Homes served by a supplier
5.6%
137,184 homes, 2025
Average price
19.53 cents
13% above the US average
Average monthly bill
$184.42
Maryland, 2025
Choice status
Yes
Open to households
How choice works in Maryland
Households can choose a licensed supplier while their utility keeps delivering the power. Households that do not choose stay on the utility standard offer service.
Each utility buys power for default customers and passes the cost through as standard offer service. The price changes on a schedule that is set for each utility.
- What a supplier changes: the price and terms of the energy you buy, and often the company that sends the bill.
- What it does not change: your delivery utility, your meter, outage service and the poles and wires.
Maryland next to the other choice markets
In 2025, 5.6% of Maryland homes bought from a retail supplier. Among the 15 choice markets on this site, that ranks 14th of 15 for the share of homes with a supplier. The average price was 19.53 cents per kWh, 13% above the US average, and the average bill was $184.42.
| State | Homes with a supplier | Cents per kWh | Monthly bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 61.8% | 30.41 | $181.08 |
| Texas | 55.1% | 15.40 | $170.95 |
| Ohio | 49.8% | 16.90 | $147.74 |
| Rhode Island | 24.8% | 29.48 | $165.62 |
| Pennsylvania | 22.4% | 19.29 | $161.90 |
| Illinois | 20.7% | 17.67 | $126.59 |
| New Hampshire | 17.8% | 24.53 | $156.94 |
| Connecticut | 15.3% | 29.31 | $206.46 |
| District of Columbia | 8.8% | 21.92 | $140.05 |
| Maine | 7.3% | 27.69 | $147.67 |
| New York | 7.1% | 26.39 | $154.75 |
| New Jersey | 6.1% | 22.48 | $150.59 |
| Delaware | 5.6% | 17.15 | $157.80 |
| Maryland | 5.6% | 19.53 | $184.42 |
| Michigan | 0.0% | 20.03 | $127.17 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (final 2025 data), residential. A higher share of homes with a supplier does not mean lower prices.
Who delivers your power
Delivery utilities in Maryland are regulated, and the largest by residential customers in 2025 were:
| Utility | Type | Homes served |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) | Investor-owned | 1,220,644 |
| Pepco (Potomac Electric Power) | Investor-owned | 883,572 |
| Potomac Edison | Investor-owned | 396,593 |
| Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 163,451 |
| Choptank Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 50,981 |
| Hagerstown Light Department | Municipal | 14,878 |
| Easton Utilities Commission | Municipal | 8,884 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (final 2025 data). Cooperatives and municipal utilities may sit outside the choice program. Check who sends your bill.
Not sure who serves you? Use the find my electric company tool or check the top of your bill.
How to compare offers in Maryland
The official comparison site is MD Electric Choice. Start there, because it is run for consumers.
Ready to switch? Read the Maryland switching guide for the steps, the rules we checked and what to confirm first.
- Find your current default price and the date it will next change.
- Ask each supplier for the price, the type, the term, every fee and the early termination fee in writing.
- Compare over a full year, not one month.
- Check what happens when the term ends.
Maryland households can buy supply from a licensed supplier while BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power or another utility keeps delivering it. Suppliers must be licensed by the Public Service Commission.
Ask any supplier for the contract terms in writing, including what happens when a fixed term ends. A rate that renews at a variable price is a common source of complaints.
Five questions to ask before you sign
- What is the price per kWh, and is it fixed or variable?
- How long is the term, and what is the fee for leaving early?
- Are there monthly charges, minimum usage fees or conditions on credits?
- What happens when the term ends, and how will I be told?
- How long do I have to cancel after signing?
Your rights and where to complain
Suppliers are licensed or registered with the state, and the Maryland Public Service Commission handles complaints. Keep a copy of your contract and any call or email confirmation. If you think you were switched without permission, tell your utility and your regulator right away.
Maryland electricity provider questions
Can I choose my electricity provider in Maryland?
Yes. Households can choose a licensed supplier while their utility keeps delivering the power. Households that do not choose stay on the utility standard offer service.
Who delivers electricity in Maryland?
Your local utility delivers it. By residential customers in 2025, the largest delivery and utility companies were Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), Pepco (Potomac Electric Power), Potomac Edison. You cannot change your delivery company.
What happens if I do not pick a supplier in Maryland?
You receive standard offer service. Each utility buys power for default customers and passes the cost through as standard offer service. The price changes on a schedule that is set for each utility.
How many Maryland homes use a retail supplier?
In 2025, retail suppliers served about 5.6% of Maryland residential customers, or 137,184 homes (EIA Form EIA-861).
Is a supplier cheaper than the utility in Maryland?
It can be, and it can also be more expensive. Compare an offer against the current default price over a full year, and read the term, the fees and what happens at renewal.