
CUSTOMER CHOICE
Giving Customers Choice
For FAQs about our Customer Choice Program: |
Washington Gas is a leading proponent of giving customers the freedom to choose their natural gas supplier. Exercising this choice could result in lower gas costs and ultimately, a lower gas bill. As your natural gas utility, we believe it is our responsibility to inform you about how deregulation of the natural gas industry could have a direct impact on you, our customer.
There are two key components to your natural gas service: the supply, or actual gas product and the distribution or delivery of the gas. As a natural gas consumer, you may purchase your natural gas supply from one of a number of licensed energy supply companies or from Washington Gas, which is a regulated utility. As a regulated utility, Washington Gas charges customers the same price that the company pays for the gas supply. Licensed energy supply companies may have greater flexibility in what they charge you. They compete for your business and some may offer price incentives that could result in cost savings to you.
You Can Choose Your Natural Gas Supplier
If you choose an energy supply company other than Washington Gas, you will sign an agreement with that supplier for the terms of your service. If you wish to continue to buy from Washington Gas, no further action is necessary. Regardless of which company sells you natural gas, Washington Gas will continue to deliver gas safely and reliably to your home or business through its distribution system, address your customer needs, bill and collect for usage and respond around the clock to natural gas emergencies.
Customer Billing Options
Washington Gas Delivery Service Customers buy gas from an energy supply company. As a participant in the Customer Choice Program, you have the choice to select how you would like to be billed. Depending on what billing services your natural gas supplier offers, you may receive a single bill or two separate bills. Delivery Service customers could be billed by either method listed below and should discuss billing choices with prospective energy supply companies.
- One bill: This method combines Washington Gas’ charges and the energy supply company’s charges. The bill may be provided by Washington Gas or by the energy supply company. If you choose to receive a combined bill from Washington Gas— which includes Washington Gas’ delivery charges and natural gas charges from the energy supply company —Maryland regulations require Washington Gas to purchase the supplier charges and they become utility charges due to Washington Gas.
- Two separate bills: Washington Gas sends the customer a bill for the distribution charge, system charge and applicable taxes. The energy supply company sends the customer a bill for the natural gas supply and any other applicable charges.
Application of Payments
If you choose to buy gas from an energy supply company and receive a consolidated bill from Washington Gas for the delivery and supply service, the Code of Maryland Regulations currently requires that payments on your account are applied as follows:
- First, to any past due amount owed to Washington Gas for utility related charges;
- then, to any past due amount owed to an energy supply company, if applicable, for the cost of gas;
- next, to any current amount due Washington Gas;
- then, to any current amount due the energy supply company; and
- finally, to any other non-regulated purchase that is on the bill.
+ 2023 Competitive Markets and Customer Choice Customer Communications Plan (pdf)
Customer Choice by Jurisdiction
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D.C. Customer Choice Program
Cost of Gas Highlights - April 2020 All customers in Washington, D.C. are eligible to participate in the Customer Choice Program. All competitive energy suppliers selling natural gas in Washington, D.C. must be licensed by the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia.
DC Customer Choice Resources:
For More Information:
- Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia: 202-626-5100
- District of Columbia Office of the People's Counsel: 202-727-3071
- District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility
- Customer Choice Bill Insert
- Washington Gas: 844-WASHGAS (927-4427)
Energy Supply Companies:
A list of energy supply companies licensed by the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia to participate in the Customer Choice Program is provided below.
- Alpha Gas and Electric (Residential, Commercial, GMA): 1-888-636-3749
- Ambit Energy (Residential, Commercial, GMA): 1-877-282-6248
- American Power & Gas of DC LLC (Residential, Commercial,GMA): 1-800-205-7491
- Atlantic Energy (Residential, Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-800-917-9133
- Bollinger Energy Corporation (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-800-260-0505
- CleanSky Energy (Residential, Commercial, GMA): 1-800-355-6205
- Constellation New Energy (Residential, Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-855-465-1244
- Deca Energy (Residential, Commercial, GMA): 1-855-332-2365 or 202-670-5558
- Gateway Energy Services Corp. (Residential, Commercial, GMA): 1-800-805-8586
- Green Choice Energy (Residential, Commercial, GMA): 1-800-685-0960
- IDT Energy (Residential, Commercial, GMA) 1-877-887-6866
- Indra Energy (Residential, Commercial, GMA): (888) 504-6372
- Major Energy Services (Residential, Commercial, GMA) 1-888-625-6760
- Median Energy (Residential, Commercial,GMA): 1-888-316-5443
- MPower Energy NJ, LLC (Residential, Commercial, GMA) 1-877-286-7693
- New Wave Energy (Residential, Commercial, GMA) 1-716-887-9700
- Nordic Energy Services (Residential, Commercial, GMA): 1-877-808-1022
- NOVEC (Residential, Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-888-627-SAVE
- NRG Business Market (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-800-473-7265
- Park Power (Residential, Commercial, GMA): 1-855-780-7275
- Sprague Operating Resources LLC (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-866-477-7248
- SunSea Energy DC, LLC (Residential, Commercial, GMA): 1-844-277-7517
- UGI Energy Services/Gasmark (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-800-427-8545
- United Energy Trading LLC (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible):1-800-296-2203 / 1-302-485-0692
- WGL Energy Services (Residential, Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-844-4ASKWGL or1-844-427-5945
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Maryland Customer Choice Program
All Maryland customers are eligible to participate in the Customer Choice Program. Energy supply companies serving residential and small commercial customers in Maryland must be licensed by the Maryland Public Service Commission.
