Beginning in 2005, Allegheny began offering Standard Offer Service at new, market-based rates to non-residential customers who choose not to select an alternative supplier.

Electric Choice opened the electric supply market in Maryland to competition on July 1, 2000, allowing consumers and businesses to choose the company that provides the electric supply (generation and transmission) component of their electric service. Allegheny Power currently provides the electric supply component of your electric service if you choose not to select an alternative supplier.

Your electric service consists of three parts -- generation, transmission and distribution. With Electric Choice, the generation and transmission components are combined and called "supply" and the distribution component is called "delivery." Electric Choice only affects the supply portion of your service--you now have a choice of the company that provides that service.

Allegheny Power no longer owns and operates electric generating stations to serve customers in the state. Allegheny Power obtains your electric supply through a Power Sales Agreement, which ends with the transition period.

As part of the MD PSC Case No. 8908 Phase II Settlement, Allegheny Power, along with the other Md. electric distribution companies now conducts a competitive bidding process to obtain market-based SOS.

The highly competitive solicitation process was done in conjunction with other Maryland electric utilities and in accordance with Maryland Public Service Commission rules. The bids were evaluated, and the lowest qualified bids were submitted to the PSC for approval.