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FIRSTENERGYCORP.COM

Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC)

Maryland utility customers can choose to buy their electricity or natural gas supply from the utility or a company other than the utility.  Due to a new law in Maryland, beginning July 1, 2023, Maryland households that receive financial assistance from Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) for paying electricity and/or gas bills* may only sign up with a licensed competitive electric supplier if the supplier has an offer that has been approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC), the state’s utility regulator.

The approved offer must set a supply, or commodity, price that remains at or below Potomac Edison’s current default service or “Standard Offer Service” rate for the rest of your supply contract term. The Standard Offer Service rate is shown on your monthly Potomac Edison bill and includes what you would pay per kilowatt-hour for generation and transmission from your electric utility.

For more information about this law, please visit the retail choice website for the Maryland Public Service Commission at MDEnergyChoice.com.

If you currently receive Office of Home Energy Programs assistance for your energy bills (or received such assistance in the previous fiscal year) and you are also currently enrolled with a supplier who does not offer a Public Service Commission (PSC)-approved plan, and the supplier is planning to return your account to Standard Offer Service with Potomac Edison on or after July 1, 2023, the supplier must follow the cancellation terms of your contract and provide notice at least 30 days prior to ending the contract. The notice from your supplier will explain your options upon cancellation or expiration of your supply contract. Your supplier may not charge you any cancellation or other early termination fee because of this change. If you have questions about your supplier contract, please contact your supplier.

*An Energy Assistance Household (EAH) means a service address or household associated with a utility account that the Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) found has qualified for an electric or gas assistance program during the current or previous fiscal year.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How does this change impact me?

    As a current or previous Energy Assistance Household, the following shopping guidelines will apply to you:

    • Approved suppliers must offer you a price for electricity that is below Potomac Edison’s SOS (Standard Offer Service) rate. This price must remain at or below the SOS for the duration of your contract with them.
    • Approved suppliers cannot charge you any additional fees when you purchase electricity. This includes early termination and cancellation fees.

    If you are not an Energy Assistance Household recipient on or before July 1, 2023, the change in law will not affect your existing supply contract with a retail energy supplier.

  • What if I am a OHEP EAH recipient already enrolled with a supplier?

    If you are currently enrolled with a supplier, the following changes will occur:

    • If your existing contract offers service through a PSC-approved offer for Energy Assistance Households, your supplier will notify you.
    • If your supplier cannot offer you a PSC-approved contract for Energy Assistance Households, you will need to choose a new supplier with an approved plan or you will automatically be returned to Potomac Edison’s SOS.
    • The supplier cannot charge a termination or early cancellation fee.

    If you are currently enrolled with a supplier for a fixed duration period as of July 1, 2023:

    • Suppliers may continue to serve you under your current contract until the expiration date or until the contract is terminated, whichever comes first.
    • At that time, the supplier may offer a new contract that meets the requirements above or return your account to Potomac Edison.

    If you are currently enrolled with a supplier under a month-to-month contract as of July 1, 2023, suppliers may offer you a new contract that meets the requirements above or return the account to Potomac Edison at the end of the monthly contract period that expires during July.

  • What if I am an OHEP EAH recipient and decide to enroll with a new retail energy supplier on or after July 1, 2023?

    If the retail energy supplier is enrolling you in a PSC-approved offer, your new enrollment will proceed, and your supply account will be serviced by that supplier.

    If the current retail energy supplier does not have a PSC-approved offer, your enrollment will be cancelled.

  • What if I am currently enrolled with a third-party supplier and then begin receiving OHEP energy assistance grants?

    If your current retail energy supplier does not have a PSC-approved offer, your supplier will contact you to inform you that your existing contract will be cancelled by the supplier.

    If your current retail energy supplier has a PSC-approved offer for OHEP grant recipients, your supplier will notify you regarding changing your supply account to that approved plan.

  • Who should I call if I have questions?

    If you have any questions about this information, please contact us at 1-800-686-0011, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

    However, if you have questions about your supplier contract, please contact your supplier. The contact information for your supplier is included on your monthly electric bill. 

Last Modified: June 1, 2023