Compare Maryland Electricity Rates [2022 Best Prices]
Here’s a quick overview of Maryland electricity rates:
- Current average retail rate of electricity: 14.06 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
- Current range of electricity prices in Maryland: 6 to 58 cents/kWh
- Average monthly electric bill: $128.24
- Average energy usage: 957 kWh
Why You Can Trust EcoWatch
Our renewable energy experts have conducted hours of research and collected dozens of data points to determine the best energy rates in Maryland. We’ve also objectively ranked and reviewed numerous energy companies to empower you to make the right choice for your home.
Who Has the Best Energy Rates in Maryland?
Four energy providers in Maryland (Eligo Energy, American Power & Gas of MD, AEP Energy and Clearview Energy) offer renewable-source electricity for just 6 cents per kWh, which is the lowest rate in the state. You can click below to compare prices from these and other electric companies to find the best energy rates in Maryland.
Regional Service
Average cost
AEP Energy
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Many years of experience -
Great industry reputation
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Charges contract cancellation fees
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No satisfaction guarantee
Many years of experience 
Charges contract cancellation fees Services Offered
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100% Renewable Energy Plans
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Fixed-Rate Plans
-
Business Energy Plans
100% Renewable Energy Plans
Regional Service
Average cost
CleanChoice Energy
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Low rates
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Low number of customer complaints
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Makes charitable contributions
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All plans use clean energy
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No early termination fees
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No prepaid or no-deposit plans
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No satisfaction guarantee
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Young company
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Low number of plans to choose from
Services Offered
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100% Renewable Energy Plans
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Fixed-Rate Plans
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Variable-Rate Plans
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Community Solar
Regional Service
Average cost
Think Energy
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Wide variety of contract term options
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Wide variety of plan options
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Charges contract cancellation fees
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No prepaid or no-deposit plans
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Slightly high number of complaints versus competitors
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No satisfaction guarantee
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Expensive
Services Offered
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100% Renewable Energy Plans
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Fixed-Rate Plans
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Business Energy Plans
Jump To: Maryland Energy Rates | Price Comparison | How to Find the Best Rates | Types of Electricity Plans | Best Electricity Companies | What to Look For When Choosing a Provider | FAQ
Maryland Energy Rates
Maryland has a deregulated energy market, which means customers have electric choice and can choose which electricity supplier suits them best. Deregulation provides homeowners with more options and generally promotes competition among suppliers and lower prices overall. Maryland’s average cost of electricity is 14.06 cents per kWh, but different companies have rates ranging between 6 cents and 58 cents per kWh.
The specific amount you pay will depend not only on which of the public utilities serves you but also on the company that supplies the energy you use. Most customers in Maryland are serviced by Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE), but rates can be higher or lower if you’re serviced by a different Maryland utility — Choptank, Delmarva Power, Pepco, Potomac Edison or Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO).
Comparison of Electricity Rates in Maryland
Below, we show a breakdown of energy plans offered by producers regulated by the Maryland Public Service Commission. As an environmentally friendly website, we strongly encourage choosing a plan that pulls from 100% renewable energy so are only including clean energy plans in our breakdown.
