Pennsylvania residents have the ability to choose their electric provider, a seemingly common decision that many states don’t offer. More than 1.7 people have switched from their default provider and opted for a greener vendor.

Electricity deregulation in the state was introduced more than a decade ago, which has allowed more than half of residents to use energy from an alternative supplier.

According to a report released by Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 31 percent of Pennsylvania homes and businesses using a nontraditional power source make up 57 percent of the power load. These statistics show the state’s efforts to create an ideal energy market have residents and the environment in mind.

Some residents may have even found a decrease in their energy bills by switching to a greener option. After competition replaced price regulation in 2011, consumers switched providers in large numbers. Most of the users who switched were residential or small businesses. One small business, Yard Brewery, has been a consistent customer of green energy.

“They really like their hometown brewery,” Tom Kehoe, president of Yards Brewing Company said. “They like the fact that we’re doing things that are greener and it makes them feel a little stronger about our products.”