Here in PA I kind of liked the way it was when the electric co generated their own electricity, it was consistent for an extended period, and they were a monopoly that had to prove they needed a rate increase. But then politicos got together with the lobbyists and helped us out with residential electric deregulation, which effectively became a license to raise rates at will. My rates are up almost 35-40% in the last year. Who is benefiting?
I do not know the situation in PA so I cannot comment on the specific causes of your rate increases. In the long run, market control of energy production under reasonable (cost benefit considerations) environmental constraints will result in lower rates and improved service. The problem with deregulation is that politicians have put onerous constraints on the industry. In Texas, environmentalists and politicians persuaded the utility commission to cancel plans to build coal fired plants and substitute wind power with far flung transmission lines. Political control is the cause of the blackouts, not market forces.