| Plan Name | Term (months) | Plan Rate (¢/kWh) |
| AEP Energy 12-Month Plan | 12 | 6 cents |
| American Power & Gas of MD 12-Month Plan | 12 | 6 cents |
| CleanChoice Energy 100% Wind and Solar | 12 | 9 cents |
| Clearview Energy GreenValueAssurance 6 | 6 | 7 cents |
| Clearview Energy ClearGreenGuarantee6 | 6 | 58 cents |
| Clearview Energy Green Guarantee 12Plus | 12 | 6 cents |
| Clearview Energy GreenValueAssurance Plus | 12 | 7 cents |
| Clearview Energy ClearCharge 12 | 12 | 8 cents |
| Discount Power 6-Month Plan | 6 | 7 cents |
| Discount Power 12-Month Plan | 12 | 8 cents |
| Discount Power 24-Month Plan | 24 | 9 cents |
| Discount Power 36-Month Plan | 36 | 9 cents |
| Eligo Energy MD 3-Month Fixed Rate 100% Green | 3 | 6 cents |
| Eligo Energy MD 6-Month Fixed Rate 100% Green | 6 | 7 cents |
| Eligo Energy MD 12-Month Fixed Rate 100% Green | 12 | 8 cents |
| Great American Power 12-Month Fixed Plan | 12 | 8 cents |
| Great American Power GO GREEN 24 | 24 | 9 cents |
| Great American Power GO GREEN 36 | 36 | 9 cents |
| Green Mountain Energy Company Pollution Free Reliable Rate | 12 | 10 cents |
| IGS Energy Green Electricity 12 | 12 | 9 cents |
| IGS Energy Green Electricity 24 | 24 | 9 cents |
| IGS Energy Green Electricity 36 | 36 | 9 cents |
| Indra Energy 1-Month Fixed Rate Plan | 1 | 8 cents |
| Inspire Energy 6-Month 100% Green | 6 | 9 cents |
| Inspire Energy 12-Month 100% Green | 12 | 10 cents |
| Just Energy Solutions Price Protection Plan 36 | 36 | 11 cents |
| Just Energy Solutions Price Protection Plan 24 | 24 | 11 cents |
| Maryland Gas and Electric 12-Month Green Plan | 12 | 8 cents |
| Maryland Gas and Electric 24-Month Green Plan | 24 | 10 cents |
| Maryland Gas and Electric 36-Month Green Plan | 36 | 10 cents |
| Think Energy Think Clean 6 | 6 | 8 cents |
| Think Energy Think Clean 12 | 12 | 8 cents |
| Think Energy Think Clean 18 | 18 | 8 cents |
| Think Energy Think Clean 24 | 24 | 8 cents |
| Spring Power & Gas EcoGold Plan | 1 | 8 cents |
| Spring Power & Gas Spring Green + Wind REC 6 | 6 | 9 cents |
| Spring Power & Gas Spring Green + Wind REC 9 | 9 | 9 cents |
| Spring Power & Gas Spring Green + Wind REC 12 | 12 | 9 cents |
| WGL Energy Services 12-Month Plan | 12 | 8 cents |
| WGL Energy Services 24-Month Plan | 24 | 9 cents |
*Rates will vary based on your local utility company; you’ll see the rates above if your utility is Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE). Rates are subject to change.
How to Find the Best Electricity Rates in Maryland
Finding the best electricity rates in Maryland might seem like a straightforward process, but it’s a bit more complicated than choosing the energy plan with the lowest cost per kilowatt-hour. There are a few other factors that you need to keep in mind that can affect how much you pay long-term and how beneficial the plan is for you and your home specifically. We’ll discuss two additional factors to think about when choosing a Maryland electricity plan below.
Your Energy Usage
First, you’ll want to consider how much energy you use, as many electric suppliers have tiered energy plans. Tiered plans charge a standard rate to customers who use an average amount of electricity, while those using less than average and those using more than average tend to pay more. If you use around the average amount of 957 kWh per month in Maryland, a tiered plan might benefit you, but if you use much less or much more, a different option might be better and save you more in the long run.
You might also want to consider when you consume electricity most. Some energy suppliers offer time-of-use (TOU) electric plans, which means every customer gets charged the same amount for energy based on the time of day or night it’s consumed. If you find yourself using power more during off-peak hours, a TOU plan could save you money.
Contract Length
You should also consider the contract term of the plan you’re considering, which is how long you’ll be locked into the plan. Maryland power plans can have terms ranging from just one month to a few years, with longer plans generally bringing better rates and lower overall prices.
Some additional things to consider when comparing contract lengths include early-termination fees, sign-up fees generally reserved for shorter terms, and new-customer or introductory rates that will increase partway through your contract. This can all be quite confusing, but you can use this tool to compare plans and find the best one for your needs and budget.
