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Potomac Edison Customers in Maryland Can Lower Their Bills With New Residential Time-of-Use Rate

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Potomac Edison (NYSE: FE) launched a new residential time-of-use (TOU) rate for Maryland customers effective April 20, 2026. The rate charges about 16¢/kWh on-peak and about 9¢/kWh off-peak through May 31, 2026, a roughly 44% discount during off-peak hours.

Enrollment has no upfront cost, requires a meter replacement, and the rate excludes customers on the EV charger TOU rider.

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Positive

  • Off-peak supply about 44% lower (9¢/kWh vs 16¢/kWh)
  • No upfront cost to enroll in the residential TOU rate
  • Potential bill savings by shifting dishwasher, laundry, and appliance use off-peak
  • Service footprint covers ~285,000 Maryland customers

Negative

  • Eligibility limited to customers taking supply from Potomac Edison
  • Customers cannot combine residential TOU with the EV charger TOU rider
  • Enrollment requires a meter replacement before the new rate starts
  • Electric supply charges change seasonally, adding rate variability

News Market Reaction – FE

-1.30%
-1.30% Session close to close

In the Apr 20 session, FE declined 1.30%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement detailed a new residential time-of-use rate for Potomac Edison customers, offering...
Analysis

This announcement detailed a new residential time-of-use rate for Potomac Edison customers, offering off-peak pricing near 9 cents per kWh versus about 16 cents on‑peak through May 31, 2026. The program targets roughly 285,000 Maryland and 155,000 West Virginia customers and encourages shifting usage to lower-demand hours. In context with recent grid investments and leadership changes, this fits an operational-efficiency and customer-focused strategy. Key aspects to watch include adoption levels, load-shifting behavior, and any subsequent regulatory or tariff adjustments.

Key Figures

On-peak rate: 16 cents per kWh Off-peak rate: 9 cents per kWh Off-peak discount: 44% less +4 more
7 metrics
On-peak rate 16 cents per kWh On-peak electric supply and variable distribution charges through May 31, 2026
Off-peak rate 9 cents per kWh Off-peak electric supply and variable distribution charges through May 31, 2026
Off-peak discount 44% less Off-peak vs on-peak electric supply and variable distribution charges
Maryland customers 285,000 customers Potomac Edison customers served in seven Maryland counties
West Virginia customers 155,000 customers Potomac Edison customers in Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia
Total customers served More than six million FirstEnergy electric distribution companies customer base
Transmission network Approximately 24,000 miles Transmission lines operated by FirstEnergy transmission subsidiaries

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Apr 15 (Neutral)
Pattern 5 events
Date Event Sentiment 24h Move Catalyst
Apr 15 Supply auction update Neutral -1.0% Outlined timelines and structure for upcoming Ohio competitive bidding auction.
Apr 14 Grid investment project Positive -0.0% Announced $24M rebuild of 138‑kV line benefiting 16,000 Ohio Edison customers.
Apr 09 Leadership appointment Positive +1.0% Named VP Enterprise Learning to advance cultural transformation and training.
Apr 09 Security leadership hire Positive +1.0% Appointed Chief Security Officer to strengthen enterprise security operations.
Apr 01 Earnings call scheduling Neutral +0.7% Set dates for Q1 2026 results release and investor teleconference webcast.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Recent operational and corporate updates have generally seen modest, mostly aligned price reactions, with one slight divergence on grid investment news.

Recent Company History

Over the past month, FirstEnergy has focused on operational reliability, corporate leadership and market processes. An April 1 announcement set timing for the Q1 2026 earnings release and webcast. On April 9, the company added senior leaders in learning and security, with shares rising about 1%. A Trumbull County transmission rebuild tied to a $36 billion 2026–2030 plan had little price impact. An Ohio supply auction update on April 15 coincided with a roughly 1% pullback.

