Metropolitan Edison (Met-Ed) Utility Company [Facts & Data]

Metropolitan Edison or Med-Ed has a long history. It started operations way back in 1917 and now serves almost 6 million customers from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic shore. It’s one of the four regulated electric utilities owned by the FirstEnergy Corporation and gives customers under its service area the power to choose their electricity provider. That’s due to Pennsylvania’s Energy Choice program, otherwise known as PA Electric Choice.  

The History of Met-Ed [Metropolitan Edison]

The story of how Met-Ed came to be started way back in 1883, when local leaders in Reading, Pennsylvania, demanded electric power for their city. In response, some investors pooled their resources and founded the Reading Electric Light and Power Company. This company built a power generating station to answer the need for electric service. Surges in demand led to the company’s expansion and reorganization. As a result, Reading Electric Light and Power Company became Metropolitan Electric Company.  

Striving to imitate the success of Reading, Pennsylvania, neighboring Lebanon County formed the Edison Electric Illuminating Company. However, the company only sold electricity within the City of Lebanon. This left the rural areas out of its electric service coverage area. The rural communities started setting up competing energy companies, which later merged and became the Lebanon Valley Electric Light Company.  

In August 1917, Metropolitan Electric Company, Edison Electric Illuminating Company, and Lebanon Valley Electric Light Company joined forces and became the first Metropolitan Edison Company. Several mergers took place before the Met-Ed that we know today finally emerged.  

Met-Ed quickly became a leader in electric transmission and now provides electric service to almost 6 million customers.  

Met-Ed Service area  

Met-Ed’s service area covers around 3,000 square miles of Pennsylvania. These include the following:  

• Cumberland  
• Berks  
• Chester  
• Adams  
• Dauphin  
• Lehigh  
• Lancaster  
• Lebanon  
• Montgomery  
• Northampton  
• Monroe  
• Pike  
• York counties  

Met-Ed also serves parts of the following cities:  

• Reading  
• Bethlehem  
• Carlisle  
• Easton  
• York  

How to Start Your Met-Ed Service?

If you live in areas covered by Met-Ed, you have the power to choose your retail electricity provider. This means you can lower your electricity bills by picking the energy plan that best suits your usage level.  

Do you want to set up Met-Ed utility service? No problem. The process is a breeze. Just head on over to the company’s website and fill in the online Start Service form. It takes around 2 days to process your request. FirstEnergy will send you an email informing you of your start date.  

If you want your power service turned on sooner, you can call the Met-Ed Contact Center for assistance. Be ready with the following information.  

• Your service address: The exact location of where you want the service switched on  

• The start date: The date you want your service to get turned on  
• Some personal information: These include your name, phone number, email address, and SSN.  

Is a Deposit Necessary?

Met-Ed usually does a credit check to determine your credit history or rating. The result will determine if you need to put down a deposit for your utility service. Other factors may also influence whether you’ll be required to pay a security deposit. Examples are a history of power disconnection and unpaid energy bills.  

If you need to pay a deposit, Met-Ed will inform you in writing about the reason for the requirement. Take note that according to Pennsylvania laws, the deposit amount should not be more than an estimated two months’ usage.  

You have 21 days after Met-Ed sends the notification to put down a deposit, but you don’t have to pay the total amount. Instead, you have 3 months to complete the payment.  

Met-Ed Bill Charges  

If you’re like many Met-Ed customers, you may find your energy bill quite confusing. Let’s see what all those charges mean.  

Residential customers in Pennsylvania pay for two charges: their electricity usage and the delivery costs of that electricity.  

Delivery Charge  

This Met-Ed charge refers to the cost it takes to deliver the energy to your home. These are fixed-rate charges, and they cover the expenses involved in the operation and maintenance of the local Met-Ed energy infrastructure. Other fees included in the delivery charge are the costs from riders to fund projects, cover fees, and the like.  

All power consumers pay the same delivery charges regardless of their energy supplier. The rates also need the approval of the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PAPUC).  

Supply Charge  

The supply charge is the price you pay for the energy you consume. Met-Ed customers can opt for the Price to Compare as to their default charge. However, because of the Pennsylvania Energy Choice program, you can also choose to get your electricity from other retail electricity suppliers. The agreed-upon rate with your energy supplier and your energy usage is reflected in this portion of your power bill.  

Met-Ed Price to Compare  

The Price to Compare (PTC) refers to the generation and transmission costs your energy utility pays for the electricity it delivers to your home. These include the energy generator’s price for producing the electricity and the expenses the utility incurs to transmit that electricity through the power infrastructure.  

In Pennsylvania, utilities under FirstEnergy hold an auction to line up their energy suppliers and set the PTC price. The auctions occur 4 times a year, covering the 4 delivery periods. Thus, depending on the type of energy plan, electricity rates may vary for some power customers. For example, they may rise during the summer and winter months due to hikes in power demand.  

