I am not a member of The Energy Co-op yet but am moving to the area and would like to sign up. What do I need to do?

Welcome to southeastern Pennsylvania! First, please coordinate with your utility to confirm the start date of the service at your new home. Once you’ve done that, you can fill out our online enrollment form, or contact our office with the following information:

• Your new service address.
• Your new billing address.
• The new account number provided by your utility.
• If you are a PGW customer enrolling for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) supply, the new Service Point ID number and Rate Schedule provided by PGW (if applicable).
• If you are a PECO customer enrolling for Renewable Electricity and/or Renewable Natural Gas, please be sure to include your PECO Energy Choice ID, not your PECO Account Number. Your Energy Choice ID is located in the upper right corner on page 2 of your PECO bill.
• The date you would like service to begin at your new address.

How do I maintain service from The Energy Co-op if I plan to move?

First, inform your utility that you are moving. Once you’ve done that, please contact our office with the following information:

• Your new service address.
• Your new billing address.
• The new Energy Choice ID provided by your utility (for PECO customers only).
• The new account number provided by your utility (for PPL customers only)
• The new Service Point ID number and Rate Schedule (for PGW customers only).
• The date you would like service to begin at your new address.
• The date you would like service to end at your current address.
• Whether you have already requested through your utility to keep your third-party supplier.

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

• As a cooperative, we’ve built the triple bottom line into our business structure from the start. People, planet, profit—with the strongest emphasis on the first two.
• Our members come first, of course. When you buy energy from The Energy Co-op, you become a member. As a member, you are an owner—one of thousands of owners in our area who participate in our energy programs because they want to support 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 turn our values into action.
• Expanding the breadth of our membership makes it possible to ensure the benefits of our cooperative extend to as many members as possible, fostering an inclusive energy community. This helps The Energy Co-op convert more Pennsylvanians to renewable energy and further both our shared mission of a cleaner Commonwealth and our passion for environmental advocacy.
• Also, because we have no stockholders or other investors, The Energy Co-op can innovate in ways that corporations cannot. For example, we were the first third-party supplier of renewable electricity in southeastern Pennsylvania starting in 1998. In 2015, we became the first—and are still the only—supplier of renewable natural gas in 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!

How can I be added to The Energy Co-op’s email list to keep up with events, updates, and renewable energy news?  Can I unsubscribe or change my email preferences if I’d rather not receive all emails?

By enrolling in one of our products, you become a member at The Energy Co-op and will begin receiving email updates regarding the cooperative, announcements about upcoming events, our blog, The Current, and other benefits about your membership.

If you wish to opt out of receiving emails, you’ll find the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email you have received from The Energy Co-op, or you can click here to unsubscribe or change your email preferences. Please note, however, that you will continue to receive messages relating to your rights as a member of a cooperative corporation, as well as regulatory notices pertaining to your energy services, as required by law.

Is The Energy Co-op staff available to speak about renewable energy at workplaces, schools, and other community organizations?

A central tenet of our cooperative is education!  Please get in touch at 215.413.2122 or info@theenergy.coop with details about the speaking opportunity and we will respond to your request within 3-5 business days.

What goes into setting your rates?

Our rates for an upcoming month are set in the last week of the preceding month after we have arrived at our forecast of program costs for the upcoming month. The main drivers of our program costs are energy supply and capacity costs and the renewable energy credits we back our members’ usage with. There are various other utility and regulatory fees incorporated into the forecast as well. While we do not know our exact supply costs in advance, we project them using the NYMEX Henry Hub Natural Gas futures settlement prices in conjunction with other indicators, such as weather forecasts, regional natural gas storage inventories, and occasionally national or international events anticipated to affect markets.

Are there any fees or dues associated with my membership at The Energy Co-op or the program(s) I choose to enroll in?

There are no enrollment fees, no membership fees or dues, no monthly fees, and no cancellation fees associated with your Energy Co-op membership. You may terminate service in any of our programs, at any time, by notifying your utility or us. Please note that the effective termination date on your account may take 3-5 business days from your request to cancel for renewable electricity, and between 1-2 billing cycles for renewable natural gas. While we process cancellations immediately, the utility is ultimately responsible for the timing to revert back to the utility.

For commercial members, there are no enrollment fees, no membership fees, and no monthly fees. However, for certain commercial members with high energy usage, 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.

Please note that PECO, PPL, and PGW may charge monthly customer fees, in addition to delivery and distribution charges, none of which are paid to The Energy Co-op.

What are The Energy Co-op’s renewable electricity options?