Types of Electricity Plans in Maryland
Energy plans often include industry terms that can make the process of choosing one even more of a challenge. Below, we’ll explain the different plan types you’ll see in Maryland, which should help make your decision a bit easier.
Fixed-Rate Plans
A fixed-rate plan is one that comes with a single rate per kWh for your entire contract term, so you always know exactly what you’ll be paying for each kilowatt-hour. It’s important to note that this doesn’t fix your energy bill at a certain amount — just the rate per kWh, so your utility bills can still be higher or lower depending on your consumption. Just keep in mind that some fixed-rate plans automatically turn into variable-rate plans when the contract term ends, so you might need to renew your contract every so often.
Generally speaking, we recommend fixed-rate plans because they help you budget more accurately, and they let you avoid unexpected price hikes due to low electricity supply, high demand or times of crisis.
| Pros of a Fixed-Rate Energy Plan | Cons of a Fixed-Rate Energy Plan |
| Guaranteed price per kWh helps you budget more accurately | Typically have early termination fees |
| Energy rates never go up as a result of a crisis or high demand | If energy rates drop, you won’t enjoy the savings |
Variable-Rate Plans
Rather than provide customers with a fixed rate per kWh, variable-rate plans have per-kWh prices that can change from month to month or even day to day. The prices change based on local energy rates, which are determined in large part by supply and demand. You stand to pay less for electricity if local energy rates are below what the fixed rate would be, but you stand to pay more if demand is high.
Variable-rate plans are a bit of a gamble, so weighing out the pros and cons is essential before committing.
| Pros of a Variable-Rate Energy Plan | Cons of a Variable-Rate Energy Plan |
| Low local energy prices could mean savings for you | High demand or times of crisis could lead to elevated prices |
| Most don’t have an early termination fee and are month-to-month instead of a fixed term such as one year | The average variable rate over a month could end up costing you more than a fixed-rate plan |
No-Deposit and Prepaid Energy Plans
Many energy plans require sign-up fees or deposits to protect the electric company in case of customer non-payment. No-deposit plans are an option for those looking to avoid these fees, although they normally require that you pass a credit check before being accepted.
Alternatively, you can choose a prepaid energy plan, which allows you to put money into your account and then receive service until the total is expended. These plans typically have no sign-up fees, but you must remember to top up your account regularly. If you forget, you might lose service.
| Pros of a Prepaid Energy Plan | Cons of a Prepaid Energy Plan |
| No sign-up costs | You might lose power if you forget to add money to your account |
| No unexpected bills | Many prepaid plans have slightly higher per-kWh prices |
| No contracts or early termination fees |
Green Energy Plans
Green energy plans are what we always recommend because they guarantee the electricity you use is coming from renewable energy sources or is offset by clean energy production, which is a common practice of Constellation and Direct Energy. In many cases, green energy plans have per-kWh prices that are competitive with other plans despite not using coal and natural gas for energy production, so you can potentially save money while promoting renewable energy and doing right by the environment.
Maryland has a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that calls for 50% of the state’s energy production to come from renewable energy sources by 2030.1 It’s likely that in order to reach this goal green energy plans will be incentivized and might become even more affordable than they already are, which is great news.
| Pros of a Green Energy Plan | Cons of a Green Energy Plan |
| Significantly better for the environment | Between 1 and 2 cents more per kWh in some cases |
| Allows you to support clean energy without the cost of installing solar | Not as many plans available as those that use fossil fuels |
Business Energy Plans
Finally, business energy plans are designed for commercial, industrial and governmental consumers. These plans are created with a higher consumption level in mind, as they’re meant to serve office buildings, churches, local government headquarters and more. Not all power companies offer business plans, so you might need to do a dedicated business energy plan search to find options available to you.