What is Pennsylvania Energy Choice?

The Pennsylvania Energy Choice gives you, the energy consumers, the freedom to choose your electricity supplier. These suppliers buy electricity in bulk in the wholesale energy market and offer it to customers at competitive prices. The utility commission doesn’t dictate the rates of these power suppliers. As such, they can provide fixed-rate energy plans with varying term lengths.  

Because you can pick your power supplier, you have another means of reducing your electricity expenses aside from curbing your consumption. The trick is in selecting the energy plan that will work best for you. In Pennsylvania, electricity customers can choose between two types of electricity plans.  

Fixed Rates  

Fixed-rate energy plans have rates that won’t vary during the contract’s term. Whether the plan you picked lasts for 6 or 36 months, you’ll pay the same rate every month. That’s regardless of the price of electricity in the market. Stability in power rates is the primary advantage of this plan type. On the downside, you’ll usually need to pay an early termination fee if you cancel before the contract expires.  

Variable Rates  

Variable rates plans are the opposite of fixed-rates ones. Met-Ed customers who opt for this plan type can expect their electricity rates to fluctuate from one month to the next. That’s because the rates depend on the price of electricity in the market. You won’t enjoy price stability with this type of plan. However, you can easily switch away because you won’t have to pay a penalty for early termination. This gives you the option to shop and get better deals without worrying about cancellation fees.  

How To Read Your Met-Ed Bill?

In Pennsylvania, around 1.6 million homes use electricity for heating and cooling. Because winters in the area can be freezing while summers tend to be hot and humid, electricity use surges during those months.  

A typical residential customer usually has this consumption profile.  

• Roughly one-third or 32% of residential electricity consumption goes to appliances, electronics, lighting, and air conditioning. The rest goes to cooking, clothes drying, water heating, refrigeration, and small appliances.  
• Of the 32% of residential energy consumption, 5% goes to air conditioning.  

It will help to understand your utility bill if you aim to curb your consumption. However, some details in a Met-Ed statement can be confusing. Let’s break down the different components so you’ll have a clear idea of what you’re paying for.  

1. Bill Overview: This portion contains your address, Met-Ed account number, amount due, billing period, and the bill’s due date.  
2. Messages and current PTC rate: Important notifications from your utility and the current PTC rate appear in this area.  
3. Account Summary: You can find the unpaid balances, the current Met-Ed distribution and supply charges, the total bill, and the due date in this portion.  
4. Charges from Met-Ed: This shows your rate type, the monthly customer charge, the distribution charges, and the total charges.  
5. Charges from Electric Generation Supplier: You’ll see in this portion the name and address of your electricity provider, their base rate charged, and the total supplier charges due.  
6. Account Balances by Company: This specifies what is owed or had been paid by Met-Ed and your electricity provider.  
7. Usage history: This section will show a graph of your power consumption over the past months.  
8. Payment stub: This is the portion you detach and return with your bill payment. It shows your account number, amount due, the amount paid, and the due date.  

Promo Codes, Energy Promotions, Discount, Rebates, and Coupons  

Upgrading your home’s energy performance will help you save money on your monthly utility bills. But you can still get a few bucks more in your pocket because of Met-Ed’s rebates and energy efficiency programs. These programs either offer money incentives or provide ways to make paying your bills easier during those times when electricity tends to be more expensive.  

Here are some of the programs the company offers.  

How to Get the Cheapest Met-Ed Rate?

Exercising your option to choose can help you save on your utility expenses. However, taking your pick from several plan rates can be confusing. To ease the process, here are some things to take note of.  

Current Electric Bill  

Your current electricity bill shows how much power you consumed during the billing period. Reviewing the information, along with those contained in your past statements, will give you an idea of your electricity consumption.  

Current Met-Ed PTC and Expiration Date  

Met-Ed’s current supply price serves as your guide in comparing the power rates offered by various electricity suppliers. It will also give you an idea if any of the incentives from the power companies will suit your needs.  

Met-Ed Pennsylvania Customer Account Number  

This is a 12-digit number that’s indicated in your utility bill. The new supplier you’re switching to will usually ask for this information when you sign up for their electricity plans.  

Met-Ed  Contact Information

There will likely be times when you’ll need to contact your utility company. When power outages occur, or you have questions regarding your service, you’ll want to reach out to Met-Ed. Here’s how you can do so. Keep this information handy for your quick reference.  

• Met-Ed Residential Customer Service Number: 1-800-545-7741  
• To report a power outage: 1-888-544-4877   
• Met-Ed’s official website  

FAQs  

Final Word

Met-Ed does its best to provide the best service to you, its customers. By employing energy efficiency measures, you can lower your power expenses. But still another way to save money on your electricity bills is by looking for the best rates in your area. Entering your zip code and browsing the various rates and plans will tell you if switching to a new company or plan would be wise.

Updated on 04-13-22