Maryland · electricity shopping guide
Maryland energy choice: how to compare and switch electricity suppliers
Last reviewed: June 29, 2026 · Independent — no supplier commissions, ever.
Maryland has been a deregulated electricity market since 1999. Customers of BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power, and Potomac Edison can choose a licensed Competitive Retail Electric Supplier (CRES) for the generation (supply) portion of their bill. The official comparison resource is the Maryland Office of People's Counsel (OPC) at opc.maryland.gov.
Here's what the comparison tool doesn't show you — and why BGE customers have the most at stake right now.
Independent — no supplier relationships
RateWatchdog tracks Maryland PSC filings and PJM capacity auction results. We take no commissions from electricity suppliers. Recommendations here point to government resources only.
Maryland Standard Offer Service (SOS) rates by utility
The SOS is your benchmark — the default supply rate any CRES offer has to beat. BGE has the highest Maryland SOS at 12.587¢/kWh; Pepco's is lower at 10.348¢/kWh. BGE customers have the widest opportunity for competitive supplier savings.
| Maryland utility | Service area | SOS rate (supply only) |
|---|---|---|
| BGE (Exelon) | Baltimore City, Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Harford, Howard, Queen Anne's counties | 12.587¢/kWh |
| Pepco (Exelon) | Montgomery and Prince George's counties (DC suburbs) | 10.348¢/kWh |
| Delmarva Power | Maryland's Eastern Shore (Delmarva Peninsula counties) | Verify at opc.maryland.gov |
| Potomac Edison (FE) | Western MD (Frederick, Washington, Allegany, Garrett counties) | Verify at opc.maryland.gov |
Sources: Maryland PSC — BGE SOS effective June 2025; Pepco SOS confirmed October 2024. Delmarva and Potomac Edison current ¢/kWh not independently confirmed — verify at opc.maryland.gov. Supply only; delivery charges are additional.
Why BGE's 2025 SOS was the highest of the Maryland utilities
BGE customers got hit hardest in 2025 — not just from the PJM capacity spike that affected all Maryland utilities, but from an additional cost unique to the BGE zone: reliability must-run (RMR) contracts for the Brandon Shores and H.A. Wagner power plants near Baltimore.
These aging plants are kept running because the BGE load pocket — the Baltimore area — doesn't have enough local generation or transmission import capacity to meet peak demand without them. The Maryland PSC approved RMR contracts that keep the plants online, and those costs are borne specifically by BGE customers. Every other Maryland utility avoided this extra layer.
The Maryland PSC spread the summer 2025 generation increase over the year to soften peak-month bills. The annual average SOS reflects the blended figure — but the actual summer supply cost was higher than the 12.587¢ annual average.
How to shop for electricity in Maryland: 4 steps
- 1
Go to opc.maryland.gov and select your Maryland utility
The OPC guide shows certified CRES offers for each utility territory. Select BGE, Pepco, Delmarva, or Potomac Edison based on your service area.
- 2
Note your utility's current SOS — your benchmark
BGE: 12.587¢/kWh. Pepco: 10.348¢/kWh. For Delmarva and Potomac Edison, the current rate is shown at the top of the OPC tool. If you're already on a CRES, check your current supplier rate on your bill and compare it to today's SOS — post-2025 SOS increases changed the math for many existing contracts.
- 3
Compare fixed-rate CRES offers — filter for the right terms
Fixed rate below SOS. No monthly service fee. No cancellation fee, or a fee small enough that the monthly savings offset it within the first 3–4 months. Minimum 12-month term. Variable-rate offers carry the highest risk after PJM capacity prices hit record highs — avoid.
- 4
Calculate real savings before switching
BGE customers: at 750 kWh/month, a 1¢ saving vs. 12.587¢ SOS = $7.50/month, $90/year. A 2¢ saving = $15/month, $180/year. Pepco customers at 10.348¢: a 1¢ saving = $7.50/month. The BGE-zone savings potential is roughly 2× Pepco's for the same kWh usage, because the spread between SOS and competitive offers tends to be wider when the SOS is higher.
If Maryland electricity costs are a hardship
-
Maryland HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program)
Income-qualified Maryland households can receive a one-time bill payment through HEAP. Apply through your local Department of Social Services or at mydhr.maryland.gov.
-
BGE's USECP / Pepco's MAP (Medical Assistance Program)
Both BGE and Pepco offer utility-funded reduced rates for income-qualified customers. BGE's USECP (Universal Service Energy Credit Plan) caps monthly payments as a percentage of income.
-
EmPOWER Maryland
Maryland's statewide energy efficiency program funds free weatherization, insulation, HVAC upgrades, and appliance replacements for income-qualified households — permanent usage reductions that reduce every future bill.
