More than 200,000 Baltimore Gas and Electric customers have chosen to purchase electricity from alternative suppliers, the utility announced Tuesday.
That represents about 18 percent of the 1.1 million residential customers within BGE's service area. Also, more than 45,000, or nearly 40 percent, of BGE's 124,110 business customers have signed contracts with alternative suppliers, according to BGE.
Some alternative suppliers offer power from renewable sources of energy, such as wind. Other suppliers may be able to take advantage of lower wholesale prices and thus offer electric power at rates below BGE's.
Residents and businesses that sign long-term contracts to lock in prices for electricity still pay distribution costs to BGE.
The number of BGE customers using alternative suppliers surpassed 100,000 in July 2010.