Electricity Companies and Providers in Maryland
Thanks to deregulation, homeowners in Maryland have energy choice and can choose from plenty of options when it comes to electric and gas suppliers. Below are some of our top-rated companies in the area, including a list of each company’s strengths.
Think Energy
- Relatively low prices
- Numerous contract terms available
- Positive customer reviews
- Clean energy plans available
AEP Energy
- Clean energy plans available
- Large footprint in Maryland
- Fixed-rate plans
- Experienced
CleanChoice Energy
- Clean energy plans available
- No cancellation fees
- Great customer reviews
- A+ rating with the BBB
- Fixed-rate plans available
Clearview Energy
- Positive online reviews
- Clean energy plans available
- Fixed-rate plans available
- Numerous contract terms available
Discount Power
- Plans ranging from six months to three years
- Clean energy plans available
- Fixed-rate plans available
- Positive online reviews
What to Look For in an Electricity Provider in Maryland
While energy deregulation is certainly a positive thing for Maryland residents, it does make enrollment in a new plan more difficult. Below is a quick list of things to look for in a supplier before committing to one for your electricity needs.
- Plan Type: First, you’ll want to look into the types of energy plans offered by a company. We recommend fixed-rate plans in general, but some customers might benefit more from variable-rate options.
- Energy Source: We strongly recommend suppliers that have renewable energy options, which generate electricity with solar or other clean sources rather than fossil fuels.
- Per-kWh Rates: Every homeowner is concerned with energy prices. Make sure to check your rate before committing, and look for ways the rate could change, including temporary introductory rates or time-of-use agreements.
- Contract Terms: You’ll want to choose the contract term carefully as well. Longer contracts tend to be more affordable, but they lock you into service for longer. You should also check the fine print, including sign-up fees and early cancellation fees.
- Customer Satisfaction: Checking online reviews is a great way to see what kind of customer service you can expect. This could save you major headaches in the future.
- Company Longevity: Finally, you might want to consider how long the company has been serving Maryland. Longer-lived electricity suppliers are likely to have better service.
FAQ: Maryland Electricity Plans
At EcoWatch, we get questions regularly about navigating the wide range of suppliers and how to choose the best one. Below, we’ll answer some of the questions we see most often.
Four Maryland electric suppliers offer renewable energy plans that tie for the most affordable: Eligo Energy, American Power & Gas of MD, AEP Energy and Clearview Energy. These Maryland companies all offer clean energy at just 6 cents per kWh, which is well below the state average of 14.06 cents.
There is no universal answer to this question that will apply to every homeowner, as everyone’s needs and expectations for service are different. For example, one company that offers great variable-rate plans might not appeal at all to a customer looking for fixed-rate plans. That being said, Think Energy is one of our top-rated Maryland energy companies. It has affordable renewable energy, great customer reviews and provides a wide range of contract terms and pricing plans.
The average monthly electric bill in Maryland is $128.24, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. This average is based on the average per-kWh rate of 14.06 cents and an average consumption of 957 kWh per month.
Since energy is deregulated in Maryland, one of the best ways to lower your electric bill is to shop around for a potential new supplier with the best per-kWh rates. You have your choice of many energy suppliers with different rates, terms and contract types available, and you can use this tool to help you select the best one for your needs.
In addition to lowering your rate by shopping around for your energy plan, you can make your home more energy-efficient by replacing insulation, windows and doors, installing energy-efficient light bulbs throughout your home and installing a smart thermostat to help manage your heating and cooling equipment more efficiently. You can also check out our guide to limiting electricity usage for more tips and tricks to lower your energy bills.
The answer to this question will be different for every customer, as there are many individual factors that go into choosing one. Ideally, you should consider your monthly energy usage, whether you want the security of a fixed rate or the potential savings of a variable rate, the contract term you’re comfortable with and more. If you need help choosing the plan that’s right for you, you can check out plans from Think Energy, AEP Energy, CleanChoice Energy, Clearview Energy and Discount Power to get started.
