Side by side (MD, EIA-861)
| Metric | Pepco (Potomac Electric Power) | The Potomac Edison Company |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 20.08 | 13.83 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 18.16 | 11.72 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $2,169 | $1,494 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 485,483 | 240,570 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Investor-owned |
| Counties served in MD | 2 | 7 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Pepco (Potomac Electric Power) · The Potomac Edison Company · Maryland overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Montgomery county (MD, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Pepco (Potomac Electric Power) and The Potomac Edison Company do not compete for the same meters. Maryland does have retail supply choice: customers of either utility may buy the supply portion from a licensed third-party supplier, or stay on the utility's default supply rate. An offer only saves money if it beats your utility's price to compare (printed on the bill); compare offers at psc.state.md.us/electricchoice. The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Pepco (Potomac Electric Power) cheaper than The Potomac Edison Company?
- No — in 2024 Pepco (Potomac Electric Power) customers averaged 20.08 cents/kWh versus 13.83 for The Potomac Edison Company (EIA-861). The Potomac Edison Company was cheaper by 6.25 cents, about $675 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Pepco (Potomac Electric Power) to The Potomac Edison Company?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. Maryland does allow supply choice: either utility's customers can shop the supply portion at psc.state.md.us/electricchoice if an offer beats the utility's price to compare.
- Why is Pepco (Potomac Electric Power) more expensive than The Potomac Edison Company?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between Pepco and The Potomac Edison territory all feed the 6.25-cent gap.