How BGE rates rose 42 percent
Baltimore Gas and Electric's average residential electricity price has risen from 14.17 cents per kWh in 2015 to 20.19 cents in 2025, an increase of about 42 percent, or roughly 3.6 percent per year. The chart shows BGE's average residential price by year. Hover any point for the exact figure.
The Maryland advantage
Why Maryland's net metering still favors solar
Michigan, New York, and Illinois have all trimmed what utilities pay for exported solar, but Maryland keeps full retail net metering. A kWh your BGE system sends to the grid offsets a kWh you would otherwise buy at the full retail rate, and 2023 legislation lets you roll unused credits forward indefinitely at full value. Rising rates plus full retail credit is the most solar-friendly combination among the utilities in this group.
Current residential rates
BGE residential rates are shown below, from the utility's published tariffs and the public Utility Rate Database. Rates vary by plan, season, and usage and change over time.
| Plan | Energy charge | Fixed / basic |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Schedule R, Standard Offer Service (BGE default supply) | Standard Offer Service supply is about 14.4 cents/kWh as a weighted average for June 2025 to May 2026 (seasonal, roughly 12.6 cents in summer 2025 rising toward 16.6 cents in the fall and winter), plus BGE distribution of roughly 5 to 6 cents/kWh, for a typical all-in near 19 to 20 cents/kWh. | About $9.65/month customer charge |
Standard Offer Service supply is a pass-through set by wholesale auctions and resets seasonally. Distribution and the customer charge are set under BGE's 2024 to 2026 Multi-Year Plan approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission. All-in current rates run above the 2024 EIA average because of a January 2025 distribution increase and a June 2025 supply increase. Confirm current pricing on BGE's rate pages before making decisions.
Maryland's full retail net metering
BGE residential solar customers net meter under Maryland's statewide program, which applies to all investor-owned utilities. Exported energy offsets consumption at the full retail rate, and net excess generation credits carry forward month to month at full retail value. At the annual true-up any remaining credits are settled at a lower commodity rate, though under 2023 legislation customers can opt to roll credits over indefinitely at full retail instead. Systems are capped at the lesser of 2 MW or 200 percent of the customer's annual usage.
Rising rates plus full retail credit
BGE's rates climbed about 42 percent since 2015, with a steep increase in 2024 and 2025 driven by both a distribution rate hike and a jump in wholesale supply prices. Higher rates make each kWh your solar offsets worth more.
Maryland's full retail net metering is the standout. Because exported solar is credited at the full retail rate rather than a lower wholesale value, a BGE solar system captures full value whether you use the power directly or send it to the grid. That combination of rising rates and retail-level credit is unusually favorable, though the payoff still depends on your roof, usage, and system size, so get a site-specific quote.
What rising BGE rates could cost you
BGE rates have risen about 3.6% per year. Enter your bill to see what that pace of increase could compound to over time, and what you have likely already absorbed. This is an estimate, not a guarantee.
Estimate only. Projects your current bill forward at BGE's historical average rate increase (3.6% per year, from EIA data); it assumes your usage stays the same except for any add-ons you select. Actual rates depend on your usage, rate plan, and the utility's future filings, and are not guaranteed. This is general information, not financial advice.
BGE service area
BGE serves Baltimore City plus all or part of ten central Maryland counties, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Harford, and Howard, and portions of Montgomery and Prince George's. It is the largest electric utility in Maryland..
To confirm whether a specific address is served by BGE, check your electricity bill. A ZIP lookup tool is coming to this site.
Full data and sources
Per-utility prices are computed from EIA Form 861 (bundled residential revenue divided by sales), which reconciles to the EIA's published figures. These are public-domain U.S. government data.
| Year | BGE (c/kWh) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 14.17 |
| 2016 | 14.73 |
| 2017 | 14.12 |
| 2018 | 12.62 |
| 2019 | 12.25 |
| 2020 | 12.11 |
| 2021 | 12.29 |
| 2022 | 13.59 |
| 2023 | 16.47 |
| 2024 | 17.91 |
| 2025 | 20.19 |
Sources: EIA Form 861, Sales to Ultimate Customers (2015 to 2024) · BGE Standard Offer Service Rates and Price to Compare · Maryland Public Service Commission, net metering · DSIRE, Maryland Net Metering
FAQ
How much have BGE electricity rates gone up?
BGE's average full-service residential price rose from about 14 cents per kWh in 2015 to about 20 cents in 2025, an increase of roughly 42 percent, per EIA Form 861 data, with the sharpest jump in 2024 and 2025.
Does BGE have net metering?
Yes, and it is full retail. Under Maryland's statewide program, exported solar offsets consumption at the full retail rate, credits carry forward month to month, and 2023 legislation lets you roll unused credits over indefinitely at full value. Systems are capped at the lesser of 2 MW or 200 percent of your annual usage.
Why did my BGE bill jump in 2025?
Two things stacked up: a January 2025 distribution increase under BGE's multi-year plan, and a June 2025 rise in the Standard Offer Service supply rate, which is a pass-through set by wholesale auctions. Together they pushed the all-in residential rate to about 20 cents per kWh.
Is solar worth it with BGE?
The combination of rising rates and Maryland's full retail net metering is one of the more favorable solar setups in this group, because exported power earns the full retail rate rather than a lower wholesale value. The payoff still depends on your usage, roof, and system size, so get a site-specific quote.