Customer List
To foster a more competitive energy environment that benefits consumers, Washington Gas provides limited customer information (name, address and phone number) to licensed competitive energy suppliers. This provides customers an opportunity to receive information that may help them make informed decisions about energy choices. Customers are notified of the opportunity to have their names removed from the list through notices in the spring and fall issues of the Washington Gas customer newsletter.
Maryland Customer Choice Resources:
For More Information:
- Maryland Public Service Commission: 410-767-8000 or 800-492-0474
- Washington Gas: 844-WASHGAS (927-4427)
Energy Supply Companies:
- Effective January 1, 2025 Maryland law requires natural gas suppliers perform their own billing and price their product lower than the monthly price charged by gas utilities. We are aware that all suppliers have or will soon exit the Maryland market given the new law.
- Washington Gas does not offer a fixed price product for 1 or 2 years, because we buy gas monthly to serve all firm customers. Thus, our per therm price can change monthly.
- We cannot predict what next month’s per therm price will be for Washington Gas customers.
- If you want to switch to Washington Gas, there is no charge for switching. Please contact your current supplier to make the change.
- Under Maryland rules, if you request to switch to Washington Gas in the first 20 days of your billing cycle, we will become your default supplier the next calendar month. If you request to switch to Washington Gas in the last 10 days of your billing cycle you may need to stay with your current supplier for an additional month.
- If you have questions or concerns about the Maryland gas supplier market, you should direct them to your House Delegate or Senator, or to the Maryland Public Service Commission.
- For more information go to mdgaschoice.com.
A list of retail energy suppliers who meet certain financial and regulatory criteria and who are approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission to participate in the Customer Choice Program is provided below.
- Alpha Gas and Electric (Commercial, GMA): 1-888-636-3749
- Ambit Energy (Commercial, GMA): 1-877-282-6248
- American Power and Gas (Commercial, GMA): 1-800-205-7491
- Atlantic Energy (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-800-917-9133
- Bollinger Energy Corporation (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-800-260-0505
- CleanSky Energy (Commercial): 1-800-355-6205
- Colonial Energy (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-703-218-2451
- Constellation New Energy (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-855-465-1244
- Deca Energy (Commercial, GMA): 1-855-332-2365 or 202-670-5558
- Direct Energy Services, LLC: 1-855-907-5730
- Discount Power Inc. (Commercial, GMA): 1-877-259-7693
- Energy Plus Natural Gas, LLC (Commercial, GMA): 1-877-580-3915
- ENGIE Power & Gas, LLC (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-855-327-6937
- Enspire Energy (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 757-963-9123
- Gateway Energy Services Corp. (Commercial, GMA): 1-800-805-8586
- Green Choice Energy (Commercial, GMA): 1-800-685-0960
- IDT Energy (Commercial, GMA) 1-877-887-6866
- IGS Energy (Commercial, GMA): 1-877-995-4447
- Indra Energy (Commercial, GMA): 1-888-504-6372
- Major Energy Services (Commercial, GMA): 1-888-625-6760
- Maryland Gas & Electric (Commercial, GMA): 1-866-568-0293
- Median Energy (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-888-316-5443
- MPower Energy NJ, LLC (Commercial, GMA): 1-877-286-7693
- New Wave Energy (Commercial, GMA) 1-716-887-9700
- Nordic Energy (Commercial, GMA): 1-877-808-1022
- NRG Home : 1-855-500-8703
- NOVEC (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-888-627-SAVE
- NRG Business Market (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-800-473-7265
- Park Power Inc. (Commercial, GMA): 1-855-780-7275
- SFE Energy (Commercial, GMA): 1-877-316-6344
- Sprague Operating Resources LLC (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible):1-866-477-7248
- Spring Power & Gas (Commercial & GMA): 1-888-710-4782
- Stand Energy (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-800-598-2048
- StateWise Energy (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-855-862-1185
- UGI Energy Services/Gasmark (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-800-427-8545
- United Energy Trading LLC (Commercial, GMA, and Interruptible): 1-800-296-2203 / 1-302-485-0692
- WGL Energy Services (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-844-4ASKWGL or 1-844-427-5945
- XOOM Energy Maryland, LLC (Commercial, GMA): 1-888-997-8979
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Virginia Customer Choice Program
All customers in Virginia are eligible to buy their natural gas from either competitive retail energy suppliers or from Washington Gas, the regulated utility. All competitive energy suppliers selling natural gas in Virginia must be licensed by the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
Customer List
To foster a more competitive energy environment that can benefit consumers, state regulations require Washington Gas and other utilities to provide certain customer information (name, address and gas usage history) to licensed competitive energy suppliers. This provides customers an opportunity to receive information that may help them make informed decisions about energy choices.
