What drives electric bills in Maryland
Residential electricity in Maryland averaged 21.3¢ per kWh in January–July 2026, up 13.6% from 18.8¢ in the same months a year earlier (the U.S. average went up 6.9%). In July 2026, the latest month available, it was 21.4¢. The typical home here used 929 kWh a month in 2024, close to the U.S. average.
- Standard Offer Service changes. The supply rate is set through auctions and reset on a fixed schedule. Increases in June 2025 reflected higher PJM capacity costs.
- Multi-year rate plans. BGE and Pepco have rate plans with increases that take effect every year to pay for grid and gas-pipe upgrades.
- Electric heat. Many Maryland homes use heat pumps, and some older homes have electric baseboard heat.
Who supplies your power
BGE serves Baltimore and central Maryland, Pepco serves the D.C. suburbs, Delmarva Power serves the Eastern Shore, and Potomac Edison serves the western part of the state. SMECO and Choptank Electric are co-ops.
Ways to pay less in Maryland
- Maryland lets you choose a supplier. Compare the supplier’s price with your utility’s Price to Compare, and avoid variable-rate plans.
- EmPOWER Maryland programs from your utility offer rebates on heat pumps, insulation, appliance recycling and home energy checkups.
For example, a 1,500 W space heater running 8 hours a day costs about $78 a month at Maryland prices. Check what your appliances cost to run in Maryland.
Shopping for a cheaper plan in Maryland
Maryland lets many homes choose who supplies their electricity. Before you switch, compare offers at your own usage, not just the advertised price: at the 929 kWh a typical home here uses, every 1¢ per kWh is worth about $111 a year. Prefer fixed-rate plans of 12 months or more, check the early cancellation fee, and note when the contract ends.
Help paying your bill in Maryland
- Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP): grants that lower electric bills for income-eligible households, through the Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP).
- Arrearage Retirement Assistance: OHEP can forgive past-due balances up to a set amount for eligible households.
Statewide help is in addition to the federal programs, such as LIHEAP and weatherization, that the bill checker above lists. Call 211 to find the agency that handles them near you.
Is solar worth it in Maryland?
A typical 7 kW rooftop system in Maryland produces roughly 8,750 kWh a year, about 78% of what an average home here uses. At the state’s average price of 21.3¢, that power is worth about $1,864 a year. What you actually save depends on your roof, the price you pay for the system, the 30% federal tax credit rules in effect when you buy, and how your utility credits the power you send to the grid. Get at least three quotes before you decide.
How Maryland compares with nearby states
| State | Price per kWh | kWh a month | Typical bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 21.3¢ | 929 | $198 |
| West Virginia | 15.5¢ | 1,027 | $159 |
| Virginia | 16.8¢ | 1,032 | $174 |
| Delaware | 17.9¢ | 911 | $163 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.0¢ | 817 | $172 |
| District of Columbia | 24.7¢ | 639 | $158 |
| U.S. average | 18.2¢ | 863 | $157 |
Price: average residential price, January–July 2026, U.S. Energy Information Administration (Electric Power Monthly, tables 5.6.A and 5.6.B). Usage: average monthly consumption per home, 2024, EIA form EIA-861. Typical bill = typical usage × current average price. Solar output is a rough estimate for a south-facing roof.