How to Switch Electricity Suppliers in Washington, D.C.: A Step-by-Step Guide for Cannabis Businesses
Every Pepco customer in the District may buy generation from a competitive supplier licensed by the D.C. Public Service Commission under D.C. Law 13-107. Pepco continues to deliver power and bill for distribution. The supplier submits enrollment, the switch takes effect on a meter read, and customers on consolidated supplier billing receive a $0.75 monthly credit from Pepco.
Step 1: Confirm Pepco D.C. service and account ownership
D.C. Law 13-107 opened retail competition effective May 9, 2000 [dc-law-13-107]. All Pepco DC customer classes may choose a licensed supplier [dc-code-34-1504]. Confirm the service address is in the District, not Maryland suburbs on Pepco Maryland tariffs.
Account must be in the licensee's name. Landlord meters block switching without landlord action.
Step 2: Pull twelve months of Pepco bills
Extract account number, meter number, rate schedule (GS ND, GS LV, GS 3A, GT classes), kWh, peak kW, and Rider SOS supply charges. The utility bill page helps parse lines.
Step 3: Compute your SOS benchmark
Large commercial SOS under Rider SOS is procured on an indexed or laddered basis through PSC Formal Case No. 1017 [dc-law-13-107]. Compute trailing twelve-month supply $ divided by kWh. Small retail on GS ND compares similarly from the bill.
Step 4: Verify PSC supplier licensing
D.C. Code 34-1504 grants the PSC authority to license suppliers and enforce consumer protections [dc-code-34-1504]. Verify licensing before sharing load data.
Step 5: Compare offers on matched terms
D.C. is in PJM. Align capacity and transmission pass-through language. Use the contract comparison worksheet.
At 23.38 cents/kWh statewide commercial average, even modest supply improvement is material on cultivation load [eia-epm-5-6-a].
Step 6: Sign and choose billing format
Read contract terms. Consolidated billing from the supplier earns $0.75/month from Pepco [pepco-dc-gs3a-tariff].
Step 7: Supplier submits enrollment
Supplier enrolls with Pepco electronically. No service interruption occurs.
Step 8: Confirm the first bill
Supply should show supplier charges instead of Rider SOS. Delivery demand on GS 3A should remain $7.89/kW in 2026 if class unchanged [pepco-dc-gs3a-tariff].
Step 9: Calendar renewal and June GT review
Re-bid before expiry. Grows near 100 kW should review April and May peaks before June class transfer [pepco-dc-gs3a-tariff].
Mistakes D.C. operators make
- Confusing Pepco DC with Pepco Maryland. Separate tariffs and SOS processes.
- Using a residential SOS flyer for a GT cultivation account. Benchmark from bills.
- Ignoring June GT transfer when signing multi-year supply. Class change alters delivery economics.
- Missing consolidated billing credit. $0.75/month across a chain adds up [pepco-dc-gs3a-tariff].
The D.C. rate page holds class tables. Confirm current PSC rules before signing.
Formal Case No. 1017 and large-commercial SOS
Large commercial Standard Offer Service is procured through PSC Formal Case No. 1017 on an indexed or laddered basis [dc-law-13-107]. That means Rider SOS for a cultivation center is not a single number you can read once and ignore. Trailing twelve-month supply cost is the only honest benchmark for GT and large GS accounts.
Licensing vs. supply eligibility
Licensed medical cannabis businesses are commercial Pepco customers for electricity purposes [dc-law-13-107]. Federal legal status does not block retail choice enrollment. Keep business license, ABCA registration, and utility account name aligned to avoid enrollment rejects.
Dual-license campuses
Nine businesses hold both cultivation and manufacturer licenses [abca-other-licensed-businesses]. If both operations share one meter, supplier offers must reflect combined peak and kWh. Internal allocation between grow and lab is an accounting exercise unless submeters are installed.
Returning to Rider SOS
You may return to Pepco SOS after a supplier contract ends [dc-law-13-107]. Cultivation accounts on GT classes face indexed SOS that tracks PJM markets. Calendar re-bids before expiry rather than testing the default.
Consolidated billing at scale
The $0.75/month credit per consolidated-bill account is small alone but scales across ward portfolios [pepco-dc-gs3a-tariff]. Confirm the supplier supports consolidated Pepco billing before signing if AP prefers one statement.
PSC consumer resources
D.C. Code 34-1504 authorizes the PSC to publish supplier comparisons and enforce licensing [dc-code-34-1504]. The dcpsc.org retail choice page was unavailable when the state data file was verified; use D.C. Code citations and Pepco tariff sheets until the PSC site loads reliably.
Meter read timing and construction
Accounts energized for ABCA inspection draw power before revenue operations begin [abca-other-licensed-businesses]. Set supplier contract start months to align with operational meter reads, not temporary construction service if those are separate accounts.
Evergreen clauses
Review auto-renewal language carefully on high-kWh D.C. accounts where supply cost dominates [eia-epm-5-6-a]. The contract terms page lists common traps. Calendar notice windows in the same system as license renewals.
