Electricity Rate in Maryland (2026): 21.77c/kWh Average
The EIA residential electricity price in Maryland is 21.77 cents per kWh as of May 2026, 3.33c above the US average of 18.44c/kWh. The Maryland commercial rate is 16.40c/kWh and the industrial rate is 11.22c/kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A).
Best Electricity Rates in Maryland (2026)
In Maryland the number to beat is your utility's Standard Offer Service (SOS) rate, also called the "Price to Compare" (PTC): the default generation supply rate a competitive supplier has to undercut to save you money. BGE (Baltimore area), Pepco (the DC suburbs), and Delmarva Power (the Eastern Shore) each set their SOS through PSC-approved wholesale procurement and reset it seasonally, with new summer rates taking effect June 1. That supply rate is only part of your bill - the delivery (wires) charge stays with your utility and is not competitive whichever supplier you pick. To pay less than SOS, compare state-licensed suppliers on Maryland EnergyChoice, the Public Service Commission's official shopping portal, and check each offer's price per kWh against the "Price to Compare" printed on your own bill.
Maryland's sharp 2025-2026 SOS increases trace largely to the PJM Interconnection capacity market, where the 2025/26 auction cleared at a record $269.92 per MW-day (up from $28.92 the prior year) and the following 2026/27 auction again cleared near its cap at $329.17 per MW-day. When you compare a competitive supplier offer, watch for low teaser rates that jump after a few months, variable-rate plans with no cap, and early-termination fees that can wipe out the savings. The all-in state average shown above is the EIA figure across delivery, supply, and riders, so it runs well above the supply-only Price to Compare.
Maryland Electricity Rate: What You Need to Know
Maryland electricity averages 21.77 cents per kWh for residential customers as of May 2026, according to the EIA Electric Power Monthly. This is 3.33c above the US average of 18.44c/kWh. The average monthly bill for Maryland households is $184 based on typical usage of 945 kWh.
Maryland's 21.77c/kWh rate (May 2026) is above the US average and rose about 14.6% year over year, one of the steeper increases in the country. Maryland is a deregulated state: BGE (Baltimore area), Pepco (the DC suburbs), and Delmarva Power (the Eastern Shore) deliver the electricity and provide default Standard Offer Service, while households can also buy generation supply from competitive retail suppliers. The sharp 2025-2026 increases trace largely to the PJM Interconnection capacity market, where the 2025/26 auction cleared at $269.92 per MW-day (up from $28.92 the prior year) and the BGE zone hit its zonal cap of $466.35 per MW-day; the following 2026/27 auction again cleared at its cap, $329.17 per MW-day. A major driver in the BGE zone is the reliability-must-run contracts keeping Talen Energy's Brandon Shores and Wagner plants online past their planned 2025 retirement until new transmission lines are built, expected around 2028. Maryland's generation mix is natural gas, nuclear (the Calvert Cliffs station), and a growing renewables share.
Generation mix: Natural gas 45%, nuclear 30%, renewables 20%, coal 5%. The fuel mix is a primary driver of electricity rates - states with abundant hydro or nuclear tend to have lower rates, while states dependent on imported petroleum (Hawaii) or natural gas pay more.
Year-over-year change: Maryland rates rose 14.6% year-over-year as of May 2026. This compares to the US average increase of 6.2% over the same period.
Deregulated: You Can Shop for a Better Rate
Maryland PSC - BGE, Pepco, Delmarva default; competitive supply optional
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