Full guide: Maryland electric bill help programs →
Frequently asked questions
- Is Maryland electricity deregulated?
- Yes — Maryland deregulated its electricity market in 1999. Residential customers of BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power, and Potomac Edison can choose a licensed Competitive Retail Electric Supplier (CRES) for the generation portion of their bill. Your utility continues to handle delivery, metering, and outage response. Customers who don't shop remain on the default Standard Offer Service (SOS) rate. Maryland's Office of People's Counsel (OPC) maintains the official supplier comparison at opc.maryland.gov.
- What is Maryland's Standard Offer Service (SOS)?
- Maryland's Standard Offer Service (SOS) is the default electricity supply rate for customers who haven't chosen a competitive supplier. Each Maryland utility has its own SOS, set by the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) through a competitive procurement process. As of the most recent confirmed figures: BGE 12.587¢/kWh (June 2025), Pepco Maryland 10.348¢/kWh (October 2024). Verify current rates at opc.maryland.gov — SOS rates reset periodically.
- What is the cheapest electricity rate in Maryland?
- Among Maryland's regulated utilities, Pepco has the lower confirmed SOS at 10.348¢/kWh vs. BGE at 12.587¢/kWh. For competitive supplier rates, Maryland's official shopping resource is the OPC guide at opc.maryland.gov — any CRES fixed-rate offer below your utility's current SOS with no monthly fee and no cancellation penalty represents a genuine supply saving. Maryland's all-in residential rates (~16–18¢/kWh) are among the highest in the mid-Atlantic.
- Why did my BGE bill go up in 2025?
- BGE's Standard Offer Service (SOS) rose to 12.587¢/kWh in June 2025, up from 11.896¢ — a 5.8% supply increase that reflected a ~16% generation-component jump spread over the year by the Maryland PSC. Two drivers: the PJM capacity market (the July 2024 auction cleared at $269.92/MW-day, roughly 9× the prior year) plus BGE-zone-specific reliability must-run (RMR) contracts for the Brandon Shores and H.A. Wagner plants near Baltimore. BGE passes supply through with no markup.
- Why did my Pepco Maryland bill go up?
- Pepco's Maryland Standard Offer Service (SOS) rose approximately 12% in October 2024, from ~9.24¢ to 10.348¢/kWh, driven by higher PJM capacity market costs in the PEPCO load zone. A further SOS reset occurred in 2025 — the 10.348¢ is the last confirmed Maryland SOS figure. Verify the current rate at pepco.com or the Maryland PSC website.
- Can I switch electricity suppliers in Maryland?
- Yes — Maryland is a deregulated electricity market. Use the Maryland OPC's shopping guide at opc.maryland.gov to compare licensed CRES offers against your utility's current SOS. BGE customers have the most room for competitive savings given the higher 12.587¢ SOS benchmark. A fixed-rate CRES offer below your utility's SOS with no monthly fee and no early-termination charge is the cleanest win. Variable-rate offers are riskier: they can exceed the SOS mid-contract.
- How do I switch electricity suppliers in Maryland?
- Four steps: (1) Go to opc.maryland.gov and select your Maryland utility. (2) Note the current SOS — that's your benchmark. (3) Compare licensed CRES fixed-rate offers: look for rate below SOS, 12+ months, no monthly fee, no cancellation fee. (4) Enroll through the supplier (your utility and billing continue unchanged). The switch typically takes 1–2 billing cycles. Maryland has no utility-imposed switching fees — cancellation fees, if any, come from the CRES contract.
- What is the difference between BGE and Pepco in Maryland?
- BGE (Baltimore Gas and Electric) serves Baltimore City and seven surrounding Central Maryland counties — 1.3 million electric customers. Pepco serves Montgomery and Prince George's counties in suburban Maryland — about 280,000 MD electric customers. Both are Exelon subsidiaries and both operate in the PJM grid. BGE's SOS is currently higher (12.587¢/kWh) than Pepco's (10.348¢/kWh), partly because BGE's Baltimore zone bears extra reliability must-run (RMR) contract costs for the Brandon Shores and Wagner plants.
- What is the BGE electricity rate per kWh?
- BGE's Standard Offer Service (SOS) supply rate is 12.587¢/kWh as of June 2025 (source: Maryland PSC). Delivery and distribution charges (~3–5¢/kWh for BGE) are additional, putting a typical 750 kWh BGE bill at roughly $130–$145 all-in. The generation component of the 2025 BGS increase was approximately 16%, spread over the year by PSC order. Verify the current SOS at bge.com.