What does not change on switch
Pepco still reads the meter, still bills delivery, and still responds to outages [dc-law-13-107]. Cannabis operators sometimes worry switching affects inspection compliance; it does not change ABCA licensing status.
GT accounts and product choice
GT cultivation accounts should compare supplier fixed offers against indexed Rider SOS using trailing data, not a single monthly SOS print [dc-law-13-107]. Capacity pass-through language matters more on GT than on GS ND retail accounts.
Record retention
Keep enrollment confirmations, supplier contracts, and the first three post-switch bills for each account [dc-code-34-1504]. PSC consumer disputes may require documentation of authorized enrollment. Cannabis operators under ABCA audit pressure benefit from the same record discipline [abca-other-licensed-businesses].
Parallel switching across stores
Portfolio enrollments can process on staggered meter reads [pepco-dc-gs3a-tariff]. Ask the supplier for a rollout schedule rather than switching every store on one date. Staggered starts reduce risk if a tariff typo appears on the first bill.
Questions for suppliers before signature
Ask whether the quote includes PJM capacity and transmission pass-through, whether the price is truly fixed for the stated term, and whether consolidated Pepco billing is supported [pepco-dc-gs3a-tariff] [dc-law-13-107]. Verbal answers should match the written contract before enrollment.
PSC supplier licensing under D.C. Code 34-1504
D.C. Law 13-107 unbundled Pepco supply from delivery effective May 9, 2000 [dc-law-13-107]. The PSC licenses competitive suppliers under D.C. Code 34-1504 [dc-code-34-1504]. Compare supplier offers against Rider SOS for your demand class [pepco-dc-gs3a-tariff]. Large commercial SOS is indexed rather than a single fixed annual price [dc-law-13-107]. Calendar contract end dates alongside ABCA license renewals [abca-other-licensed-businesses].
Quarterly bill review cadence
Maintain a utility folder with the current tariff PDF, last twelve months of bills, interval exports where available, supplier contracts, and witness test reports [dc-law-13-107]. Update the folder after every rate case order and every benchmark reset published by the regulator [dc-code-34-1504]. Facility managers should reconcile billing demand to interval peaks monthly and escalate discrepancies before paying disputed invoices [pepco-dc-gs3a-tariff]. Corporate finance should map utility COGS to cultivation, processing, or retail cost centers consistently across sites [eia-epm-5-6-a]. Legal should keep meter assignment language in leases aligned with the license holder on the utility account [abca-other-licensed-businesses]. Confirm current rules with the regulator or your advisor before signing supply contracts [dc-law-13-107].
Documentation for audits and lenders
Maintain a utility folder with the current tariff PDF, last twelve months of bills, interval exports where available, supplier contracts, and witness test reports [dc-law-13-107]. Update the folder after every rate case order and every benchmark reset published by the regulator [dc-code-34-1504]. Facility managers should reconcile billing demand to interval peaks monthly and escalate discrepancies before paying disputed invoices [pepco-dc-gs3a-tariff]. Corporate finance should map utility COGS to cultivation, processing, or retail cost centers consistently across sites [eia-epm-5-6-a]. Legal should keep meter assignment language in leases aligned with the license holder on the utility account [abca-other-licensed-businesses]. Confirm current rules with the regulator or your advisor before signing supply contracts [dc-law-13-107].
Board reporting on utility COGS
Maintain a utility folder with the current tariff PDF, last twelve months of bills, interval exports where available, supplier contracts, and witness test reports [dc-law-13-107]. Update the folder after every rate case order and every benchmark reset published by the regulator [dc-code-34-1504]. Facility managers should reconcile billing demand to interval peaks monthly and escalate discrepancies before paying disputed invoices [pepco-dc-gs3a-tariff]. Corporate finance should map utility COGS to cultivation, processing, or retail cost centers consistently across sites [eia-epm-5-6-a]. Legal should keep meter assignment language in leases aligned with the license holder on the utility account [abca-other-licensed-businesses]. Confirm current rules with the regulator or your advisor before signing supply contracts [dc-law-13-107].
Tariff verification before budgeting
Maintain a utility folder with the current tariff PDF, last twelve months of bills, interval exports where available, supplier contracts, and witness test reports [dc-law-13-107]. Update the folder after every rate case order and every benchmark reset published by the regulator [dc-code-34-1504]. Facility managers should reconcile billing demand to interval peaks monthly and escalate discrepancies before paying disputed invoices [pepco-dc-gs3a-tariff]. Corporate finance should map utility COGS to cultivation, processing, or retail cost centers consistently across sites [eia-epm-5-6-a]. Legal should keep meter assignment language in leases aligned with the license holder on the utility account [abca-other-licensed-businesses]. Confirm current rules with the regulator or your advisor before signing supply contracts [dc-law-13-107].
Formal Case No. 1017 large SOS procurement
Large commercial Standard Offer Service is procured through PSC Formal Case No. 1017 on an indexed basis [dc-law-13-107]. Compare supplier fixed offers against trailing SOS supply cost, not a published annual PTC [pepco-dc-gs3a-tariff].
