Washington Gas Light Company Rate Selection Guide
Washington Gas Light Company (a WGL Holdings subsidiary) is an investor-owned natural gas distribution utility serving roughly 1.3 million customers across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Customers access billing data through the My Washington Gas portal; interval data is not directly available, but aggregated whole-building consumption is offered via the Energy Benchmarking program (ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager). Washington Gas operates Customer Choice gas-supply programs with EDI-based supplier transactions and is regulated by the DC PSC, Maryland PSC, and Virginia SCC.
Washington Gas Light Company Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 2A | Commercial firm delivery | Customer charge + per-therm delivery (see tariff); commodity billed separately | Standard C&I gas accounts in DC and Maryland |
| No. 3A | Group-metered apartment delivery | Customer charge + per-therm delivery (see tariff) | Master-metered multifamily / apartment buildings |
| No. 4 | Interruptible delivery | Discounted per-therm delivery with curtailment provisions (see tariff) | Large dual-fuel facilities that can curtail during peaks |
Market Overview
Washington Gas operates a regulated gas distribution monopoly while the commodity is open to competition. Under Customer Choice, customers select a licensed gas supplier for the supply portion of their bill; Washington Gas provides delivery service under Firm Delivery Service Gas Supplier Agreements (DC Rate Schedule No. 5, MD No. 8). Billing can be consolidated (one bill) or separate (two bill).
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Washington Gas Light Company Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
Washington Gas C&I customers pay a regulated delivery charge to Washington Gas plus a separately priced gas-supply (commodity) charge - either Washington Gas's pass-through supply cost or a competitive supplier's price under Customer Choice. Commercial delivery service is governed by Firm Commercial & Industrial Delivery Service Rate Schedule No. 2A (DC and Maryland), with group-metered apartment (No. 3/3A) and interruptible (No. 4) options. Specific per-therm charges (customer charge, distribution/delivery charge, and riders) are set per jurisdiction in the tariff books and are not asserted here. Verified recent changes: a nearly 13% distribution rate increase for DC customers took effect January 1, 2026 (about $11.24/month more for an average customer), and Washington Gas filed an $82.5M Maryland rate case proposing new rates effective July 27, 2026 with roughly a 20% increase for commercial and group-metered apartment customers that heat/cool with gas (distribution components only).
Effective: June 3, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firm Commercial & Industrial Delivery Service - Rate Schedule No. 2A | commercial | Commercial and industrial customers taking firm (non-interruptible) delivery service in DC and Maryland. | Monthly customer charge plus a per-therm distribution/delivery charge and applicable riders (e.g., revenue-normalization/weather adjustments). The gas-supply commodity is billed separately (Washington Gas pass-through or competitive supplier under Customer Choice). Specific per-therm values are published in the jurisdiction tariff book. | — |
| Firm Group Metered Apartment Delivery Service - Rate Schedule No. 3A | commercial | Group-metered (master-metered) apartment and multi-tenant buildings taking firm delivery service. | Customer charge plus per-therm delivery charge for master-metered multifamily buildings; commodity billed separately. Per-therm values published in the tariff book. A related sales-service variant (No. 3) bundles supply. | — |
| Interruptible Delivery Service - Rate Schedule No. 4 | industrial | Large industrial/commercial customers able to curtail or switch fuels during peak periods in exchange for lower delivery rates. | Discounted per-therm delivery pricing in exchange for interruptibility, with curtailment provisions. Specific rates and curtailment terms published in the tariff book. | — |
| Firm Delivery Service Gas Supplier Agreement - DC Rate Schedule No. 5 / MD No. 8 | commercial | Delivery service for customers receiving gas supply from a licensed third-party supplier under Customer Choice (DC No. 5, Maryland No. 8). | Washington Gas charges regulated delivery (customer + per-therm distribution) charges; the gas commodity is priced by the competitive supplier. Governs supplier EDI and operating procedures. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Commercial building / standard C&I gas account
Take firm delivery on Rate Schedule No. 2A and procure the gas commodity competitively under Customer Choice to hedge cost-of-gas volatility, especially given 2026 distribution increases.
Delivery charges are regulated and rising in 2026; the controllable lever for C&I is competitive commodity procurement and efficiency.
- Compare licensed suppliers and lock a fixed per-therm rate if volatility is a concern
- Pull the current No. 2A tariff for your jurisdiction to model delivery charges
- Enroll in eBill and the eService portal for multi-location bill tracking
Large industrial / dual-fuel facility
If you can curtail or switch fuels during peak periods, evaluate Interruptible Delivery Service (No. 4) for lower delivery rates, and procure commodity competitively.
Interruptible service trades curtailability for lower per-therm delivery, materially reducing delivery cost for flexible industrial load.
- Confirm curtailment obligations and backup-fuel capability before electing No. 4
- Model interruptible vs firm delivery against your load profile
- Lock commodity pricing to stabilize the supply portion of the bill
Multi-tenant building owner / property manager
Use the Energy Benchmarking program for aggregated whole-building consumption and ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager compliance, then pursue MD/VA efficiency rebates.
Benchmarking (5+ meters) is the only programmatic data feed and supports DC/MD/VA ordinance compliance and efficiency targeting.
- Submit your full gas meter list (5+) to aggregateddata@washgas.com
- Link Portfolio Manager for automated monthly aggregated data
- Apply for Smart Savings / Business Solutions equipment rebates
Historical Rate Trends
Washington Gas distribution rates are rising across jurisdictions in 2026. A nearly 13% distribution rate increase for DC customers took effect January 1, 2026 (about $11.24/month more for an average customer). In Maryland, Washington Gas filed an $82.5M rate case (8.07% rate of return, 10.85% ROE) proposing new rates effective July 27, 2026, with commercial and group-metered apartment customers that heat/cool with gas facing roughly a 20% distribution increase.