Customers are notified of the opportunity to have their names removed from the list through notices in the spring and fall issues of the Washington Gas customer newsletter.
Virginia Customer Choice Resources:
For More Information:
- Virginia State Corporation Commission: 804-371-9967 or 800-552-7945
- Washington Gas: 844-WASHGAS (927-4427)
Energy Supply Companies:
A list of retail energy suppliers who meet certain financial and regulatory criteria and who are approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission to participate in the Customer Choice Program is provided below:
- Ambit Energy (Residential, Commercial, GMA): 1-877-282-6248
- Bollinger Energy Corporation (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-800-260-0505
- Constellation New Energy (Residential, Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-855-465-1244
- Deca Energy (Residential, Commercial, GMA): 1-855-332-2365 or 202-670-5558
- Enspire Energy (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 757-963-9123
- Gateway Energy Services Corp. (Residential, Commercial, GMA): 1-800-805-8586
- Indra Energy(Residential, Commercial, GMA): (888) 504-6372
- IGS Energy (Residential, Commercial, GMA): 1-877-995-4447
- Nordic Energy (Residential, Commercial, GMA): 1-877-808-1022
- NOVEC (Residential, Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-888-627-7283
- NRG Business Market (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-800-473-7265
- Sprague Operating Resources LLC (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible):1-866-477-7248
- Stand Energy (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-800-598-2048
- UGI Energy Services/Gasmark (Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-800-427-8545
- Virginia Light & Power (Residential, Commercial, GMA) 1-855-726-9955
- Vista Energy Marketing (Residential, Commercial, GMA) 1-888-508-4782
- WGL Energy Services (Residential, Commercial, GMA, & Interruptible): 1-888-236-9437
Customer Participation
Current Customer Enrollment:
Jurisdiction | Customer Class | Customers Participating | Customers Eligible | Percentage of Participating Customers |
District of Columbia | Residential | 15,211 | 151,404 | 10% |
Commercial | 4,229 | 13,094 | 32% | |
Interruptible | 109 | 109 | 100% |
|
Maryland | Residential | 49,101 | 482,920 | 10% |
Commercial | 12,122 | 31,715 | 38% | |
Interruptible | 138 |
139 | 99% |
|
Virginia | Residential | 48,065 | 522,395 | 9% |
Commercial | 8,863 | 30,918 | 29% | |
Interruptible | 123 | 124 | 99% |
Note: Commercial figures above include Commercial & Industrial (C& I) and Group Metered Apartments (GMA) customers. Virginia data includes Shenandoah customers.
Updated: February 1, 2025
Total Customer Choice Participation by Jurisdiction
District of Columbia: 19,549
Maryland: 61,361
Virginia: 57,051
Updated: February 1, 2025
Information for Gas Suppliers
If you would like to obtain information on supplier obligations, charges, enrollment nominations, code of conduct or current customer enrollment, please click below for more information.
