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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  

Maryland electric bills are going up this fall

Most people in Maryland will see higher electric bills this fall compared to last fall. These higher costs are largely because prices from the “capacity market” auction went up by 800%. The capacity market auction is meant to ensure electric system reliability, and is run by PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization (RTO) that coordinates the movement of electricity in all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia.

When you see these higher costs reflected on your bill will depend on who your electric company is, but most Maryland customers are seeing them now or will soon.

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Also check out these resources about this past summer:

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  

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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