How to Get Help Paying Electric Bills in Pennsylvania

iEditorial Note: These blog posts represent the opinion of DoNotPay’s Writers, but each person’s situation and circumstances vary greatly. As a result, you should make sure to do your own independent research. Because everyone is unique, our self-help tools are never guaranteed to help with any specific situation. DoNotPay is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and is not equivalent to the services of a licensed lawyer. DoNotPay provides a platform for legal information and self-help, and does not offer legal services. Third party news articles mentioned on our website do not necessarily reflect the views of the company, or the current services that we offer.

Need help paying electric bills in PA? Use DoNotPay

Let’s face it—we’re living in some of the most financially challenging times. You’ll probably be surprised to hear that 40% of Americans are struggling to pay for the most basic human needs, such as food or rent.

There is nothing wrong with being unable to provide for yourself. Many people feel the same way as you do—and you should know that you’re not alone.

If you need help paying electric bills in PA, DoNotPay can assist you in finding the best option for your specific needs.

How can DoNotPay help me pay my electric bills?

We at DoNotPay have set a goal for ourselves, and that is to make our app as user-friendly as possible. If you know how to run your PC, you will be able to use DoNotPay—it is that simple. All you need to do is:

  1. Access the DoNotPay app either through your
  2. Choose the ‘Corona Relief’ option
  3. Tell us how we can assist you
  4. Provide us with some basic information about yourself and the circumstances you’re currently in

If you want to know what kind of information we need from you, it’s quite simple:

  • Your full name
  • Your address
  • Your email address
  • The reason behind your inability to pay your electric bills

Once you submit this information, we will present you with some options that we believe will be best suitable for your specific needs.

I need help understanding what’s on my electric bills

So many people out there have no clue what certain items on their bills are supposed to be. When it comes to electricity bills, there are hundreds of different things you can be billed for, which only makes things worse. We believe you should be able to understand your bills without much effort—but sadly, this isn’t the reality of things.

To help you better understand what you’re spending your hard-earned money on, we’ve put together a list of items that you will find on your electric bills:

Item

What it stands for

Billing Summary

This section of your electric bill will show you how much money you owe for the current month. It is also possible that you will find an overview of how much you paid for the previous billing cycle. If you get your gas and electricity from the same supplier, you will find both of the utilities in this summary.

Billing Details

This section of the bill will usually include your rate per kWh and the amount of electricity you consumed during the latest billing cycle. Charges such as transmission charge, distribution charge, and generation charge will be listed in this section.

Usage Profile

In this section of your bill, you will be able to see an overview of your electricity consumption over the past month, sometimes even over the past year. This item is supposed to make you more aware of how much energy you consume.

Wholesale costs

Your supplier has to pay for the electricity you consume—and you will see the exact price of electricity they have to come up for in this section of your bill.

We all know that utility bills have been getting more and more expensive over time. Wholesale costs are on the rise—but is it okay for utility suppliers to overcharge you as much as they do? We don’t think so.

It comes as no surprise that there are thousands of people in Pennsylvania who struggle to make ends meet at the end of each month. Of course, your supplier doesn’t care that you had to spend your money on something even more urgent this month—you will find the bill in your mail no matter what.

Can my provider overcharge me by accident?

If you want to reduce your electricity bills, you need to make an effort to start looking for errors—bills are packed with all kinds of them.

As soon as you start paying more attention to the items listed on your bills, you will notice how common errors are. This is the perfect opportunity for you to reduce your electric bills. If you wonder what type of mistakes you should be on the lookout for, check for these:

  • Duplicate items
  • Services you’ve canceled, but still got charged for
  • Services you’ve never received
  • Services you’ve never heard of

Duplicate items

Duplicate items are the most common type of mistakes you will come across in your bills. You will be shocked to see how often they appear. They are also the easiest to spot, so make sure that you don’t overlook them.

Services you’ve canceled

You may come across a service you’ve canceled, but still got charged for. As soon as you notice one, make sure that you call your supplier and let them know that they’ve made a mistake. Stand up for yourself—don’t let anyone overcharge you.

Services you’ve never received

It is also common for companies to list a service you’ve never received. Once you spot it, make sure that you immediately call the company and complain about this. If you don’t do anything about it, you will be paying extra. Don’t let them get away with this.

Services you’ve never heard of

If you spot a service you’ve never even heard of on your bill, demand an explanation from the company. It’s possible that they’re trying to do something fishy, so don’t stay silent. Companies take advantage of their users much more often than they would like to admit.

You can always get in touch with a consumer rights advisor if you don’t feel like you’re competent enough to spot all these errors on your own. These advisors are experts at finding errors, so don’t be surprised if they spot five of them right off the bat.

Can I negotiate my electric bills?

If you come from a low-income household, yes, you absolutely can negotiate your electric bills. Don’t be embarrassed to do it, though—there are plenty of other people who live under the same circumstances as you do and who receive help because they fight for their rights.

If you want to negotiate your electricity bills, there are a few ways to go about it.

Financial aid options

How to go about it

Organizations that help with electric bills

  • Find an organization that you think would be the best fit for your needs
  • Contact them and ask how they can help
  • Check if you need to fulfill any requirements or conditions in order to receive their help

Consumer rights advisor

  • Ask about what options you have when it comes to negotiating your bill
  • Ask if there are any alternative options
  • Ask if there’s anyone else you can talk to if they can’t help

Price negotiation

  • Be friendly and polite
  • Ask if there’s a way to negotiate your bill
  • Let them know more about you and the circumstances that are preventing you from paying your bill

Organizations that help with electric bills

If you need help paying electric bills in PA, we’ve found some of the best organizations that you should check out:

  1. The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
  2. Weatherization Assistance Program
  3. Pennsylvania Low-Income Usage Reduction Program
  4. Modest Needs
  5. The 2-1-1 Program
  6. The Salvation Army
  7. Citizens Energy Corporation

The easiest and most fuss-free way of going about this issue is to use DoNotPay. By accessing our app through your , you will be able to receive help in the blink of an eye. The rest of these options are time-consuming, so if you don’t have any time to waste, you should definitely opt for DoNotPay.

