Compare electricity and natural gas prices for Maryland

Largest electricity source – natural gas, 46.1%

Enter your ZIP code above and see whether Choose Energy can help you lower those bills.

In Maryland, you have the power to choose your electricity and natural gas suppliers. More than 500,000 Marylanders have already switched energy suppliers. Need a good reason to switch? Some suppliers regularly offer rates and service that are 10 percent or more cheaper than the utility.

For example, the utility company BG&E has a current price to compare of 8.076 cents per kilowatt hour. But in the zip code 21201 the deregulated energy supplier Clearview offers a rate of 6.79 cents. That’s a savings of 16 percent.

A recent Choose Energy survey found that more than 86 percent of Maryland residents say they’ve never chosen a competitive electricity plan, meaning they’re probably paying too much for energy. Enter your ZIP code above to see how you can begin saving with Choose Energy!

Maryland is among 15 states where electricity customers may choose their providers. It’s called deregulation, but it might be less confusing to call it energy choice. Customers may select their electricity supplier – providers compete on price, term length, percentage of renewable energy and more. Electricity will continue to be delivered by a utility.

What do customers new to deregulation need to consider when evaulating plans?

Price, of course. Prices are expressed in cents/kilowatt hour. Plan types include fixed rates and variable rates. Fixed rates offer consistency throughout the plan term, which can run from six to 36 months. Variable rates can change monthly – they’re great when prices go down, but not-so-great when they don’t. Finally, if you care about your carbon footprint, you may choose a plan sourced by solar or wind energy.

Enter your ZIP code above to see what’s available in your area.

In 1999, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Electric Customer Choice and Competition Act, which allows consumers to shop for energy supply from retail energy providers in Maryland. Due to the state’s record-high energy rates, Maryland introduced energy choice to drive down energy prices by introducing competition among energy suppliers.

To this day, electric prices in Maryland are among the highest in the country – 36th highest according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. By participating in energy choice, you can reject that “honor.” On ChooseEnergy.com, you’ll learn more about deregulated energy and how you can save when you switch.

Utilities, or energy companies, in Maryland offer customers information to know how much they are spending on electric supply each month. Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., for example, provides a tool known as the Standard Offer Service, which shows customers how much they can expect to pay for energy supply each month. Current supply rates show that BGE customers will pay 8.076 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). ChooseEnergy.com, as of late March, offers a 12-month plan that could save more than 12 percent on that rate now.

Consider that the government, as mentioned above, believes rates may rise when electricity use picks up, such as during winter or summer. With this knowledge, customers can compare rate plans confidently to find the one that fits their budget.

Because prices from energy companies in Maryland rise and fall depending on the wholesale price of energy, residents may want a more stable rate for a longer period. A fixed-rate energy plan offers you just that, with a consistent rate for the duration of your agreement at current energy prices – regardless of fluctuations in the energy market. This could mean protection from rate spikes and savings for electric utility customers.

See what rates are available! Enter your ZIP code above.

The freedom to choose your energy rates in Maryland is not only available in homes but also to commercial customers. In fact, more than 90% of large businesses in the state have enrolled with alternative suppliers. This competition between energy suppliers to provide lower prices for businesses could be why commercial electric prices in Maryland are lower than the national averagethis year. If the same competition between suppliers existed for residential customers, prices might also decrease. However, without participation in energy choice, suppliers are not forced to compete for your business. Want to see the available rates? Enter your ZIP code above.

The enrollment process for residents and businesses is simple. For residents, the process includes providing contact information, address and your Electric Choice ID, which is 10 digits long and can be found on the “Electric Details” portion of your bill.

The enrollment process for businesses includes these steps, as well as a few more due to nuances specific to businesses – namely the business type and monthly energy usage. These factors help suppliers determine if they have the capacity to service your business.

Once you sign up for your new energy plan, your local utility will be notified of the change and begin your service from the alternative supplier at the beginning of your next billing cycle. Upon starting your energy supply service, your utility company will include this charge on your energy bill and continue to charge for the delivery service portion of your bill. Why? Because although your supplier may offer you a competitive rate for electricity supply, your utility is still in charge of the infrastructure that delivers energy to your home – such as power lines and energy meters.

The only thing you have to lose is expensive energy supply rates. Enter your ZIP code above to get started.

Other questions? Visit our FAQs.

(Last updated 6/17/2019)