The Short Version
- Your utility's default supply price is called Standard Offer Service, or SOS. A supplier offer has to beat it to save you money.
- For households, Maryland's 2024 Senate Bill 1 caps supplier prices at the utility's trailing 12-month average and limits terms to 12 months.
- Businesses aren't covered by those limits, so a business contract can run longer and carry renewals and cancellation fees. Read it closely.
- The easiest way to get it right: let us compare offers for you. It's free.
Your Bill Has Two Parts
Delivery always stays with your utility, through its wires or pipelines. Supply is the electricity or natural gas itself, and in Maryland you can choose who provides it. If you don't choose, you get your utility's Standard Offer Service.
Switching suppliers doesn't change who delivers your energy or who you call in an outage.
Maryland's Electric Default Prices, October 2026
Residential Standard Offer Service prices, from the Maryland Office of People's Counsel and the utilities' filed tariffs:
| Utility | Supply (per kWh) | Supply + transmission (per kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| BGE | 12.962¢ | 15.284¢ |
| Pepco | 12.681¢ | 14.782¢ |
| Delmarva Power | 11.092¢ | 13.162¢ |
| Potomac Edison | 10.209¢ | 10.605¢ |
| SMECO | 11.607¢ | Not listed |
Source: Maryland Office of People's Counsel, October 2026 figures, checked October 11, 2026. Potomac Edison's figures come from its Schedule R tariff filed with the Maryland Public Service Commission (non-summer supply 10.209¢ plus 0.396¢ transmission, October 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027). SOS prices change with the seasons and as new auction contracts start, and business accounts have different prices, so always check your latest bill before comparing offers.
See the full details, what it means for your business, and how to beat it on each utility's page: BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power, Potomac Edison, and SMECO. All utilities are also in our Price to Compare by utility list.
Natural Gas Works the Same Way
You can also choose a natural gas supplier. The utility's default gas supply price in October 2026 was 28.8¢ per therm at BGE and 50.972¢ per therm at Columbia Gas, according to the Office of People's Counsel. Gas prices move with the market, so a fixed price can take the swings off the table.
What Senate Bill 1 Changed for Households
Maryland's 2024 retail supply law, Senate Bill 1, applies to residential electricity supply agreements made after 2024. For standard (non-green) electricity, a supplier serving a household:
- Can't charge more than the utility's trailing 12-month average SOS price in that territory, as of the date you sign.
- Can offer a term of 12 months at most at a time.
- Can renew automatically only with notice 90 days and 30 days before the renewal.
- Can't offer a true variable rate. The only variable price allowed is one that adjusts for the seasons.
The law also created licenses for energy salespeople and put new rules on how green power can be marketed. The People's Counsel's advice still holds: compare any offer to your utility's SOS price, and never give a sales agent your bill, account number, or Customer Choice ID.
For Businesses: The Protections Don't Reach You
SB1's price and term limits don't apply when a supplier serves commercial customers. That's both good and risky for a business:
- You can lock in longer. Multi-year fixed prices are still allowed, which helps with budgeting.
- You carry the risk of the fine print. Automatic renewals, variable rates, and cancellation fees are all still possible in a business contract.
- Capacity costs are rising. Maryland's utilities are in PJM, where capacity prices have climbed sharply since 2024. See what happened to PJM capacity costs and how to reduce your capacity tag.
How to Compare an Offer
- Start with your SOS price. Find it on your bill. An offer only saves you money if its price is lower.
- Fixed or variable? For a business, a variable rate can change at any time. Know which you're signing.
- How long is the term, and does it renew automatically? Put the end date on your calendar.
- Is there a cancellation fee? If you cancel, you go back to your utility's SOS price. Know what leaving would cost.
- Any added fees? Some suppliers add administrative fees that raise the total cost.
- Check the license. The supplier must be licensed by the Maryland Public Service Commission, and its license number should be in the contract.
Watch out for sales pitches at the door or on the phone. Never show a sales agent your utility bill or give out your account number or Customer Choice ID. Only the account holder can sign a supply contract.
Why Let Us Shop for You
You can compare supplier offers on your own. Most people don't have time to read every contract, and the fine print is where the costly surprises hide, especially for businesses. Here's what you get when we do it for you:
- Offers side by side for your electricity and natural gas, compared against your SOS price.
- The fine print, read for you. We flag variable-rate clauses, automatic renewals, cancellation fees, and how capacity costs are handled.
- Someone watching your end date. We reach out before your contract ends, so you're never rolled onto a higher rate.
- Free to you. The supplier you choose pays us. If nothing beats what you pay now, we'll tell you.
Or skip the form: send us a photo of your bill.
Free 10-minute checklist When does your energy contract end, and what will you pay the day after? Get the Energy Contract Checkup →FAQ
Will my power or gas go out if I switch?
No. Your utility still delivers your energy through its wires or pipes and handles outages. Only the supply price changes.
What is Standard Offer Service?
It's the default electricity supply your utility provides if you don't choose a supplier. The utility buys it through competitive auctions monitored by the Maryland Public Service Commission.
Does Senate Bill 1 cover my business?
No. SB1's price and term limits apply to residential supply. Suppliers serving commercial customers aren't covered by them, so business contracts can have longer terms, automatic renewals, and cancellation fees.
Can a supplier sign my household up for a 3-year contract?
Not for standard (non-green) electricity signed after 2024. Household terms are limited to 12 months at a time, and the price can't exceed the utility's trailing 12-month average default price.
What happens if I cancel a supplier contract?
You go back to your utility's Standard Offer Service price. Check the contract for any cancellation fee first.