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Customer Choice

Customer Choice
By Jurisdiction
Participation
Info for Gas Suppliers
Purchased Gas Costs

Giving Customers Choice

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.

For FAQs about our Customer Choice Program:

Click here.

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)

Opt Out of Third-Party Energy Supplier Communications

If you are a Maryland or Virginia customer, you can elect to be excluded from the customer list that Washington Gas provides to licensed competitive energy suppliers. These suppliers use the list to communicate and promote their product to potential customers. Washington Gas removes customers who have requested not to be included on the customer list before the list is provided to the licensed energy supply companies, which is typically done semi-annually in the spring and fall.

To be excluded from third-party energy suppliers’ communications, click here

Additionally, you can opt out by calling the call center at 1-844-WASHGAS (927-4427), where a customer service representative can assist you.

Maryland Residential Customers Do Not Transfer List

If you are a Maryland residential customer, Washington Gas offers the ability for you to opt out of third-party energy supplier enrollments through our Do Not Transfer List. This will prevent and block your account from being automatically switched to a third-party energy supplier.

To prevent your Maryland residential account from being automatically transferred to a third-party supplier, click here

Additionally, you can be added by calling the call center at 1-844-WASHGAS (927-4427), where a customer service representative can assist you.

Customer Choice by Jurisdiction

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:

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.

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:

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.

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:

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:

Customer Participation

Current Customer Enrollment:

Jurisdiction
Customer Class
Customers Participating
Customers Eligible
Percentage of Participating Customers
District of Columbia
Residential
15,389
149,258
10%
Commercial
4,033
13,143
31%
Interruptible
104
104
100%
Maryland
Residential
12,470
485,200
3%
Commercial
11,759
31,962
37%
Interruptible
127
127
100%
Virginia
Residential
46,950
524,874
9%
Commercial
8,630
31,255
28%
Interruptible
119
119
100%

Note: Commercial figures above include Commercial & Industrial (C& I) and Group Metered Apartments (GMA) customers. Virginia data includes Shenandoah customers.

Updated: November 1, 2025

Total Customer Choice Participation by Jurisdiction

Type image caption here (optional)

District of Columbia: 19,455
Maryland: 26,968
Virginia: 55,593

Updated: November 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.

‍Firm/Interruptible Curtailment Reporting

Interruptible Balancing Charge

‍
Balancing Charge (December 2024 – November 2025)
District of Columbia
$0.0020
Maryland
$0.0185
Virginia
$0.0158

Purchased Gas Costs

Month/Year
Dollars Per Therm*
‍
District of Columbia
Maryland
Virginia
‍
Residential & Commercial
Residential & Commercial
Residential
Commercial
Group Metered Apartments
December- 2025
$0.5587
$0.5452
$0.5095
$0.4770
$0.6700
November- 2025
$0.4670
$0.4658
$0.4465
$0.4398
$0.8186
October- 2025
$0.4265
$0.4246
$0.4052
$0.3985
$0.7773
September- 2025
$0.4355
$0.4338
$0.4149
$0.4082
$0.7870
August- 2025
$0.4831
$0.4673
$0.4430
$0.4367
$0.8151
July- 2025
$0.5156
$0.5053
$0.4883
$0.4598
$0.8559
June- 2025
$0.5639
$0.5542
$0.5360
$0.5075
$0.9036
May- 2025
$0.7439
$0.7363
$0.7157
$0.6894
$1.0828
April- 2025
$0.8095
$0.7967
$0.7717
$0.7728
$1.1447
March- 2025
$0.7078
$0.6934
$0.6717
$0.6734
$1.0447
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
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

