Where to buy non-BGE and low-pollution electricity
By popular demand, the Kilowatt Shopping Headquarters is back. Alternative energy companies offering to beat Baltimore Gas & Electric's standard price for dirty electricity are few or none. But several do sell more-expensive wind-generated and other "green" energy, which you can't get from BGE. (My colleague Paul Adams wrote about this a week ago.) And if you're afraid BGE's price will rise substantially in coming years (not out of the question), you can lock in with competitors for up to three years. The long-term rates are higher than BGE's present price, but at least you'll know they won't go any higher during the contract period.
Here are the contenders. If I've left anybody out, let me know. Prices below do not include delivery charges, which are tacked on to the generation and transmission price. Be sure to check for cancellation fees if you believe you might withdraw early. For a typical household, every 1-cent difference in the kilowatt-hour price means a $10 difference in the monthly bill.
BGE's standard price:
What you pay if you don't switch suppliers. At the moment it's 10.86 cents per kilowatt hour ($.1086). Buying through BGE pays for electricity mainly from traditional sources: nuclear, coal, natural gas etc. After June 1 it'll be about 11.8 cents.
Washington Gas Energy Services:
One-year contract, 50 percent wind power: 14.60 cents
Two-year contract, 50 percent wind power: 14.60 cents
One-year contract, 100 percent wind power: 15.80 cents
Two-year contract, 100 percent wind power: 15.80 cents
Questions or signup: 1-888-884-WGES (9437)
Commerce Energy:
One-year contract, 50 percent wind power: 15.90 cents
One-year contract, 100 percent wind power: 17.0 cents
One-year contract, regular power: 14.80 cents
Two-year contract, regular power: 14.50 cents
Questions or signup: 1-800-ELECTRIC (1-800-353-2874)
Pepco Energy Services:
One-year contract, 100-percent "green" power (hydroelectric, solar, wind and biomass):
15.11 cents
One-year contract, 100-percent wind power: 15.71 cents
Questions or signup: 703-253-1800
Horizon Power & Light:
Contract through Dec. 31, 2008: 13.0 cents.
Questions or signup: 866-727-5658
Comments
your list shows the wisdom of those who locked in clean currents last spring for 11.9 cts..now cheaper than all the alternatives to BGE.
Posted by: Bolt | February 26, 2008 9:54 PM
Jay,
I just received my renewal notice from Washington Gas Energy Services. The 6-month renewal option is 13.8 cents per kWh. The 2-year renewal option is 13.3 cents per kWh.
I think I'll be switching back to BGE. I made the switch to WGES 2 years ago when they guaranteed a rate lower then BGE. I think I gave back all those savings and then some this past year. Also, customers thinking of switching to WGES should be forewarned that they do not offer time-of-use rates, something I had been using as a BGE customer.
Steve
Posted by: Steve Haines | April 13, 2008 12:13 PM
My year-long contract with WGES is expiring so they sent me a renewal offer which offers 13.4 per kWh for a 2 year contract. Or 13.8 for 6 months. Must sign by April 25, 2008. I'm leaning towards going back to BG&E. It's just a hunch.
Posted by: Pedro | April 14, 2008 8:37 PM
Jay, Spark Energy and Clean Currents would be additional companies. Please warn your readers to closely inspect and read contact terms, and look for monthly fees that add to the total cost. The sales material may not explain all the details, whereas the contract is the legally binding document.
Posted by: Harold Muncy | April 23, 2008 11:27 AM
Steve, be really, really careful if you decide to go back to Time of Use rates with BGE. I got burned with them in 2006 because there wasn't a big enough differential in the rates to make it a savings. There were two months when I actually paid MORE with time of use than with the traditional plan and we were careful to follow the time guidelines. Many years ago, based on some old bills I threw out when we moved, there was a big difference in the rates based on hours. Now, it's very small AND you have to commit to being on it for one year, although they conveniently don't put that in writing.
Posted by: Mar | April 23, 2008 12:36 PM
I switched two years ago to Dominion Retail Inc as my electricity supplier and I have consistantly paid less than BGE. Currently, I pay 10.43 cents per kilowatt hour versus 10.86 for BGE or about 4.1% less. (It comes out to a couple of dollars a month savings.)
However, I noticed that if you tried to switch today to Dominion you would get the messages- Currently there are no commodity offers available in your area.
Competition is great but timing is also a key.
Want to save on your bill now - switch to CFL's and get a programmable thermostat. My gas/electric bill is usually half of my neighbors.
Posted by: Mike | April 24, 2008 12:43 PM
Like poster Mike, I also switched to Dominion Retail and am paying better prices than BGE. Looks like they aren't taking new customers.
Posted by: David P. | April 25, 2008 2:21 AM