Jun 24 - The Baltimore Sun, Maryland



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 apple-to-apple 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.

 Currently, Maryland utilities only publish the weighted average price for standard offer service, which the PSC is not enough information for consumers.

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.

The PSC also ordered the utilities to update information on their websites as soon as they purchase energy 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.

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