Residential customers in Maryland may choose to receive electricity or gas supply from your local utility or from an energy supplier. A gas or electricity supplier may offer different contract or price terms than your local utility, or may offer you a contract that helps to promote renewable energy, such as wind energy. All gas and electricity suppliers must be licensed by the MD Public Service Commission and comply with the MD PSC rules on marketing, solicitation, contracting, and all Maryland consumer protection laws.
Energy suppliers compete with your local utility to sell you electricity and/or natural gas supply. Suppliers sell directly to consumers, using the local utility’s distribution system to deliver the commodity (electric or natural gas). You pay the local utility for the delivery service, and the supplier for the supply. Most often you will receive a single bill from the utility listing separately the costs of the distribution and the supply.
You do not have to choose a new supplier. If you do not, you will receive your electricity or gas supply from your local utility. If you do choose an energy supplier, the following protections still apply:
- You will use the same wires to bring electricity into your home and you will still contact your local electric utility if the power goes out. Your electric utility will continue to respond to any emergency involving electric service.
- You will use the same pipes to bring natural gas into your home, and you will still contact the local gas utility if you smell gas or have problems with your gas service. Your gas utility will continue to respond to any emergency involving gas service.
Websites and direct mail information from energy companies do not always make clear whether they are energy suppliers, energy brokers, or aggregators. However, there are important differences and you will always need to have a contract with an energy supplier if you do not purchase your electric or gas from your local distribution utility. See our detailed description: What are Energy Suppliers, Brokers, Aggregators
If you are a low-income consumer, you may qualify for assistance from the Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) and the Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) for your utility bills. contact the Maryland Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP)