Know Your Rights

Understand your rights when choosing your electricity supplier.

• You have the right to choose a retail electric supplier or to keep all services with your utility.
• You have the right to understand your electricity supply choices.  This website is designed to educate you about your options.
• You have the right to change suppliers as long as your name appears on the bill.
• You have the right to ensure that any supplier you choose is licensed with the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC).
• You have the right to understand your bill and how it relates to the service you receive.
• You have a right to file a complaint with the PSC’s Consumer Affairs Division (online link) if you have an unresolved dispute with a retail electricity supplier or utility.
• You have a right to request a copy of the privacy policy of the retail electricity supplier.
• You have the right not to be switched to a retail supplier without your consent.
• You have a right to have the retail electricity suppliers’ MD PSC license numbers on the marketing materials you receive from retail electricity suppliers.
• You have a right to have a retail electricity supplier contract that contains all material terms and conditions. The supplier must also give you a contract summary, on this form approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission.
• You have a right to receive notice from your retail electricity supplier 30 days in advance of the expiration date of your existing contract. If you have an ‘evergreen’ contract, the supplier must notify you of the pending renewal 45 days before the automatic renewal is scheduled to occur.
• You have the right to cancel a door-to-door solicitation contract within 3 business days of completing the transaction.
• Don’t want to be contacted by energy suppliers? Ask your utility about the ‘Do Not Transfer‘ list to opt out of marketing contacts and stay on your utility’s default service.

Who to Contact

Your electric utility (for example BGE, SMECO, etc.) is responsible for safe and reliable delivery of electricity, no matter who is supplying it.  Contact your utility for issues related to the delivery of electricity, including power outages and emergencies.  You should also contact the utility for issues related to meter reading or for billing questions not related to the retail electricity supplier charges portion of the bill.

If you have questions about the retail electricity supplier charges on your bill, contact your retail electricity supplier directly.

Your electricity service can be terminated for non-payment of both your utility and retail electricity supplier charges. If you receive a termination notice from your utility, you should contact your utility.