Energy Deregulation in Maryland: What can I switch?
Both the electricity and natural gas markets in Maryland have been deregulated, meaning that in certain parts of the state, you’ll be able to switch both of your energy providers.
Electricity Deregulation: Change Electricity Suppliers
The state of Maryland opened up its electricity market to competition in 1999. Today more than 60 retail power companies compete for households' monthly power bills. About 20% of households in Maryland have moved to a third-party supplier, many of them pursuing greener electricity and cheaper rates.
You can choose your electricity provider if you live in the following areas: Baltimore City and County; Washington D.C.; Allegheny, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, and Washington counties; the Eastern Shore and a few other areas. Enter your ZIP code in our comparison tool to
Natural Gas Deregulation: Change Natural Gas Suppliers
The natural gas market has been deregulated in some parts of Maryland since 1995. Today around 20% of households have switched to a third-party gas retail company, many in pursuit of cheaper rates. To find out if you can switch natural gas suppliers and to see the rates available in your area, plug your ZIP code into our comparison engine.
Energy Prices in Maryland
Here’s what residents in Maryland pay on average for their electricity:
| Average price | 13.22 cents per kWh |
| Average annual household consumption | 12,060 kWh |
| Average annual bill | $1,594 |
Picking a third-party supplier and switching through Finance Guru could cut this right down.
Around 44% of Maryland households use natural gas for heating, paying an average of $12.55 per thousand cubic feet of natural gas. That’s around 28% higher than the national average of $9.86 per thousand cubic feet, but savvy customers can shop around for better rates.
How to change electricity and natural gas suppliers
To take advantage of energy deregulation and potentially lower your bills and make your energy supply greener, use our comparison engine. You’ll need to supply your ZIP code and annual estimated usage. You can find this on a recent bill, or you can use our usage calculator. We’ll then return a personalized list of the electricity or natural gas providers and plans active in your area. When you’ve found the plan you like best, click on it to sign up.
See if you could be getting a better deal: