Yeah, I have looked this up many times as it is irritating. Basically, considered commodity risk, so they legally draw the line this way to "prevent" price gouging................huh? As I have said many times, you literally just can't make any of this up when common sense situations turn political.
I think I mentioned this before - in Maryland up until last year, we were able to shop our electric distribution on the market, and I had a contract with Dominion for about 7 years at an average of 7.8 cents/kw. Wes Moreless came into power and the passed Protect Maryland Consumer Act (some dumb name) which now makes it impossible for other suppliers to sell into Maryland. Dominion notified me that my contract ended and they would not renew............so now I am stuck with 1 option - BGE - the price is now 13.9cents/kw and rising. Like I said, you can't make it up, but they are protecting me.
Message for Mike, Jason and other Texans - you may want to complain about certain things happening in your State or the weather, but in all seriousness, be thankful you live there as it is much more expensive and worse policies in a good majority of other States (of course not all, so Floridians, Kentucky, Carolinas and Georgians on here don't yell at me!). Another of my cousins just moved there in the last few years, he was originally Maryland, then Delaware (which is not bad except for Winter). He continually reminds me of his savings and he has sticker shock when he visits me in Maryland. If you all ever want to read about factual comparisons of States, there is an annual report put out by the Tax Foundation, it is non-partisan. IT compares a myriad of data points and you would not believe the costs in the ten most expensive States.
Last year ten worst States (cost wise)
41. Massachusetts
42. Hawaii
43. Vermont
44. Minnesota
45. Washington
46. Maryland
47. Connecticut
48. California
49. New Jersey
50. New York
Comment - I believe New York became the worst in 2025 flip flopping with California from 2024. NJ stayed steady at 2nd worst.
Last year ten Best States
- Wyoming
- South Dakota
- Alaska
- Florida
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- Texas
- Tennessee
- North Dakota
- Indiana
Now to be fair, 11 thru about 30 are now terrible either. It is really the last 20 that rise dramatically. Also for the board Illinois is 37. Kentucky is 22. North Carolina is 12.
Tom