WASHINGTON – Those who’ve opened a utility bill and disliked what they saw aren’t stuck. Two new tools are available to help customers cut their bills or find a new supplier.
The District of Columbia Public Service Commission launches a new app called “PSC on the Go.” It will be available at noon Wednesday. The app helps break down utility bills. It also lists utility choices and programs to help low income families and Pepco outage maps.
The app even gives users a glossary of terms to make sure providers are abiding by the Consumer Bill of Rights and that they aren’t paying too much for each kilowatt hour of power consumed.
In Maryland, the website PointClickSwitch. offers the ability to do some comparison shopping among the suppliers licensed in the state.
Chief Executive Officer Phil Closkey calls it “the Expedia of energy suppliers.”
He says there are more than 30 suppliers to choose from in the state and his firm has selected a few that do pay to be listed. Not every Maryland utility is on the site.
But Closkey says the idea behind the website is to find you the best deal from the “top suppliers.”
Closkey points out that switching suppliers may not change the number or frequency of outages experienced. Suppliers simply deliver the energy consumers use. That energy is distributed over the same lines used by Baltimore Gas and Electric and Pepco.
Croskey says the real advantage of shopping around is saving some money.
WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report. Follow @KateRyanWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.
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