PECO Energy has filed for a 12% electric and 11.4% natural gas rate hike with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), set to take effect Jan. 1, 2027 — after receiving similar increases at the start of 2025. If approved, typical residential customers would pay an additional $20 per month for electricity and $14 per month for natural gas, with small commercial customers seeing gas bills rise by about $34. PECO, owned by Chicago-based Exelon, cites a $10 billion grid modernization plan and growing energy demand as justification. The request is drawing fierce pushback from Pennsylvania lawmakers who point out that the utility posted record profits of $814 million in 2025 — a 47.7% jump following the last rate hike — while its CEO earned over $15.6 million. Critics argue that working families, already stretched thin by rising costs, shouldn't be subsidizing grid upgrades tied to energy-hungry data centers. The Pennsylvania House has already passed a bill requiring data centers to cover their own electricity costs. The PUC, which historically approves lower hikes than requested, will review the proposal before anything takes effect.
Source: New Hope Free Press; 3/30/2026 & Pottstown Mercury; 4/2/2026