our public school districts across the state continue to struggle to provide basic necessities.

The current cyber charter tuition rate was determined by a flawed funding formula developed in 2002.

“Let me put this into perspective for you, in 2002, we were still using dial up to access the Internet, floppy discs were the best way to store and share data, and the iPhone and iPad weren’t invented. Think about how much technology, teaching strategy and resources have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic, let alone over the past two decades. It is clearly time for a change.” - Auditor General DeFoor in February 2025

As Auditor General DeFoor noted, “These were taxpayer dollars…[a]nd cyber charter schools are able to do this legally because we have an old and outdated formula that really hasn't been changed since 2002.”?

I agree with Auditor General DeFoor, it is time for a change, and House Democrats are leading the charge to improve accountability and fiscal responsibility around the use of our public tax dollars.

Specifically, HB 1500 would:

Set one, uniform statewide tuition rate for regular-education cyber charter students and tie the special education tuition rate for cyber charter students to the very same tiered rate structure used by public school districts;

Establish new fund balance limits that allow cyber charters to keep a portion of their operating funds in reserve but prohibit them from hoarding taxpayer dollars or funneling unlimited taxpayer dollars to private accounts;

Protect cyber charter students by requiring wellness checks to ensure that the student is visibly seen and communicated with (either virtually or in person) by a teacher or administrator at least once each week

Create a Cyber Charter School Funding & Policy Review Council to review budget, salaries, real estate disclosures, unspent funds, student enrollment, standardized testing, charter renewal applications, and so much more;

Require all low-performing cyber charter schools to notify parents of their low-performance status, the same way that public school districts are required to do;

Prevent cyber charters from using taxpayer funds to pay for extravagant gifts for families or staff, non-educational trips, or enrollment incentives for students and parents.

Contrary to the propaganda being circulated by special interest groups that profit from cyber charter operations, this bill does not take away school choice from parents. What it does do is ensure that public taxpayer dollars are going to educational expenses, and that cyber charters are accountable to students, families, and taxpayers.

This bill ensures transparency and accountability for Pennsylvania’s cyber charter schools the same way we demand transparency and accountability in all taxpayer-funded public schools. This is all about fairness and ensuring that cyber charter schools – which are public schools paid for with taxpayer dollars -- are held to the same standards as traditional public schools paid for with taxpayer dollars.

Comprehensive charter school reform will bring us better outcomes for students, better information for parents, and the peace of mind of knowing that taxpayer money is being invested ethically and responsibly, to build a future our kids deserve.

If you have questions or would like to provide feedback on any legislative or state-related issue, please contact our district office at repotten@pahouse.net.

2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period OPEN

The 2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Period is open and accepting applications for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2024.

Thanks to changes passed in 2023, more people are eligible, with income limits adjusted to keep pace with Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has made it easier for seniors in Chester County to stay in their homes and afford groceries, medicine, and so much more.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older.

Please call or stop by my office to find out if you’re eligible and get assistance applying for your rebate. We’d be glad to answer any questions and set up an appointment to help you complete your application online!

For those who prefer to file by mail, paper applications will be available in my office soon, and we will update here when they come in.

SEPTA Senior Key Cards and Card Renewals

If you have a SEPTA Senior Key Card that has expired or will expire within the next month, we can renew it in our district office. To renew your card before it expires, please stop by my district office, or call us to make an appointment.

My office can also process applications and take photos for new SEPTA Senior Key ID Cards, which allow seniors 65 and older to travel for free on all SEPTA Regional Rail and transit routes within Pennsylvania. Just stop by my district office and bring a form of ID with your date of birth on it, such as a PA driver’s license or non-driver ID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate. We’ll enter your information into SEPTA’s online system, take a quick photo, and then SEPTA will mail your new card to you directly.

2-1-1 Southeastern Pennsylvania: Health and Human Services

211 SEPA is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide health and human services for everyday needs and those in crisis situations.

2-1-1 works with county governments and provider agencies to ensure important local program information is easily accessible.

Visit 211sepa.org for more information.

Mental Health Resources: Call 9-8-8

Chester County residents experiencing mental-health-related crisis or distress can dial 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.?This system is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people in crisis to a trained mental health professional.

Chester County offers additional resources for those in crisis, including Chester County’s warm line, 1-866-846-2722, operated by Certified Peer Specialists, who are individuals in recovery with a lived experience of mental health challenges.

Chester County’s Teen Talk Line ensures seamless referral to Mobile Crisis for youth in need of immediate or higher-level support. The call line is 855-852-TEEN (8336), and the text line is 484-362-9515.

Visit the?Department of Human Services website for more information about the 988 system and other state and local mental health resources.

If you or someone you love is in crisis, please don’t give up hope, and please know that you do not need to walk this path alone. We are here and we will do whatever we can to help.

My staff and I are here to help make state government work better for you! For assistance with the above programs or any other state-related services, please email repotten@pahouse.net, call 484-200-8259, or visit my district office in Exton.

Please don’t hesitate to call, email, or contact us through my website and let us know how we can help!

Sincerely,