District of Columbia Electricity Rates
Contents
- 1 District of Columbia Electricity Rates
- 2 District of Columbia Utility Companies
- 3 District of Columbia Power Outage
- 4 Energy Deregulation in the District of Columbia
- 5 District of Columbia Price to Compare
- 6 Understanding the PEPCO Electric Bill
- 7 District of Columbia Renewable Energy
- 8 Compare Electric Suppliers
- 9 Clean Energy
- 10 Electricity Rates
If you’re living in Washington DC then you have the choice to switch electric suppliers and save money on the electric bill. District of Columbia electricity rates have been deregulated since January 2001, thanks to the restructuring of the energy market by the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia. Before energy deregulation, the utility company was in charge of the generation, transmission, and delivery of power to customers living in Washington DC. If residents were unhappy with the electric rate they were paying, there was nothing they could do. Thanks to energy choice, customers can now save 10 to 25 percent by switching to an alternate electric supplier.
The District of Columbia has a population of nearly 700,000 people and is located just 40 miles southwest of Baltimore, Maryland. Given the city’s geographical location, it is subject to cold winters and has an annual snowfall of 14 inches. The cold weather can oftentimes increase energy prices as the demand for heating picks up. Residents can protect themselves from spikes in the energy market by locking in a fixed rate.
District of Columbia Utility Companies
Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO) is the utility company that serves the District of Columbia and surrounding areas. The utility company is in charge of maintaining and managing the power lines that deliver electricity to customers within its service area. The cost to maintain the power infrastructure shows up on the electric bill as the delivery charge and is regulated by Public Service Commission. Residents living in the District of Columbia will not be able to change utility companies for the delivery service.
District of Columbia Power Outage
If you change electric suppliers and experience a power outage, then you will still need to contact the utility company. PEPCO is responsible for fixing all power outages that occur in its service area. Thanks to advancements in technology, potential power outages can usually be detected and diverted before they can occur. However, if your lights go off for more than an hour, then you will need to report the outage to PEPCO.
- PEPCO Customer Contact Number: 1-800-643-3768
Energy Deregulation in the District of Columbia
Residents living in Washington DC didn’t always have a choice on choosing their electric supplier. Before energy deregulation, the utility company was responsible for all aspects of the electric bill. This included power generation, transmission, and delivery. If a customer was unhappy with the electric rate there was nothing they could do to change it.
Thanks to energy choice, that has all changed. In 2001, the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia passed legislation approving competition which allows more than one electric supplier to offer supply services to residents. The increase in energy suppliers entering the market has helped push down energy prices as now companies have to compete to earn customers.
District of Columbia Price to Compare
Residents that decide not to change electric suppliers will have their supply service provided by PEPCO. Along with delivering power to customers, PEPCO is required to act as the supplier of last resort and will provide a default rate to customers for the supply services. The default rate is referred to as the price to compare. The price to compare is a variable rate that changes throughout the year. Customers shopping for an alternate electric supplier can use the price to compare to determine energy savings.
Understanding the PEPCO Electric Bill
In deregulated electricity markets, the charges on the electric bill are separated into two main sections. The two main sections are the delivery and supply charge:
- Delivery Charge – The delivery charge represents the regulated section of the electric bill. This is the cost PEPCO charges to customers to deliver the power to their home or business. This charge is regulated by the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia. Residents can’t switch to another utility company for the delivery service.
- Supply Charge – The supply charge represents the deregulated section of the electric bill. This is the cost of generating the power the customer is estimated to use for a given period. Energy choice allows the customer to switch electric suppliers for a lower supply rate.
District of Columbia Renewable Energy
One of the many benefits of energy choice is the ability to determine how power is generated. Electric suppliers are now increasingly offering energy plans that are 100% renewable. This means the power is generated from energy sources that are considered to be cleaner than conventional methods such as oil and coal.
The District of Columbia has one of the strictest renewable energy programs in the country. With the passage of the Clean Energy Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018, electricity sold in the city will be required to come from 100% renewable energy sources by 2032. Electricity generation from solar is expected to reach 10% of the total amount generated by 2041.
Compare Electric Suppliers
If you live or are planning on relocating to Washington DC, then take advantage of energy choice! When you compare electric suppliers, you will have a variety of options to choose from that comes down to more than just the lowest rate. Energy suppliers are offering customers additional incentives to increase the value of their energy plans. Some of these incentives may include energy-saving products such as a smart thermostat or programs that may earn you credits back onto the electric bill.
ElectricRateSelect.com provides a price comparison platform that is designed to help customers compare and select the right electric supplier based on their needs. We have a qualified customer support team with over 10 years of combined experience that can answer any questions and will walk you through the process. If you’re in the market for a new energy plan, then feel free to reach out today!