Just The Facts

Per Washington Gas polling, roughly 3 out of 4 Washingtonians list household expenses as one of their top day-to-day concerns.

Per EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (March 2026), Maryland residential rates reached 35.85¢/kWh, behind only Hawaii’s 42.23¢/kWh, and roughly twice the U.S. average of 18.83¢/kWh. And an 89% increase over March 2025 18.94¢/kWh.

Per the U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. residential electricity prices tracked inflation closely from 2013 to 2023 but have outpaced inflation since 2023. It’s worst in the DMV. EIA data from March 2026 shows the first and third largest percentage change in US electric industry average revenue per kilowatt-hour, March 2026 over March 2025, are Maryland – up 57.6%, and DC – up 18% (with Ohio’s +21.1% in second).

The AGA 2026 Playbook projects natural gas to be ½ to ⅓ the price of other residential fuels through 2050.

Per the AGA 2026 Playbook, the low cost of natural gas has saved families $99 billion and commercial and industrial customers more than $655 billion over the last 10 years — more than $750 billion combined.

The AGA 2026 Playbook reports that households using natural gas for heating, cooking, and clothes drying save an average of $1,132 per year compared to homes using electricity for those same applications.

The American Gas Association has found that nationally, natural gas is 3.5 times more affordable than electricity for the same amount of energy delivered ($13.38 per MMBtu vs. $47.36 per MMBtu), citing the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2024 Representative Average Unit Costs. EIA projections expect that to go up to 4x in 2027.

The American Gas Association reports that only 1 in 650 customers are expected to experience a planned or unplanned natural gas outage in any given year, making natural gas one of the most reliable energy sources available, including during severe weather when above-ground electric infrastructure is most vulnerable.

The American Gas Association reports that natural gas supplies nearly one-quarter of all energy used in the United States, including for residential heating, electric generation, and industrial production.

Washington Gas serves approximately 1.2 million customers across three jurisdictions: ~164,000 in the District of Columbia, ~518,000 in Maryland, and ~557,000 in Virginia. [AltaGas 2024 Annual Information Form]

Drawing on the Washington Gas’ own service reliability reporting, customers can count on consistent, dependable delivery of natural gas across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Per DC Public Service Commission pipeline damage incident records. Washington Gas promotes the federal 811 “Call Before You Dig” program to prevent excavation damage.

Per PHMSA Pipeline Replacement Background: early cast-iron pipelines used bell-and-spigot joints sealed with packing that absorbed moisture from manufactured (coal) gas. The shift to dry natural gas in the mid-20th century dried out the seals and caused leaks.

Per Gamble direct testimony at the Virginia State Corporation Commission, vintage main accounts for 41% of the total main pipe in the Virginia system but 88% of all main-pipe leaks.

In testimony submitted on behalf of Washington Gas opposing Maryland House Bill 419, Wayne Jacas stated that from the start of STRIDE through December 31, 2024, the program reduced greenhouse gas emissions from distribution-system operations by an estimated total of more than 150,000 metric tons, equivalent to removing over 32,000 cars from the road.

The DC Public Service Commission reports that from 2019 to 2024, leaks in the D.C. system declined by 29%; Washington Gas state-level reporting shows a 41% reduction in total leaks in Maryland and a 30% reduction in Virginia over the same period.

Per the PHMSA Cast and Wrought Iron Inventory, the District of Columbia had 31.9% of its gas distribution main classified as cast or wrought iron in 2024 — materials the federal government has identified as posing elevated safety risk and recommends for accelerated replacement.

That includes: 48 miles in DC since 2014, 161 miles in Maryland through 2025, and 242 miles in Virginia since 2014.

As reported in The Washington Informer (May 2026), Washington Gas’s District SAFE program has delivered more than $407 million in investments to strengthen the natural gas system serving neighborhoods throughout the nation’s capital — replacing aging, leak-prone cast iron and bare steel pipe with safer, more durable materials built to last for decades.