- Gas Supplier Application and Agreement
- Billing Service Agreement
- Non Disclosure Agreement
- District of Columbia - Rate Schedule #5
- Maryland - Rate Schedule #8
- Virginia - Rate Schedule #9
- Maryland Residential Trailing Sales Service Average
Firm/Interruptible Curtailment Reporting
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- February 2013
Interruptible Balancing Charge
Balancing Charge (December 2024 – November 2025) |
|
District of Columbia |
$0.0020 |
Maryland | $0.0185 |
Virginia | $0.0158 |
Purchased Gas Costs
Dollars Per Therm* | |||||
Month/Year | District of Columbia | Maryland | Virginia | ||
Residential & Commercial | Residential & Commercial | Residential | Commercial | Group Metered Apartments | |
February- 2025 | $0.5664 | $0.5514 | $0.5389 | $0.5422 | $0.9131 |
January- 2025 | $0.4995 | $0.4836 | $0.4708 | $0.4741 | $0.8450 |
December- 2024 | $0.4162 | $0.3991 | $0.3858 | $0.3892 | $0.7601 |
November- 2024 | $0.5133 | $0.4913 | $0.4472 | $0.4515 | $0.7896 |
October- 2024 | $0.5133 | $0.4913 | $0.4472 | $0.4515 | $0.7896 |
September- 2024 | $0.5133 | $0.4913 | $0.4472 | $0.4515 | $0.7896 |
August- 2024 | $0.5834 | $0.5610 | $0.5083 | $0.5109 | $0.8500 |
July- 2024 | $0.5834 | $0.5610 | $0.5083 | $0.5109 | $0.8500 |
June- 2024 | $0.5834 | $0.5610 | $0.5083 | $0.5109 | $0.8500 |
May- 2024 | $0.5182 | $0.4896 | $0.4405 | $0.4438 | $0.7796 |
April- 2024 | $0.4567 | $0.4272 | $0.3811 | $0.3865 | $0.7212 |
March- 2024 | $0.5324 | $0.5040 | $0.4592 | $0.4646 | $0.7993 |
February- 2024 | $0.4946 | $0.4730 | $0.3979 | $0.4013 | $0.7345 |
January- 2024 | $0.5884 | $0.5738 | $0.4970 | $0.5004 | $0.8335 |
December- 2023 | $0.5059 | $0.4851 | $0.4158 | $0.4192 | $0.7523 |
November- 2023 | $0.5702 | $0.5600 | $0.5102 | $0.4777 | $0.7960 |
October- 2023 | $0.5702 | $0.5600 | $0.5102 | $0.4777 | $0.7960 |
September- 2023 | $0.5702 | $0.5600 | $0.5102 | $0.4777 | $0.7960 |
August- 2023 | $0.6001 | $0.5920 | $0.5233 | $0.4924 | $0.8094 |
July- 2023 | $0.6001 | $0.5920 | $0.5233 | $0.4924 | $0.8094 |
June- 2023 | $0.6001 | $0.5920 | $0.5233 | $0.4924 | $0.8094 |
May- 2023 | $0.6096 | $0.6017 | $0.5501 | $0.5137 | $0.8085 |
April- 2023 | $0.6096 | $0.6017 | $0.5501 | $0.5137 | $0.8085 |
March- 2023 | $0.4955 | $0.4860 | $0.4357 | $0.3994 | $0.6942 |
February- 2023 | $0.9382 | $0.9362 | $0.8842 | $0.8477 | $1.1388 |
January- 2023 | $0.9382 | $0.9362 | $0.8842 | $0.8477 | $1.1388 |
December- 2022 | $0.8608 | $0.8555 | $0.8175 | $0.7810 | $1.0721 |
November- 2022 | $0.7960 | $0.7910 | $0.7617 | $0.7227 | $0.8786 |
October- 2022 | $1.1315 | $1.1314 | $1.1147 | $1.0757 | $1.2316 |
September- 2022 | $1.1315 | $1.1314 | $1.1147 | $1.0757 | $1.2316 |
August- 2022 | $1.0772 | $1.0751 | $1.0681 | $1.0327 | $1.1894 |
July- 2022 | $1.0772 | $1.0751 | $1.0681 | $1.0327 | $1.1894 |
June- 2022 | $1.0772 | $1.0751 | $1.0681 | $1.0329 | $1.1895 |
May- 2022 | $0.9693 | $0.9747 | $0.9280 | $0.8978 | $1.0798 |
April- 2022 | $0.8714 | $0.8653 | $0.8226 | $0.7924 | $0.9744 |
March- 2022 | $0.7206 | $0.7124 | $0.6609 | $0.6307 | $0.8127 |
February- 2022 | $0.6455 | $0.6362 | $0.6405 | $0.6208 | $0.7986 |
January- 2022 | $0.6455 | $0.6362 | $0.6405 | $0.6208 | $0.7986 |
