According to the PUC, a savings option consumers may want to explore immediately is their utility’s voluntary Standard Offer Program – which is another alternative for default service customers not participating in the competitive electricity market. For the next 12 months, you can lock in a rate 7% lower than your current rate and avoid planned rate hikes as high as 35%. Consumers and small businesses can always use the PUC’s PAPowerSwitch energy shopping website to explore and compare other offers from competitive energy suppliers which may provide savings.