January 1, 2026
DC distribution rate increase of nearly 13% takes effect; average customer pays about $11.24/month more.
~+13% (DC distribution)July 27, 2026
Proposed effective date for Maryland $82.5M rate case; commercial and group-metered apartment customers heating/cooling with gas could see ~20% distribution increase (pending MD PSC approval).
~+20% (MD commercial distribution, proposed)Overall trend: Rising distribution rates across DC, Maryland, and Virginia driven by infrastructure investment and pending rate cases.
Next expected change: Maryland rate case new rates proposed effective July 27, 2026 (~20% commercial distribution increase, pending PSC decision after a January 27, 2026 pre-hearing conference).
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because Washington Gas bills separate regulated delivery from competitive supply, the biggest C&I levers are (1) procuring the gas commodity competitively under Customer Choice and (2) selecting the right delivery schedule (e.g., interruptible service for curtailable load). Whole-building benchmarking data helps target efficiency.
Competitive gas procurement (Customer Choice)
For: C&I customers in DC, MD, VA
Buy the gas commodity from a licensed supplier under Customer Choice, locking a fixed per-therm price to hedge against pass-through cost-of-gas volatility while keeping Washington Gas delivery.
Interruptible delivery service (No. 4)
For: Large dual-fuel / curtailable industrial load
Facilities able to curtail or switch fuels during peaks can move to interruptible delivery for lower per-therm delivery rates.
Whole-building benchmarking & efficiency
For: Multi-tenant buildings (5+ meters)
Use the Energy Benchmarking program to obtain aggregated monthly consumption, benchmark in Portfolio Manager, and target efficiency rebates via Washington Gas business programs.
Energy efficiency rebates
For: Commercial customers in MD and VA
Apply for Maryland/Virginia business energy efficiency rebates (boilers, water heaters, furnaces, controls) through Washington Gas Smart Savings / Business Solutions programs.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Washington Gas Light Company interval data →
Deregulated Market Shopping
Washington Gas customers in DC, Maryland, and Virginia can shop for their natural gas commodity supply through the Customer Choice program while Washington Gas remains the regulated delivery utility. Delivery charges are unaffected by supplier choice; only the gas-supply portion is competitive.
How to Compare Washington Gas Light Company Suppliers
- 01Review the list of licensed suppliers for your jurisdiction (DC, MD, or VA)
- 02Compare per-therm supply prices, contract terms, and any fees
- 03Enroll with the chosen supplier (one-bill consolidated or two-bill option)
- 04Washington Gas continues to deliver gas and bill regulated delivery charges
Contract Terms for Washington Gas Light Company Supply Agreements
- Supplier agreements are commonly one-year terms; confirm fixed vs. variable pricing
- Check renewal/rollover and early-termination provisions
- Delivery service and the regulated delivery charge remain with Washington Gas regardless of supplier
Common Pitfalls When Shopping Washington Gas Light Company Rates
- Variable rates can rise sharply; confirm whether the rate is fixed or indexed
- Watch for teaser rates that roll to higher variable pricing after an introductory period
- Supplier choice does not change the regulated delivery charge or reliability of service
- Confirm the supplier is licensed by the applicable commission (DCPSC, MD PSC, VA SCC)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a commercial customer get interval gas data from Washington Gas?▾
No. Washington Gas provides monthly consumption (therms) only; true interval (15/30-minute or hourly) gas data is not accessible to individual customers. For multi-tenant buildings with 5+ meters, the Energy Benchmarking program provides aggregated monthly whole-building consumption via ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
How does a building owner get whole-building data for benchmarking compliance?▾
Enroll in the Energy Benchmarking program (https://www.washingtongas.com/services/business-owners/energy-benchmarking), submit your gas meter list (5+ meters required), and link an ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account. Aggregated monthly data (24-35 months) syncs at least every 45 days. Contact aggregateddata@washgas.com for setup or third-party access.
Does Washington Gas have a public API or Green Button?▾
No. Washington Gas does not offer a public REST API, Green Button Download My Data, or Connect My Data. The only utility-native programmatic feed is the Energy Benchmarking integration with EPA ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager web services. Nectar provides API access to Washington Gas billing data with customer authorization — see docs.nectarclimate.com.
How does a third-party consultant access an individual customer's account data?▾
Use the Account Inquiry Portal (https://accountinquiry.washgas.com) after the customer authorizes your company with Washington Gas, or submit a formal data request with written customer consent. Access is limited to basic account, billing, and payment information - no detailed consumption or interval data.
What gas-supply choice does a C&I customer have, and how is data exchanged?▾
Through the Customer Choice program, C&I customers can buy gas from a licensed supplier while Washington Gas provides delivery service (DC Rate Schedule No. 5, MD No. 8, and Virginia equivalents). Licensed suppliers exchange enrollment (814), usage (867), and billing (810) data with Washington Gas over EDI.
Where can a C&I customer find the applicable tariff and current rates?▾
Tariffs are posted by jurisdiction at https://www.washingtongas.com/billing-and-payment/billing-tariff-rates-schedules (DC, Maryland, Virginia). Commercial delivery service is governed by Firm Commercial & Industrial Delivery Service Rate Schedule No. 2A, with group-metered apartment (No. 3/3A) and interruptible (No. 4) schedules also available.
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