OPC Works for You

Why is my summer bill so high?

If you’ve had sticker shock from your recent utility bill, you are not alone. Your energy bill is going up mostly because the costs your utility charges to deliver gas and electricity to your home have been rising significantly in recent years.  Excessive cold or hot temperatures also drive up your bill because you use more energy to heat or cool your home.

Read more about why your bill is so high.

Why is my summer BGE bill so high?
Why is my summer Delmarva Power so high?
Why is my summer Pepco bill so high?

Visit our "Utility Rates and Basics" page for more information on rates and for links to information on rates and bills for Maryland's largest electric and gas utilities.

Pepco's proposed rate increase

Update: Following the passage of Utility RELIEF Act, Pepco withdraws pending forecasted test year proposal. Click this link to learn more.

Pepco is asking state regulators for a distribution rate increase. Pepco’s proposed increase would grow its existing summer rates by 15 percent and winter rates by 33 percent, for an overall increase of 23 percent. Because Pepco’s summer rates apply for 5 months of the year and its winter rates apply for 7 months, the overall increase reflects a weighted average of those two seasonal rates. The proposed increase would follow a decade of steadily rising distribution rates. If approved by the Public Service Commission, it would mean distribution rates will have increased about 63 percent since 2020 and 132 percent since 2016.

To better explain Pepco’s recent rate proposal, OPC prepared A Consumer’s Guide To Pepco’s Proposed Rate Increase.” The Consumer Guide identifies how much rates would increase under Pepco’s proposal and how they have grown in recent years, the novel type of rate proceeding Pepco is seeking along with its implications, and how you can get involved.

Pepco is proposing a new method for setting its rates based on forecasted costs. OPC is asking the Public Service Commission to reject Pepco’s request and apply standard ratemaking policies to evaluate Pepco’s proposal. Click here for more information about the concerns and risks about the new method.

OPC is evaluating Pepco’s proposal and will advocate in the rate proceeding to keep residential rates as low as possible while maintaining safe and reliable service.

A Consumer’s Guide To: Pepco’s Proposed Rate Increase

Read OPCs press release “Pepco proposes 23 percent distribution rate hike—on top of massive rate increases over last decade, OPC Consumer Guide shows.

Utility Wise: Energy answers in 30 minutes or less

This spring, take just 15–30 minutes to get more informed about your energy use. Our live, expert-led webinars are short, informative, and designed with you in mind. Get clear answers to your questions. Each session is hosted by our Director of Consumer Assistance along with a subject expert.

Choose one session or attend them all — it’s up to you.

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• Have a topic idea? Email us at [email protected]

Projected gas bill increases -- Gas Utility Spending Report 

OPC’s 2025 report, prepared by the consulting firm DHInfrastructure, provides critical information on current and future spending to maintain and expand the gas delivery system—the pipes, concrete, computers, and other infrastructure that make up the local distribution system. It also provides important information about future gas bills in the absence of reversals in current practices, in particular the Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement Plan that promotes gas infrastructure replacements and accelerates utility cost recovery.

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Learn what STRIDE, the program driving up everyone’s energy bill is all about. Listen as People's Counsel David Lapp discusses STRIDE on the Maryland Energy Talk podcast.

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