How to Switch Electricity Providers in Washington, DC: A Step-by-Step Guide

To switch electricity providers in Washington, DC, compare licensed supplier offers on DC Power Connect, the District's official retail choice site, check them against Pepco's Price to Compare on your bill, then enroll with the supplier you choose. Pepco keeps delivering your power and handling outages; only the supply (generation) part of your bill changes.

This guide explains who regulates the market, what actually changes when you switch, the questions the DC Public Service Commission tells residents to ask, and a step-by-step checklist you can follow before signing anything.

Can you choose your electricity supplier in DC?

Yes. The District has retail electricity choice, which lets residents and businesses buy their electricity supply from a licensed competitive supplier instead of the utility. According to the DC Public Service Commission (DCPSC), delivery and supply are separated: the regulated utility maintains the poles, wires and other infrastructure, while you choose who supplies the electricity itself. You still receive one bill.

The DCPSC oversees this competitive market and says the District has dozens of licensed suppliers offering different rate structures, contract terms and renewable options. If you do nothing, you stay on Pepco's default supply, called Standard Offer Service.

Who does what: Pepco, suppliers and the regulator

Role	Who	What it means for you
Regulator	DC Public Service Commission	Licenses suppliers, regulates delivery rates and handles consumer complaints.
Delivery (distribution) utility	Pepco	Delivers power, reads meters and restores outages no matter which supplier you pick.
Default supply	Pepco Standard Offer Service (SOS)	What you pay for if you have not chosen a supplier. Pepco buys SOS power through annual competitive auctions.
Competitive supply	Licensed retail suppliers	Optional. Sets the price for the generation portion of your bill under the terms of your contract.
Consumer advocate	Office of the People's Counsel	Advocates for utility customers; listed by the DCPSC as a contact for questions.

What changes on your bill when you switch

The DCPSC's guide to understanding your electric bill splits a DC bill into two broad parts:

• Delivery charges cover moving electricity to your home over local poles, wires and transformers. The DCPSC strictly regulates these charges, and changes go through a formal rate case. Delivery charges, plus related surcharges and taxes, stay with Pepco whoever supplies your power.
• Supply charges cover the electricity itself and its transmission from power plants to the local grid. The DCPSC notes that it does not set the cost of supply; prices come from the regional wholesale market. This is the part a competitive supplier replaces.

The Commission says it regulates about 27% of a standard Pepco bill, while about 73% is driven by regional supply prices and legislative mandates. That is a useful reminder that switching suppliers only affects part of what you pay.

Pepco's customer guide for DC says your bill shows a Price to Compare for Standard Offer Service, and the current figure is also posted at pepco.com/PriceToCompareDC. The Price to Compare covers generation and transmission only; delivery charges, taxes and other charges are the same whichever supplier you choose. Pepco also states that the reliability of your service is not affected by your choice, and it continues to handle distribution and outage restoration.

Where to compare offers: DC Power Connect

The DCPSC describes DC Power Connect (dcpowerconnect.com) as "the official retail choice site for the District of Columbia." It lists approved electric and natural gas suppliers, includes an interactive comparison tool, explains your bill and offers guidance on responding to supplier solicitations. The Commission's consumer advisory also recommends checking that any supplier is licensed and certified by the Commission and using its bill calculators to estimate what an offer would mean for you.

Before you compare, look up your average monthly usage in kWh on recent bills. Offers are usually quoted in cents per kWh, so your usage is what turns a rate into a monthly dollar amount. You can run the numbers with our electric bill calculator or see how DC compares nationally on our District of Columbia electricity rates page.

Questions to ask any supplier

The DCPSC's advisory on choosing a retail energy supplier lists questions every resident should ask before agreeing to an offer:

1. Do I have to sign a contract? If yes, get the full terms and conditions.
2. Does the price vary month to month? If the price is fixed, ask for how long.
3. Is there a minimum charge?
4. Who sends the bill (the supplier or Pepco) and what billing and payment options are available?
5. Is there a penalty for leaving before the contract ends? If so, how much is the fee?
6. What is the generation and transmission rate? This is the number to compare with Pepco's Price to Compare.
7. Are renewable resources used, and to what extent?

One important note from the same advisory: customers on the Residential Aid Discount (RAD) "will lose the generation portion of the RAD subsidy" if they switch from Pepco to another retail supplier. If you receive RAD, weigh that carefully before changing suppliers.

How to switch electricity providers in DC: step-by-step checklist

1. Gather two or three recent Pepco bills. Note your monthly kWh usage, your Price to Compare and your account number.
2. Compare offers on DC Power Connect. Use the official comparison tool to see licensed suppliers and their plans.
3. Confirm the supplier is licensed. The DCPSC's approved supplier list is available through DC Power Connect or the Office of Consumer Services.
4. Compare like with like. Line up each offer's generation and transmission rate against the Price to Compare, and check whether it is fixed or variable, how long it lasts and what happens when it ends.
5. Read the contract. Look for minimum charges, early termination fees, renewal terms and the renewable content of the plan.
6. Enroll with the supplier. Only provide your Pepco account number once you have decided on a supplier. Ask when your new supply service will begin and keep a copy of the agreement and any confirmation.
7. Check your next bills. The supplier's charges should appear in the supply section of your Pepco bill. Questions about energy and transmission charges go to the supplier; delivery questions go to Pepco.
8. Set a reminder before the term ends. When a fixed price expires, review what rate applies next and compare again.

Door-to-door and phone sales: know your rights

Many DC residents hear about supplier offers from a salesperson at the door or on the phone. The DCPSC's advisory on handling solicitations and its retail choice page set out these protections:

• Representatives must carry a picture ID badge and show it on request.
• The Commission advises you not to give your account number or other personal information until after you have decided you want that supplier.
• Door-to-door sales are limited to 9 a.m. until sunset, and phone solicitations to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Suppliers must tell you about your right to cancel and give you a contact number to cancel or ask follow-up questions. The Consumer Bill of Rights provides a 3-day cancellation period for door-to-door sales.
• Suppliers may not use misleading or deceptive marketing, add unauthorized charges (cramming) or switch your supplier without permission (slamming).
• You can ask a supplier not to contact you again.

The simplest rule is to avoid an on-the-spot decision. Take the offer details, check them against your Price to Compare and DC Power Connect, and decide later.

Fixed vs. variable offers

A fixed-rate offer keeps the supply price the same for a set term, which can make budgeting easier. A variable-rate offer can change from month to month. Neither is automatically cheaper. Because Pepco's Standard Offer Service is bought through annual competitive auctions overseen by the DCPSC, its price also changes over time, so compare any offer with the current Price to Compare rather than an old bill. Ask exactly how a variable rate is set and whether a fixed contract renews automatically.

Switching back or leaving a supplier

Before you sign, ask the supplier how to cancel and whether an early termination fee applies, since the DCPSC lists that as a key question. If you move, Pepco asks for at least three business days' notice to transfer or stop service and notifies your supplier when service ends, but its guide encourages you to contact your supplier directly as well.

Where to get help

• DCPSC Office of Consumer Services: (202) 626-5120, for questions, complaints and the approved supplier list.
• DCPSC main line: 202-626-5100.
• Office of the People's Counsel: 202-727-3071.

Contact details are taken from the DCPSC's retail choice page and solicitation advisory; check the Commission's website for the latest information.

Next steps

Start with your current bill and our DC electricity rates page to see where the District stands, then compare offers on DC Power Connect. Use the electric bill calculator to turn any offer's cents-per-kWh rate into a monthly estimate, and see average electric bills by state for context. Our guide to time-of-use rates explains another way pricing can differ.