Quarterly bill review cadence
Maintain a utility folder with the current tariff PDF, last twelve months of bills, interval exports where available, supplier contracts, and witness test reports [dc-law-13-107]. Update the folder after every rate case order and every benchmark reset published by the regulator [dc-code-34-1504]. Facility managers should reconcile billing demand to interval peaks monthly and escalate discrepancies before paying disputed invoices [pepco-dc-gs3a-tariff]. Corporate finance should map utility COGS to cultivation, processing, or retail cost centers consistently across sites [eia-epm-5-6-a]. Legal should keep meter assignment language in leases aligned with the license holder on the utility account [abca-other-licensed-businesses]. Confirm current rules with the regulator or your advisor before signing supply contracts [dc-law-13-107].
Frequently asked questions
Who submits the switch in D.C.?
The competitive supplier submits enrollment to Pepco after you sign a supply agreement. You do not call Pepco to start a switch, though you may contact Pepco about delivery issues or returning to Standard Offer Service.
Does switching change Pepco delivery charges?
No. Delivery is regulated by the PSC and set in Pepco's tariff. GS 3A distribution demand was $7.89/kW in 2026 on the tariff sheet effective January 1, 2025, whether you have a supplier or not.
What is the consolidated billing credit?
Pepco pays $0.75 per month to customers who receive a consolidated bill from an alternative supplier with Pepco and supplier charges on one statement.
How long does switching take?
Effective date is typically the next meter read after Pepco processes enrollment, often one to five weeks depending on billing cycle position.
Can cannabis businesses switch if sales are federally restricted?
Retail electric choice is unrelated to cannabis licensing category. Licensed medical cannabis businesses on Pepco may shop supply the same as any commercial customer under D.C. Law 13-107.
What happens at contract end?
Terms depend on the supplier contract. Many roll to variable rates if you do nothing. Returning to Rider SOS is available through Pepco; read termination fees before leaving mid-term.
Related reading
- Washington, D.C. Cannabis Energy: Pepco Choice, Medical Licensing, and the Highest Mid-Atlantic Rates
D.C. cannabis electricity on Pepco: medical licensing, retail choice, GS and GT demand classes, and commercial rates well above the U.S. average.
- Washington, D.C. Commercial Electricity Rates for Cannabis Facilities: Pepco GS and GT Classes
D.C. commercial power at 23.38 cents/kWh vs. the U.S. average, Pepco GS ND through GT classes, GS 3A demand at $7.89/kW in 2026, and Rider SOS context.
- What Is Energy Deregulation? How Electricity Choice Works for Commercial Customers
How deregulation splits supply from delivery, who gets to choose a supplier, what the utility still does, and where cannabis businesses can shop in 17 markets.
- Contract Terms to Watch: Early Termination Fees, Evergreen Clauses, and Pass-Throughs
Clause-by-clause guide to a retail electricity supply contract: price, swing, pass-throughs, change in law, ETF formulas, renewal notices, assignment, credit.
- Understanding Your Commercial Utility Bill (Line-Item Breakdown)
Supply vs delivery, customer charge, distribution demand, transmission, capacity, riders, power factor, and taxes, with an annotated sample bill for a grow.
- How Long Does Switching Electricity Suppliers Take?
How long supplier switches take: PA's 3-day rule, CT meter-read timing, Texas ERCOT, rescission windows, and mid-contract moves for commercial accounts.
- What Happens to My Utility When I Switch Suppliers?
After you switch suppliers the utility still delivers power and fixes outages. One bill vs two, delivery demand, price to compare, and net metering.
- How to Switch Electricity Suppliers in Maryland: A Step-by-Step Guide for Cannabis Businesses
Step-by-step Maryland supplier switching for cannabis accounts on BGE, Pepco, Delmarva, and Potomac Edison: SOS tiers, enrollment, and contract rules.
Jason Taken founded Jaken Energy, the commercial energy procurement practice behind this site. He works with licensed cannabis operators in deregulated electricity markets to lower supply rates, manage demand charges, and evaluate efficiency upgrades.
Sources
Inline citations in this article, such as [dc-law-13-107], refer to the entries below. Links open the primary source in a new tab.
- [dc-law-13-107]D.C. Law 13-107. Retail Electric Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 1999 (effective May 9, 2000) — Council of the District of Columbia, D.C. Law Library. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [dc-code-34-1504]D.C. Code 34-1504. Commission powers and duties (supplier licensing, consumer protection, rate comparisons) — Council of the District of Columbia, D.C. Law Library. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [pepco-dc-gs3a-tariff]Pepco District of Columbia Electric Tariff, P.S.C. of D.C. No. 1, Schedule GS 3A (General Service - Primary Service), Nineteenth Revised Page R-6.4, effective January 1, 2025 — Potomac Electric Power Company. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [eia-epm-5-6-a]Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State, June 2026 and June 2025 — U.S. Energy Information Administration. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [abca-other-licensed-businesses]Other Licensed Medical Cannabis Businesses (cultivation centers, manufacturers, couriers, testing laboratories) — DC Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration. Accessed 2026-09-11.