The Energy Co-op offers 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 energy produced in Pennsylvania, and EcoChoice100 National, which is sourced from renewable energy produced nationwide. Currently, both options comprise 99% wind power and 1% solar power and are offered at a variable rate, which may change monthly, and a consistent 12-month fixed rate.  Check out the services we offer here.

How do I know if I am eligible 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.  Please note that currently 35 Pennsylvania borough municipalities operate their own electric companies within which we are unable to supply.  See a map of these boroughs here.

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, and your utility will remain responsible for delivering electricity to your home or business. There is nothing to install and no interruption of service.  You’ll simply see The Energy Co-op listed as the supplier on your utility bill.

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

You can sign up at any time on our website, 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 utility bill in hand.

Why would I want to switch to using renewable electricity?

Renewable electricity from wind and solar power reduces air pollution and carbon emissions creates more clean energy jobs, rewards clean energy investment, helps us fight climate change, and advances our state and regional transition towards 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 non-profit 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.

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. Our Renewable Electricity program isn’t a subsidiary of a larger fossil-fuel electricity business. We offer only 100% wind and solar power.

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

How does The Energy Co-op source renewable electricity?

The 100% renewable electricity offered by The Energy Co-op 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. The EcoChoice100 National product RECs we purchase represent renewable electricity generated across the United States.  When we purchase energy, we use these RECs to ensure members’ usage corresponds to an equal amount of renewable electricity.

When added to the power grid, energy from all sources becomes electrons indistinguishable from the other.  The difference you make by purchasing renewable electricity from The Energy Co-op is that the more demand there is for renewables in Pennsylvania, the more our efforts drive more megawatt-hours to the grid from renewable sources like wind and solar.  You are working intentionally to both stimulate our local economy and grow our clean energy future, which will create greater cost stability and demand for renewable energy over time.

As a member-owned cooperative, we operate with 100% transparency. We are required to comply with the laws, rules, and regulations of Pennsylvania governing both third-party suppliers and acquisition and retirement of RECs, including oversight by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. In addition, we are subject to audit by the Federal Trade Commission at any time with respect to our 100% renewable energy programs.

Will renewable electricity cost more than electricity from my utility?

Please note that PECO and PPL change their electricity rates every few months and our Renewable Electricity program variable rate products are also subject to change monthly, although we work as hard as we can to keep them steady.  The difference in cost will vary, but you can see The Energy Co-op’s historical pricing here, PECO’S Price to Compare here, and PPL’s Price to Compare here.

As market conditions permit, we at The Energy Co-op have been able to offer fixed rates in a way that is both fiscally responsible and geared towards long-term viability. In the past few years, we have worked diligently to lower the supply cost of renewable electricity for our members in order to expand and advance our shared goal of reducing our region’s reliance on fossil fuels. We will continue to do so, and we appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued support of The Energy Co-op.

I have or am considering installing solar panels on my home. Can I net meter with The Energy Co-op?

The Energy Co-op offers limited net metering opportunities to our members. Depending on the percentage of your home’s electricity usage that is generated by your solar array, you may be eligible to net meter with The Energy Co-op. The Energy Co-op currently does not offer a full net metering program, meaning we do not permit monthly usage rollover or pay an annual solar credit for excess generation. If you are interested in net metering with The Energy Co-op, please contact our team, and we will complete a net metering analysis to determine if you would be missing out on a material financial benefit of your solar array by net metering with The Energy Co-op. To learn if you are eligible, please send your installer’s generation estimate for the solar array at your home, whether it’s planned or already installed. If that is not available, please call us at 215.413.2122, email us at info@theenergy.coop, or click here to provide us with the array’s size/capacity.

Can you supply my business?

Yes. We supply businesses, including owners of multi-family rental properties, through all our energy programs, including renewable electricity. Just submit a commercial quote request online, send us an email to info@theenergy.coop, or call us at 215.413.2122.

Can The Energy Co-op supply the public buildings in my municipality with renewable electricity?

Yes, we would be happy to! Please call us at 215.413.2122 or email us at info@theenergy.coop for more information.

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 currently not eligible to choose any third-party electric supplier.

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, which burns and wastes its energy content. However, RNG can also be used like conventional natural gas, but it is recovered without any drilling or fracking.

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. When you enroll in any of The Energy Co-op’s energy programs, you become a cooperative member.

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

When you enroll in our RNG program, The Energy Co-op will become your renewable natural gas supplier within 1-2 billing cycles and your utility (whether PECO or PGW) will remain responsible for delivering it to your home or business. There is nothing to install and no interruption of service.  You’ll simply see The Energy Co-op listed as the supplier on your utility bill.

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

You can sign up at any time on our website, 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 RNG program only takes a few minutes—and even less if you have your gas utility bill in hand.