Key Terms

time-of-use rate, kilowatt-hours, on-peak, off-peak
4 terms
time-of-use rate financial
"A new residential time-of-use rate lets customers pay less for electricity..."
A time-of-use rate is a pricing plan for electricity where the cost per kilowatt-hour changes depending on the time of day—higher during busy “peak” hours and lower during quiet “off-peak” hours. Think of it like surge pricing for power: it rewards using electricity when demand is low and charges more when the grid is strained. Investors care because these rates change customer behavior, affect utility revenues and profit margins, and influence demand for batteries, energy efficiency, and renewable projects, which can shift long-term cash flow and capital needs.
kilowatt-hours technical
"based on energy use (measured in kilowatt-hours). Some charges on your bill..."
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy equal to one kilowatt (1,000 watts) of power used continuously for one hour; it’s the standard way utilities measure and bill electricity. Investors use kWh to compare how much electricity a plant generates, a device consumes, or a storage system can deliver, much like liters tell you how much fuel was used — it directly ties to revenue, costs and the economic value of energy assets.
on-peak technical
"On-peak electric supply and variable distribution charges cost about 16 cents..."
On-peak describes the hours or periods when demand for electricity is highest and suppliers typically charge higher rates, similar to rush-hour traffic when roads are busiest. For investors, on-peak timing matters because it drives higher revenue for power generators, influences utility bills, and affects the value of contracts, batteries, and grid upgrades; understanding these windows helps predict cash flow and price volatility tied to energy use patterns.
off-peak technical
"Off-peak electric supply and variable distribution charges cost about 9 cents..."
Off-peak is the time period when demand for a service or product is lower than normal—examples include late-night electricity use, slower trading hours, or quiet travel days. It matters to investors because prices, revenues and operating costs often differ during these periods (companies may earn less or offer discounts, or save on costs by shifting activity), so recognizing off-peak timing helps assess earnings patterns and cost management strategies.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Shifting electricity use to times of the day when demand is lower can save money for participating residential customers

WILLIAMSPORT, Md., April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Maryland customers of Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), now have a new way to save on their electric bill. A new residential time-of-use rate lets customers pay less for electricity when they use it during times of the day when demand on the grid is lower.

The new rate launches April 20 and offers lower prices during off-peak hours, such as mornings, late evenings and weekends – compared to weekday hours when electricity use is typically highest.

How the Time-of-Use Rate Works

With a time-of-use rate, the price of electricity changes depending on the time of day you use it. The rate difference applies to certain portions of your bill based on energy use (measured in kilowatt-hours). Some charges on your bill stay the same no matter when you use electricity. 

Through May 31, 2026:

  • On-peak electric supply and variable distribution charges cost about 16 cents per kilowatt-hour.
  • Off-peak electric supply and variable distribution charges cost about 9 cents per kilowatt-hour, roughly 44% less.

On‑peak hours are weekdays:

  • 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. during daylight saving time
  • 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
  • All day on weekends

Electric supply charges change seasonally. For more information, visit firstenergycorp.com/touMD.

How Customers Can Lower Their Bill

Customers who shift some everyday activities to off‑peak hours may be able to reduce their monthly bills, including:

  • Running the dishwasher overnight
  • Doing laundry early in the morning or on weekends
  • Using major appliances outside the weekday peak window

How to Enroll

There is no upfront cost to sign up. Customers can enroll by calling 1-800-686-0011. 

Eligibility is limited to customers who receive their electricity supply through Potomac Edison. Customers cannot be enrolled in the electric vehicle charger time‑of‑use rider and also participate in the residential time-of-use rate.

After enrolling, a customer's meter will be replaced with one that tracks on‑peak and off‑peak usage. The new rate will begin with the customer's next billing cycle.

Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers in seven counties in Maryland and about 155,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Follow Potomac Edison at www.potomacedison.com, on X @PotomacEdison, and on Facebook at facebook.com/PotomacEdison.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than six million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com and on X @FirstEnergyCorp.

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/potomac-edison-customers-in-maryland-can-lower-their-bills-with-new-residential-time-of-use-rate-302747533.html

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What is Potomac Edison’s new residential time-of-use rate (FE) effective April 20, 2026?

It is a variable rate that charges about 16¢/kWh on-peak and 9¢/kWh off-peak through May 31, 2026. According to the company, the off-peak price is roughly 44% lower, encouraging load shift to lower-cost hours.

How can Potomac Edison (FE) customers enroll in the Maryland residential TOU rate?

Enrollment has no upfront cost and begins by calling 1-800-686-0011. According to the company, a meter replacement is required and the new TOU rate starts with the customer’s next billing cycle after installation.

Which hours are considered on-peak and off-peak under Potomac Edison’s TOU rate (FE)?

On-peak hours are weekday evenings: 4–9 p.m. DST and 3–8 p.m. EST; off-peak includes overnight, mornings, weekends, and daytime outside peak. According to the company, seasonal changes affect electric supply charge timing and amounts.

Will Potomac Edison customers with EV chargers be eligible for the residential TOU rate (FE)?

No; customers enrolled in the electric vehicle charger TOU rider cannot participate in the residential TOU rate. According to the company, the two programs are mutually exclusive to prevent overlapping rate riders.

How much could a Potomac Edison (FE) customer save by shifting usage to off-peak hours?

Direct savings depend on shifting kWh, but off-peak energy is about 9¢/kWh versus 16¢/kWh on-peak. According to the company, customers running appliances overnight or on weekends may see lower monthly bills.

Who is eligible for Potomac Edison’s Maryland residential TOU rate (FE) and how many customers does Potomac Edison serve?

Eligibility is limited to customers who receive electricity supply through Potomac Edison. According to the company, Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers in seven Maryland counties and about 155,000 in West Virginia.