June 12, 2010 BG&E Submits an Amended Smart Grid Proposal to Maryland PSCBaltimore Gas & Electric has resubmitted its Smart Grid metering proposal that was rejected three wee... more   June 14, 2010 Echelon and Convergys Want to Host Yours "Energy Happy Hours" Here is a story about two companies that are not well known to U.S. utilities -- but should be. They are i... more   June 14, 2010 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SMART GRID Every Smart Grid component —transformer, meter, air conditioner, power plant, electric car, solar panel, etc. —has a location on ... more   June 14, 2010 CREATING GREEN JOBS There are two states in the US where you can’t find self-service filling stations: New Jersey and Oregon. I can’t speak for Oregon because I’v... more		Q: How do I select a supplier? A: Electricity suppliers are those entities that have been licensed by the Maryland Public Service Commission to sell electricity directly to customers. An electricity supplier might be a utility or an energy marketer or retailer who buys electricity from a variety of sources. In addition to being licensed by the Maryland Public Service Commission, electricity suppliers must also be qualified by local utility before they are eligible to enroll customers in specified territories. When evaluating suppliers, you will need to know the Price to Compare and the amount of energy you use. The amount of energy used appears in the Electric Details section of your bill. Use the Price to Compare and your monthly usage to see how your current price for electric generation compares with the price offered by other suppliers. Using the Price to Compare to determine your monthly savings Your Price to Compare, which appears on your bill below the Summary Box, reflects the average amount a customer in your rate class pays per kilowatt-hour (kWh) on an annual basis. The average price is combined and calculated over a year, since summer, winter, and Time of Use rates differ. Your Price to Compare includes the parts of your electric service that are open to competition, generation, and the cost of transmission. Transmission is the process of sending electricity over high-voltage lines to your local utility's distribution system. Because the distribution part of your electric service is not open to competition, your Price to Compare does not include charges associated with the delivery of that electricity. To compare, first look at your past bills to find your typical monthly kWh usage. Then multiply your typical kWh by the difference between local utility's Price to compare and the price offered by the supplier. The result will show any savings you would receive per month.