The National Association of Home Builders, in its July 2021 report “Gas vs. Electricity: Which Energy Source Do Consumers Prefer?”, found that consumers prefer gas (51%) over electricity (39%) for cooking and that the biggest factors driving the preference are money savings and reliability.

AGA's 2025 consumer research confirms households continue to select natural gas for home heating and cooking.

Per Washington Gas polling, approximately 8 in 10 homeowners in the DMV support the right to choose gas appliances and amenities over all-electric equipment for warming their homes, heating their water, and cooking.

Per Washington Gas — Community Investment, in 2025 Washington Gas invested in 77 community organizations across the DMV, employees logged 2,120 volunteer hours, and the company contributed $139,000 through employee giving and matching.

The Washington Area Fuel Fund, which was founded by Washington Gas and The Salvation Army in 1983, has disbursed more than $34 million to help over 320,000 people across the DMV keep their homes warm when other forms of assistance are not available.

Per Washington Gas — Community Investment, Washington Gas contributed $1.2 million in donations and sponsorships in 2025 through its Community Investment Fund, partnering with local nonprofits to address pressing needs across the DMV and support long-term community resilience.

Per Washington Gas, more than 1,400 dedicated Washington Gas employees come to work every day to deliver the affordable, reliable, and safe energy customers depend on. These are good, well-paying jobs in the communities we serve across the DMV.

Per the U.S. Energy Information Administration: summer peak load in PJM’s Dominion zone reached 23,905 MW in 2025 and winter peak load reached 25,413 MW in 2025–26, 45% higher than 2019–20.  

IEEFA found PJM capacity prices have jumped by a factor of 10 on data center growth projections.

Under the Utility RELIEF Act (HB 1532), passed in the 2026 legislative session and signed into law in May 2026, Maryland eliminated greenhouse gas reduction requirements for gas utilities. As a result, gas utility energy efficiency programs, which fund the rebates and weatherization incentives customers have relied on, are set to be terminated by the end of 2026.

Per the American Gas Association, gas bans can drive up the overall cost of housing significantly due to the cost of retrofitting all electric homes.

Per DC Law 24-177, the Mayor of DC must issue final net-zero-energy regulations by December 31, 2026; any new building permit applications submitted after that date must comply with the most recent version of Appendix Z of the DC Energy Conservation Code. Montgomery County Bill 13-22 follows a phased compliance schedule with all-electric building standards taking effect for new construction beginning in 2027.

Per Washington Gas polling, roughly 8 in 10 Washington Gas customers have not heard about the bans on natural gas in new construction passed by DC and Montgomery County, which take effect in 2027.

Per DC Law 24-177 (Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022) and Montgomery County Bill 13-22, upheld by the U.S. District Court for Maryland in March 2026.

The U.S. Department of Energy has found that dishwashers use about the same amount of energy and water regardless of the number of dishes inside — so running full loads whenever possible cuts both the per-dish energy cost and overall household water use.

Per The U.S. Department of Energy, ceiling fans cool people, not rooms — so turning them off when no one is around saves energy. In summer, set blades to spin counterclockwise to push cool air downward, which creates a wind-chill effect that lets you raise the thermostat about 4°F with no loss in comfort.

Per ENERGY STAR, about 90% of the energy a washing machine uses goes to heating water — and ENERGY STAR recommends washing clothes in cold water with cold-water detergents whenever possible to cut energy use without sacrificing cleanliness.

The U.S. Department of Energy has found that households can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling simply by turning the thermostat back 7°–10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting — for example, while at work or asleep.

The U.S. Department of Energy has found that homeowners can save 10% to 20% on their heating and cooling bills by sealing uncontrolled air leaks with caulk, weather-stripping, and other simple air-sealing measures — keeping conditioned air inside where it belongs.

The U.S. Department of Energy has found that most households only need their water heater set to 120°F. Setting it at the often-default 140°F can waste $36 to $61 each year in standby heat losses alone — and more than $400 per year through demand losses — without making hot water more available.