Month/Year
Balancing Charge
‍
District of Columbia
Maryland
Virginia
‍
Residential & Commercial
Residential & Commercial
Residential
Commercial
Group Metered Apartments
November- 2025
$0.0151
$0.0153
$0.0171
$0.0103
$0.0132
October- 2025
$0.0151
$0.0153
$0.0171
$0.0103
$0.0132
September- 2025
$0.0151
$0.0153
$0.0171
$0.0103
$0.0132
August- 2025
$0.0151
$0.0153
$0.0171
$0.0103
$0.0132
July- 2025
$0.0151
$0.0153
$0.0171
$0.0103
$0.0132
June- 2025
$0.0151
$0.0153
$0.0171
$0.0103
$0.0132
May- 2025
$0.0151
$0.0153
$0.0171
$0.0103
$0.0132
April- 2025
$0.0151
$0.0153
$0.0171
$0.0103
$0.0132
March- 2025
$0.0151
$0.0153
$0.0171
$0.0103
$0.0132
February- 2025
$0.0180
$0.0191
$0.0200
$0.0115
$0.0157
January- 2025
$0.0180
$0.0191
$0.0200
$0.0115
$0.0157
December- 2024
$0.0180
$0.0191
$0.0200
$0.0115
$0.0157
November- 2024
$0.0183
$0.0188
$0.0201
$0.0106
$0.0141
October- 2024
$0.0183
$0.0188
$0.0201
$0.0106
$0.0141
September- 2024
$0.0183
$0.0188
$0.0201
$0.0106
$0.0141
August- 2024
$0.0183
$0.0188
$0.0201
$0.0106
$0.0141
July- 2024
$0.0183
$0.0188
$0.0201
$0.0106
$0.0141
June- 2024
$0.0183
$0.0188
$0.0201
$0.0106
$0.0141
May- 2024
$0.0183
$0.0188
$0.0201
$0.0106
$0.0141
April- 2024
$0.0183
$0.0188
$0.0201
$0.0106
$0.0141
March- 2024
$0.0183
$0.0188
$0.0201
$0.0106
$0.0141
February- 2024
$0.0109
$0.0127
$0.0142
$0.0090
$0.0128
January- 2024
$0.0109
$0.0127
$0.0142
$0.0090
$0.0128
December- 2023
$0.0109
$0.0127
$0.0142
$0.0090
$0.0128
November- 2023
$0.0116
$0.0137
$0.0153
$0.0094
$0.0135
October- 2023
$0.0116
$0.0137
$0.0153
$0.0094
$0.0135
September- 2023
$0.0116
$0.0137
$0.0153
$0.0094
$0.0135
August- 2023
$0.0116
$0.0137
$0.0153
$0.0094
$0.0135
July- 2023
$0.0116
$0.0137
$0.0153
$0.0094
$0.0135
Jun- 2023
$0.0116
$0.0137
$0.0153
$0.0094
$0.0135
May- 2023
$0.0116
$0.0137
$0.0153
$0.0094
$0.0135
Apr- 2023
$0.0116
$0.0137
$0.0153
$0.0094
$0.0135
Mar- 2023
$0.0116
$0.0137
$0.0153
$0.0094
$0.0135
Feb- 2023
$0.0126
$0.0117
$0.0142
$0.0096
$0.0122
Jan- 2023
$0.0126
$0.0117
$0.0142
$0.0096
$0.0122
Dec- 2022
$0.0126
$0.0117
$0.0142
$0.0096
$0.0122
Nov- 2022
$0.0111
$0.0098
$0.0122
$0.0086
$0.0088
Oct- 2022
$0.0111
$0.0098
$0.0122
$0.0086
$0.0088
Sep- 2022
$0.0111
$0.0098
$0.0122
$0.0086
$0.0088
Aug- 2022
$0.0111
$0.0098
$0.0122
$0.0086
$0.0088
Jul- 2022
$0.0111
$0.0098
$0.0122
$0.0086
$0.0088
June- 2022
$0.0111
$0.0098
$0.0122
$0.0086
$0.0088
May- 2022
$0.0111
$0.0098
$0.0122
$0.0086
$0.0088
April- 2022
$0.0111
$0.0098
$0.0122
$0.0086
$0.0088
March- 2022
$0.0111
$0.0098
$0.0122
$0.0086
$0.0088
February- 2022
$0.0209
$0.0210
$0.0209
$0.0097
$0.0128
January- 2022
$0.0209
$0.0210
$0.0209
$0.0097
$0.0128

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