Pepco Rates and the Price to Compare in DC (June 2026)

Here is the number that matters in Washington DC right now: 16.1¢/kWh. That is Pepco's Standard Offer Service supply rate as of June 2026, the default price you pay for the electricity itself if you never shop around.

The lowest competitive third-party supplier offer in DC currently sits near 17.6¢/kWh. That is 1.5 cents higher than Pepco's default. No supplier in the District beats Standard Offer Service today, so staying on SOS is the cheapest supply option available.

That flips the usual advice. In many states, shopping saves money. In DC in June 2026, shopping means paying more. Rates move, so check current live Pepco rates on ElectricRates.org before you decide anything.

A Pepco bill has two parts, and only one of them is shoppable.

Delivery covers the poles, wires, transformers, and meter reading that move power to your home. The DC Public Service Commission sets these charges, and Pepco always handles delivery no matter who supplies your power. You cannot shop this part.

Supply is the electricity itself, priced per kWh. This is the only part you can change by switching suppliers. The default supply price is Standard Offer Service at roughly 16.1¢/kWh.

When people compare DC electricity rates, the supply number is what they are weighing. Delivery stays the same whether you sit on SOS or sign with a competitive supplier.

Run the math on the 16.1¢/kWh Standard Offer Service rate to see what supply costs at three common usage levels. These figures cover supply only, before delivery charges.

At 500 kWh, a light month for a small apartment, supply runs about $80.50 (500 × $0.161).

At 1,000 kWh, a typical home, supply runs about $161 (1,000 × $0.161).

At 1,500 kWh, a larger home or a hot summer month with heavy AC, supply runs about $241.50 (1,500 × $0.161).

Now apply the cheapest supplier offer at 17.6¢/kWh to that same 1,000 kWh home. Supply would cost $176, or $15 more per month. Over a year that is $180 extra for the same electricity through the same wires.

Standard Offer Service is not a number Pepco invents. The DC Public Service Commission oversees competitive wholesale auctions, and suppliers bid to provide the power that SOS customers use. The winning bids set the rate.

SOS typically adjusts in June, which is why the June 2026 rate matters. The summer reset reflects what wholesale power costs heading into the highest-demand months of the year.

Because SOS tracks wholesale auction results rather than a fixed contract, the rate can move at the next reset. The 16.1¢/kWh figure is accurate as of June 2026. For the current live number, check ElectricRates.org.

On price alone, no. The cheapest competitive offer in DC sits at about 17.6¢/kWh, and Pepco's SOS is 16.1¢/kWh. A supplier would have to beat 16.1¢ to save you money, and none does as of June 2026.

That does not make every supplier offer pointless. Two reasons to switch survive even when the supplier rate is higher.

First, a fixed-rate hedge. SOS resets and can climb. A fixed supplier contract locks your supply price for the term, which protects you if the next auction pushes SOS above where it sits today. You pay a small premium now for price certainty later.

Second, 100% renewable energy. Some suppliers offer green plans for customers who want their supply matched to renewable generation. That is a values choice, not a savings one.

If neither applies, the cheapest move today is to stay on Standard Offer Service.

The DC Public Service Commission regulates electricity in the District. It sets Pepco's delivery charges, oversees the wholesale auctions that price Standard Offer Service, and licenses the competitive suppliers allowed to sell in DC.

That oversight is why the SOS number carries weight. It is not a marketing rate. It is the output of a regulated, competitive procurement process the Commission supervises.

If a supplier offer looks too good or a sales pitch feels pushy, the DCPSC is the authority that licenses and monitors those companies. Every legitimate supplier in DC operates under its rules.

Comparing DC electricity rates comes down to one question: does the supplier supply rate beat 16.1¢/kWh? If it does, calculate the savings against your usage. If it does not, you are paying more.

Watch for monthly fees. A supplier rate of 15.9¢/kWh looks like a winner against SOS until a $9.95 monthly fee gets folded in. For a 1,000 kWh home, that fee adds nearly a full cent per kWh, pushing the real cost above Standard Offer Service.

The simple test: multiply the supply rate by your monthly kWh, add any monthly fee, then compare the total to 1,000 × $0.161 for a typical home. Lower total wins.

To skip the manual math, see current Pepco rates and supplier offers on ElectricRates.org, which calculates total cost for you.