OPC Releases Reports on Increases on Commodity and Distribution Portions of Customer Bills 

Maryland electric customers are facing rate increases in both the commodity and distribution portions of their bills. OPC has released two reports explaining these bill increases. One report (released in June), using a variety of figures and tables, reveals that most Maryland utility customers have seen their gas and electricity distribution rates increase substantially over the last 10-15 years, with some rates increasing by multiples of two or three. This report focuses on the amounts that utilities charge their customers for delivering electricity and gas to customers’ homes and businesses, as distinct from the supply (or commodity) charges. The other report (released in August) delves into how the supply (or commodity) charges will be rising starting June 1, 2025, because of the results of a recent auction held by PJM Interconnection, LLC, the entity that administers the wholesale power market and is responsible for transmission planning in our region, which saw prices beginning next June for electric generation capacity spike by more than 800 percent, and also because of how PJM has constructed its market in ways that leave customers highly vulnerable to price swings and the decisions of generation companies.      

Read the June report about rising distribution charges  

Read the August report about rising supply charges  

OPC's new report shows high temperatures and rising utility delivery rates likely to drive up electric bills this summer

Many Marylanders can expect high electric bills this summer because of hot summer weather and rising utility delivery rates and other charges. The Consumer's Guide to Summer 2025 Electric Rates explains the basic components of customer electric bills, how customer consumption affects bills, and why bills are rising. It also gives suggestions for actions that customers can take to avoid the worst impacts and shares some of OPC’s efforts to push back against escalating utility costs. Customers can use the guide to estimate their summer monthly bills.

Read the Consumer's Guide to Summer 2025 Electric Rates and learn how to estimate your summer bill  

Read OPC's press release about the rising electric rates and how OPC is challenging these cost increases  

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Read more about why your winter BGE bill was high  

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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 STRIDEl on the Maryland Energy Talk podcast.

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