For as much time as state lawmakers spend bloviating about the state’s energy policy, you’d think energy would at least be affordable in Pennsylvania.

You’d be thinking incorrectly.

A state sitting atop a vast natural gas reservoir finds itself the 32nd ranked state in energy affordability in the Energy Affordability 2025 report from the American Legislative Exchange Council. Wyoming has the lowest average energy price in the country at 8.4 cents per kilowatt hour while California is the highest at more than 20 cents per kilowatt hour. Pennsylvanians are paying 11.86 cents per kilowatt-hour. Natural gas (55%), nuclear (32%), coal (10%), wind (2%) and hydroelectric (1%) represent the top generation sources.

Energy policy has been in the news a lot over the past few years between the push for Pennsylvania to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and now Gov. Josh Shapiro saying the state could leave PJM, which generates 25% of the power available on Pennsylvania’s power grid. The state has been following the national trend of retiring coal plants. The real question is how the state will replace that power generation as power demands are projected to continue increasing. Natural gas would seem a logical transition step given the state’s abundant supply of natural gas, but logic doesn’t always win the day when it comes to power production. Check out power policies in California and New York if you don’t believe us.

Chasing cleaner power options isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The problem becomes when chasing cleaner power is the only priority. That’s when prices tend to get out of control. Both Shapiro and state lawmakers say they are concerned about power prices – and that’s a good first step. But Pennsylvanians should keep a wary eye on Harrisburg. Talk is cheap. Power bills speak loudly – and the most recent ALEC report says Pennsylvania’s actions are costing you money every time you pay your electric bill.