Maryland households pay 21.77 cents per kilowatt-hour on average, which is 18.1 percent above the national figure. That single number decides what every appliance in the house costs to run, so this page works it through for all of them.
The average residential rate in Maryland is 21.77¢ per kWh, ranking 37 of 51 from cheapest to most expensive, in the middle of the national range. Commercial customers pay 16.40¢. The average monthly household bill is $172.
How Maryland compares
| Residential rate | 21.77¢/kWh |
|---|---|
| US average | 18.44¢/kWh |
| Difference | +18.1% |
| Rank, cheapest to dearest | 37 of 51 |
| Northeast regional average | 25.91¢/kWh |
| Commercial rate | 16.40¢/kWh |
| Average monthly bill | $172 |
| Retail choice | Deregulated: you can shop for a supplier |
You can change your supply rate in Maryland
Maryland has a competitive retail market, which means the 21.77 cent average above is a blend of people on the default utility rate and people on shopped plans. If you have never switched, you are probably on the default, which is usually the more expensive of the two.
The delivery portion of your bill does not change when you switch, and neither does who fixes the line when it goes down. Only the generation charge moves. Look at your bill for the supply rate in cents per kWh and compare that figure, not the total.
What every appliance costs to run in Maryland
All figures below are computed at the Maryland rate of 21.77 cents. The last column shows the annual difference against the same appliance at the national average, which is where the effect of living here actually shows up.
[hed_state_appliance_costs state=”Maryland”]What this rate means for solar in Maryland
At 21.77 cents, Maryland sits close enough to the national average that solar payback here tends to track the national picture. The variables that decide it are local: net metering terms, state incentives, roof orientation and shading.
Typical peak sun hours across the Northeast region run around 3.5 to 4.5 hours a day as an annual average, though the spread within a region can be wide. For a figure based on your actual location rather than a regional band, use the location-based solar production calculator, and the solar payback calculator for the financial side.
Questions people actually ask
[hed_faq]What is the average electricity rate in Maryland?21.77 cents per kilowatt-hour for residential customers, which is 18.1 percent above the US average of 18.44 cents.
What is the average electric bill in Maryland?About $172 a month. That reflects both the rate and how much electricity households here typically use, which is driven mostly by climate and heating fuel.
Can I choose my electricity provider in Maryland?Yes. Maryland has a deregulated retail market, so you can shop for a supplier. Your utility still delivers the power and handles outages.
Why is my electricity bill higher than the Maryland average?The state average blends every household, including small apartments. Electric heating, electric water heating, a pool pump, an older refrigerator or an EV will each push a bill well above it. The appliance table above shows what each of those costs at the Maryland rate.[/hed_faq]