Why would I want to switch 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 decreasing the demand for conventional natural gas and reducing the environmental damage caused by drilling and fracking. In addition, you are using and promoting the use of an abundant, sustainable resource while directly supporting businesses and projects that capture this valuable resource and put it to good use.

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 program serving southeastern Pennsylvania that directly supports the production and use of RNG.

Does RNG cost more than conventional natural gas?

Please note that PECO and PGW change their gas rates every few months, and our RNG program variable rate products are also subject to change monthly, so the difference in cost will vary.  To check out our current rates, click here, and for our historical pricing, click here.

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 renewable natural gas, these are sometimes 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.

Can you supply my business?

Yes.  Both multi-family rental properties and businesses are eligible  to enroll in our energy programs, including RNG. Just submit a commercial quote request online, send us an email to info@theenergy.coop, or call us at 215-413-2122.

Can The Energy Co-op supply the public buildings in my municipality with RNG?

Yes, we would be happy to! In February 2021, Swarthmore Borough became the first municipality in Pennsylvania to make the switch from conventional natural gas, with hopefully many more to follow. Please call us at 215-413-2122 or email us at info@theenergy.coop for more information.

When did The Energy Co-op first begin supplying RNG?

The Energy Co-op first started supplying RNG to PECO gas customers in 2015 and became the first and only supplier of RNG in Philadelphia in January 2020 through our expansion into PGW territory.

Why does it take up to 1-2 billing cycles before The Energy Co-op becomes my renewable natural gas supplier?

When you enroll in The Energy Co-op’s RNG program, we inform your utility of the change. It is then the responsibility of the utility to process the supplier switch in accordance with the utility’s rules, which does not occur instantly. RNG enrollments processed by PECO can take from 11-51 days to become active. RNG enrollments processed by PGW can take from 15-75 days to become active.  Additionally, when dropping service from The Energy Co-op, it may take 1-2 billing cycles to revert to your utility.  The Energy Co-op is not responsible for these delays, and we appreciate your understanding.

Is there an RNG mandate in Pennsylvania?

No, The Energy Co-op is voluntarily supplying 100% renewable natural gas.

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 currently eligible to choose any third-party gas supplier other than their gas utility.

Where can I learn even more about The Energy Co-op’s RNG program?

Join us at our quarterly Town Halls and Member-to-Member webinars to learn more about the benefits of RNG and what you can do to get involved.

What role does The Energy Co-op’s legacy program play in our state’s transition to renewable energy?

Since 1979, The Energy Co-op has provided our members with fair and transparent pricing on home heating oil.  What sets our legacy program apart is that we directly aim to meet current and prospective members where they are on their journeys towards Renewable Electricity and Renewable Natural Gas.  Many homes still utilize heating oil for heat and hot water where a complete overhaul of a home heating system is simply not in the budget for many Pennsylvanians.  The Energy Co-op is working to be a leader in our clean energy future by offering 100% renewable energy programs, and we view our legacy program as a steppingstone in the renewable energy transition of PA.

Which of your heating oil suppliers are currently servicing my area?

Enter your zip code here to see which of our suppliers service your area.

What happens after I sign up for heating oil at The Energy Co-op?

When you enroll in our heating oil program, your next step would be to reach out to the supplier you have chosen to order your heating oil on a will-call or automatic basis.  The Energy Co-op’s role is limited to connecting members with one of our program’s suppliers during the enrollment process.

My supplier doesn’t see me in their system as an active account, but I am a member.  What should I do?

Your account has likely been deactivated.  To remain enrolled in our heating oil program, you must make one purchase through your supplier in a 12-month period, or your account will deactivate.  If this occurs, please feel free to email us at info@theenergy.coop or call us at 215.413.2122 to reactivate your account.  As a reminder, there are zero fees to cancel or reenroll.

How do I enroll in The Energy Co-op’s heating oil program?

You can sign up at any time on our website, by emailing us at info@theenergy.coop, or you can call us Monday through Friday, between 9am and 5pm, at 215.413.2122.

Can I buy heating oil from a supplier not affiliated with The Energy Co-op during my membership?

Yes!  Your membership with The Energy Co-op does not inhibit you from making heating oil purchases from other suppliers.  You must make one purchase through your supplier in a 12-month period to remain enrolled in our heating oil program.

How much will I pay for my delivered heating oil?

Our heating oil prices are based on a daily variable rate updated every business day, and Energy Co-op members pay the rate in effect on the date of delivery. Please note that our suppliers reserve the right to charge additional delivery fees, which may vary.

For more on terms and frequently asked questions applicable to heating oil payments and deliveries, click here.