Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., announced on April 20 the launch of a new residential time-of-use rate for its Maryland customers. The program allows eligible households to pay less for electricity when it is used during off-peak hours, such as mornings, late evenings, and weekends.
The new rate aims to help customers manage their energy costs by encouraging them to shift usage away from periods of high demand. Under the plan, through May 31, 2026, on-peak electric supply and variable distribution charges are about 16 cents per kilowatt-hour, while off-peak charges are approximately 9 cents per kilowatt-hour—a reduction of roughly 44% compared to peak times.
The company said that on-peak hours occur weekdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. during daylight saving time and from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. during Eastern Standard Time. Off-peak hours include overnight and early mornings, daytime hours outside the peak window, and all day on weekends. Customers who move activities like running dishwashers or doing laundry to these off-peak periods may see lower monthly bills.
There is no upfront cost for enrollment in the program; interested customers can sign up by calling Potomac Edison directly. After enrolling, participants will receive a meter upgrade that tracks both on-peak and off-peak usage with the new rates taking effect in their next billing cycle.
FirstEnergy focuses on corporate responsibility through environmental and community initiatives according to the official website. The company manages approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines and over 269,000 miles of distribution lines as detailed online, serving more than six million customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York according to its website.
FirstEnergy has been recognized as a compliance leader with awards for environmental efforts and military-friendly practices according to the official website. The company says it aims “to function as a progressive electric utility emphasizing integrity and reliability,” supported by a diverse workforce dedicated “to improving customer experiences” as well as environmental conditions and community strength according to its official site.
With this initiative targeting energy savings at home through flexible billing options in Maryland—where Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers—the company continues its broader focus across several states including Ohio and Pennsylvania as reported online.
