Maryland energy regulators have ordered the state's utilities to provide better and more up-to-date information on prices for consumers shopping for electricity.
The decision issued Thursday is intended to improve "price to compare" information for standard utility service that appears on customer bills.
Instead of providing apples-to-apples comparisons for consumers, the Maryland Public Service Commission wrote in its order that the "price to compare" information has been "confusing, can be misleading and will often be dated."
The order comes as more ratepayers are shopping around for the best deals. More than 80,000 residents using Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., or about 7 percent of its customers, have switched electricity suppliers to independent producers.
Maryland utilities now publish only the weighted average price for standard service, which the PSC determined is not enough information for consumers. The weighted average price accounts for seasonal rates and usage over a certain period.
Starting in August, utilities must publish current and future prices and the dates those prices are effective. Utilities also must provide the date beyond when prices are unknown and continue publishing the weighted average price with the effective date.
The PSC also ordered the utilities to update information on their websites as soon as they purchase future supply.
"All Maryland electric customers should have access to the same information and the same opportunity to make informed decisions," the commission wrote.
Paula Carmody of the Office of the People's Counsel, which represents consumers before the PSC, said the commission adopted many of its recommendations.
"These changes will make it easier for consumers to more accurately compare the utility prices with the supplier prices for electricity," Carmody said.
Linda Foy, a BGE spokeswoman, said the utility supports the changes. "We certainly want our customers to have the most current information to help them with their electricity shopping," she said.
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