Your Rights & Protections
Know your rights as a utility customer so you can put them to work for you.
Your Rights as a Customer and a Shopper
As a residential utility customer and a shopper, you have important rights and responsibilities. These rights ensure fair dealings between you and your utility company.
Your Responsibility as a Customer
As a utility customer, you have the responsibility to:
- Pay your bill on time.
- Follow through on payment arrangements.
- Pay a deposit when required.
- Allow the electric utility to access its equipment.
Failure to do so may result in the electric utility shutting off your service.
Electricity Shutoff
Before your service is shut off, your electric utility will take the following steps:
- Send you a 10-day notice. Once you get the notice, the utility company has up to 60 days to shut off your service.
- Attempt to contact you, either once in-person or on two different days by phone, three days before your shutoff date.
- From December 1 through March 31, if your electric utility cannot reach you at the time of termination, it will leave a 48-hour notice at your property.
Your utility service can be shut off any weekday, except Friday. If your service is shut off, the utility company will leave a notice telling you what you need to do to get your service restored.
Additional Resources
PA Energy Consumer Bill of Rights
Get more detailed information about your rights and responsibilities.
General Consumer Rights & Responsibilities
See our guide to regulations regarding Standards and Billing Practices for Residential Service
Rule for Door-to-Door Telemarketing Sales
These standards help to ensure the fairness and the integrity of the competitive residential energy market.