*Reflects purchased gas costs minus balancing charges listed below. Effective April 2001, the Balancing Charge is billed to third party suppliers by Washington Gas to recover a portion of Washington Gas' capacity and peaking operation's costs. The Balancing Charge does not include a portion of Washington Gas' storage costs, which are billed separately to third party suppliers. |
Balancing Charge
Balancing Charge | |||||
Month/Year | District of Columbia | Maryland | Virginia | ||
Residential & Commercial | Residential & Commercial | Residential | Commercial | Group Metered Apartments | |
January- 2022 | $0.0209 | $0.0210 | $0.0209 | $0.0097 | $0.0128 |
February- 2022 | $0.0209 | $0.0210 | $0.0209 | $0.0097 | $0.0128 |
March- 2022 | $0.0111 | $0.0098 | $0.0122 | $0.0086 | $0.0088 |
April- 2022 | $0.0111 | $0.0098 | $0.0122 | $0.0086 | $0.0088 |
May- 2022 | $0.0111 | $0.0098 | $0.0122 | $0.0086 | $0.0088 |
June- 2022 | $0.0111 | $0.0098 | $0.0122 | $0.0086 | $0.0088 |
Jul- 2022 | $0.0111 | $0.0098 | $0.0122 | $0.0086 | $0.0088 |
Aug- 2022 | $0.0111 | $0.0098 | $0.0122 | $0.0086 | $0.0088 |
Sep- 2022 | $0.0111 | $0.0098 | $0.0122 | $0.0086 | $0.0088 |
Oct- 2022 | $0.0111 | $0.0098 | $0.0122 | $0.0086 | $0.0088 |
Nov- 2022 | $0.0111 | $0.0098 | $0.0122 | $0.0086 | $0.0088 |
Dec- 2022 | $0.0126 | $0.0117 | $0.0142 | $0.0096 | $0.0122 |
Jan- 2023 | $0.0126 | $0.0117 | $0.0142 | $0.0096 | $0.0122 |
Feb- 2023 | $0.0126 | $0.0117 | $0.0142 | $0.0096 | $0.0122 |
Mar- 2023 | $0.0116 | $0.0137 | $0.0153 | $0.0094 | $0.0135 |
Apr- 2023 | $0.0116 | $0.0137 | $0.0153 | $0.0094 | $0.0135 |
May- 2023 | $0.0116 | $0.0137 | $0.0153 | $0.0094 | $0.0135 |
Jun- 2023 | $0.0116 | $0.0137 | $0.0153 | $0.0094 | $0.0135 |
July- 2023 | $0.0116 | $0.0137 | $0.0153 | $0.0094 | $0.0135 |
August- 2023 | $0.0116 | $0.0137 | $0.0153 | $0.0094 | $0.0135 |
September- 2023 | $0.0116 | $0.0137 | $0.0153 | $0.0094 | $0.0135 |
October- 2023 | $0.0116 | $0.0137 | $0.0153 | $0.0094 | $0.0135 |
November- 2023 | $0.0116 | $0.0137 | $0.0153 | $0.0094 | $0.0135 |
December- 2023 | $0.0109 | $0.0127 | $0.0142 | $0.0090 | $0.0128 |
January- 2024 | $0.0109 | $0.0127 | $0.0142 | $0.0090 | $0.0128 |
February- 2024 | $0.0109 | $0.0127 | $0.0142 | $0.0090 | $0.0128 |
March- 2024 | $0.0183 | $0.0188 | $0.0201 | $0.0106 | $0.0141 |
April- 2024 | $0.0183 | $0.0188 | $0.0201 | $0.0106 | $0.0141 |
May- 2024 | $0.0183 | $0.0188 | $0.0201 | $0.0106 | $0.0141 |
June- 2024 | $0.0183 | $0.0188 | $0.0201 | $0.0106 | $0.0141 |
July- 2024 | $0.0183 | $0.0188 | $0.0201 | $0.0106 | $0.0141 |
August- 2024 | $0.0183 | $0.0188 | $0.0201 | $0.0106 | $0.0141 |
September- 2024 | $0.0183 | $0.0188 | $0.0201 | $0.0106 | $0.0141 |
October- 2024 | $0.0183 | $0.0188 | $0.0201 | $0.0106 | $0.0141 |
November- 2024 | $0.0183 | $0.0188 | $0.0201 | $0.0106 | $0.0141 |
December- 2024 | $0.0180 | $0.0191 | $0.0200 | $0.0115 | $0.0157 |
January- 2025 | $0.0180 | $0.0191 | $0.0200 | $0.0115 | $0.0157 |
February- 2025 | $0.0180 | $0.0191 | $0.0200 | $0.0115 | $0.0157 |
Archive:
- District of Columbia Purchased Gas Costs
- Maryland Purchased Gas Costs
- Virginia Purchased Gas Costs
- Shenandoah Purchased Gas Costs
- DC/MD/VA Purchased Gas Costs (2018-2021)