Easier Access to Our Residential Services
April 30, 2021
in Maryland, anyways.
The State of Maryland has begun its purchase of receivables (POR) program in certain parts of the state, with other sections of the state taking effect in 2011. Overall, this will make it easier for our customers to choose to lower their energy rates.
With POR*, our vendor is no longer conducting credit checks for new sign-ups in those parts of the state that receive natural gas and electricity from BGE, as well as electricity from Allegheny Power and Delmarva Power.
The sections of Maryland that have electricity service from Pepco and natural-gas service from Washington Gas will continue to have their applicati0ons checked for credit until sometime in 2011.
People sometimes freak out when they see "credit check." We want to assure our prospective customers that the type of credit check run by our vendor does not affect a person's credit score in any way. The credit check involves a person's address, and not their own personal credit. You are never asked to provide any personal information -- like social-security number or driver's license number -- during the sign-up process. The only number you need to provide is your utility account number(s).
All of that said, we do need to emphasize that your billing needs to be up-to-date with your utility (no current late notices or shut-off/disconnect notices). And we still have minimum-usage requirements, which can be found in the General section of our Questions page.
There's even more good news. If a customer was previously blocked due to a past due payment or other reasons, our vendor will review all blocked customers to try to get them enrolled. If a customer has paid off our vendor (WGES), the enrollment will be processed.
*POR has to do with how our vendor deals with debt from customers who do not pay their bills. It's pretty mind-numbing stuff, so we won't go into it here. But if you want to read all about it (and I mean all about it), click here for a PDF from the State of Maryland.
For business owners in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia —right here in our backyard —energy costs are more than just a line item: they are a significant variable that can impact quarterly profitability and long-term operational planning. In recent years, the natural gas market has been characterized by notable volatility. From global supply chain disruptions to shifting domestic production levels, the price you pay for the blue flame in your furnace or the heat in your commercial kitchen has likely felt like a moving target. At Electric Advisors, Inc. , we believe that data-driven decision-making is the only way to effectively manage utility expenses. To help you understand where the market has been and where it is going, we have analyzed the historical procurement costs for Washington Gas (WGL) and compared them to the current opportunities available through competitive suppliers across Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia. The results are clear: across the WGL service territory in MD, DC, and VA , the cost of sticking with the utility’s default Purchased Gas Charge (PGC) may be significantly higher than many business owners realize. The Benchmark: Washington Gas Historical PGC Rates in Maryland, DC, and Virginia Every month, Washington Gas updates its Purchased Gas Charge (PGC) . This is the rate at which the utility passes through the cost of the natural gas it buys on the wholesale market to its customers. By law, the utility does not make a profit on the gas itself; they make their money on the delivery and infrastructure. However, the price they pay—and the price you eventually see on your bill—is subject to the fluctuations of the monthly wholesale market. For businesses in the broader WGL footprint, the important takeaway is this: Washington Gas default supply pricing and competitive market opportunities are consistent across its service territory in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia. In other words, the same benchmark applies whether your business is in suburban Maryland, downtown DC, or Northern Virginia. Looking back at the last 24 months across the WGL service territory in MD, DC, and VA , we see a story of dramatic shifts: 24-Month Average WGL PGC: Approximately $0.68 per therm . The 2025 Spike: In April 2025, rates peaked at a staggering $0.8085 per therm . The 2026 Moderation: As of April 2026, the WGL rate has settled to $0.6382 per therm . While the 2026 rate is a welcome decrease from the highs of the previous year, it remains significantly higher than the rates seen a decade ago. For context, in 2010, the rate hovered around $0.32 per therm. We have seen a steady, long-term upward trend that necessitates a more proactive approach to commercial natural gas rates .
Helping Washington D.C. businesses take advantage of their sales tax exemption opportunities. Did you know that restaurants don't have to pay sales tax?
What’s Behind the Spike in Electricity Use—and Why It Matters