Our goal is to make this entire process as smooth as possible. We know you’re having a hard time paying off your bills and that the experience is anything but pleasant. That’s why we’re dedicated to providing you with the best options that won’t cost you any money or time.

Can I ask for an extension date for my electric bill?

Yes, if you believe that getting an extension date for your electric bill will do the job for you, feel free to go for this option. The only thing standing in your way is you—don’t feel embarrassed about it and don’t beat around the bush. Get straight to the point and ask for help.

If you decide to go for this option, you should know that there are a few ways to ask for an extension date for your electric bill:

  • In-person
  • Calling your supplier’s customer support
  • Sending a letter

Because the other two options are time-consuming, we would suggest that you use DoNotPay to send a letter. If you want to do it that way, these are the steps you should follow:

  1. Enter the DoNotPay app either through your
  2. Select the ‘Corona Relief’ option
  3. Tell us how you would like us to help
  4. Provide us with some basic information about yourself
  5. Tell us what the reason behind your inability to pay your electric bill is

Once you do that, we will generate an efficient letter for you. Since we’ve been writing letters in our users’ stead for a long time now, there’s no need to worry about how the letter will come off. We’ve become experts at this point.

The most important thing about this letter is that it appears sensible to the receiving end. We will make sure to lay out all of the most valuable information that will ultimately result in your getting an extension date for your bill.

The whole process can take up to 48 hours, though we usually get it done with much more quickly. We know what it’s like to be in an emergency, so we make it our mission to get the desirable results in no-time.

Can I ask for a waiver on late fees for my electric bill?

Yes, if you think that asking for a waiver on late fees for your electric bill is the best option for you, you can go for it. You should also know that there are a few ways to do it:

  • In-person
  • Sending a letter
  • Consulting a consumer rights advisor
  • Consulting a lawyer
  • Calling your supplier’s customer support

Consulting a lawyer is going to drain your finances, whereas going there in-person and calling your supplier’s customer support are time-consuming options.

If you need to get things over with as soon as possible, you should definitely choose to send a letter. With the help of DoNotPay, you will be able to solve this issue in the blink of an eye.

In case you would like us to send the letter in your stead, let us know. We are willing to do whatever it takes to make this process quick and easy. It’s going to take us up to 48 hours to finish the process, as we’ve already mentioned. We always have your best interest at heart, so you can expect immediate results.

Can I pay off my electric bill with my credit card?

Yes, you can pay off your electric bill with your credit card. This is far from ideal, though—you need to be aware of the credit score damage you could cause by using your credit card to pay your bills. This only applies if your electric bill is enormous by this point. If not, you can use your credit card freely.

Can I apply for a loan to pay off my electric bill?

Yes, if you need help paying electric bills in PA, you can apply for a loan to pay off your electric bill. Would we recommend it, though? Absolutely not. This is by far the worst option you could go for. Getting yourself into even more debt is far from ideal.

If no other option works out for you, though, do your homework and make sure that you find the best deal. As long as you treat it as a last resort, you should be fine.

How can I reduce my electric bills effectively?

To prevent future inconveniences, you should consider taking certain measures to reduce your electric bills. Adopting more economical habits will save you a lot of stress in the long run.

If you want to lower your electricity bills effectively, try one of these options:

  • Get your hands on energy-efficient light bulbs. If you’re unfamiliar with how excellent energy-efficient light bulbs are, you should know that they last up to ten times longer than the traditional ones. They are affordable, so making this small change will lower your electricity bills significantly. If you’re able to invest in them, you will be hitting the jackpot.
  • Wear season-appropriate clothing. If you hang around your house in shorts and a tank top in the middle of January in Pennsylvania, it isn’t surprising that your electric bills are through-the-roof. The fewer clothes you have on, the more money you’ll have to dedicate to your electricity bills.
  • Insulate your home better. Good insulation contributes to the overall temperature levels in your house. It prevents hot summer air and the freezing winter one from getting into your house. If you’re able to insulate your home more effectively, do it straight away. It will save you a lot of trouble with electricity bills.
  • Buy energy-efficient machines. Thankfully, we live in the 21st century and are able to buy energy-efficient dishwashers, freezers, fridges, etc. The traditional versions of these machines consume more energy than you can imagine, so if you can invest in the energy-efficient versions, we suggest that you go for it immediately.
  • Don’t use tumble-dryers. These machines are energy-eaters. To achieve the fastest results, stop using your tumble-dryer as of today. You have no clue how much electricity they run on. Start drying your laundry outside or on a clothes horse—it isn’t that hard. It will take longer, but it will be worth it.
  • Don’t forget to turn off the lights! This might be a bit trickier and annoying to get used to, but don’t forget to turn them off as soon as you’re about to leave the room. It will become a habit eventually, so hang in there!
  • Keep those doors and windows shut. It’s pretty self-explanatory—if you leave the doors and windows in your house open, either freezing cold or steaming hot air will get inside. That will only force you to turn up your heating or ventilation. Try to make it a habit—it won’t take too long to become one.

How else can DoNotPay help me?

DoNotPay has plenty of features that you can access either through your . Keep an eye on our app—it is evolving at the speed of light, constantly providing you with new and improved services.

Check out these features:

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